liv REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



still flourishes. The pleasant virtue of hospitality certainly thrives 

 in Nantucket, and to Andrew M. M^'rick, Esq., as an exemplifica- 

 tion of it, our hearty thanks are due. 



Henry S. Goodale. 



BARNSTABLE. 



The Barnstable Count}^ Agricultural Fair was held at Barnstable, 

 on Tuesday' and Wednesda}', the 7th and 8th of October, IS 73. 

 Charles S. Sargent, Esq., of Brookline, was delegated by the state 

 board to attend and report upon the proceedings of this Societ}', but 

 Ms absence in Europe prevented his attendance, and I have, b}' re- 

 quest of that gentleman and a vote of this Board, made a report, 

 necessarily' a brief one, having preserved no notes to aid me. 



The weather, on both days of the fair, was cold and uncomfort- 

 able, with a north-east wind blowing almost a gale. The attend- 

 ance was consequentl}' much smaller than it would otherwise have 

 been, although it did not prevent a pretty good attendance before 

 the close of the second day. 



In some respects the show was one of the best ever held b}' the 

 Society. The display' in the hall never was better. In the depart- 

 ment of fruit more than one hundred premiums were awarded, and 

 the varieties were large and ver}^ superior. The exhibition of fancy 

 articles, domestic and household manufactures, was unusuall}- large 

 and attractive, and creditable to the ladies of the county. 



Nearly every town, within twenty miles, had vegetables on exhi- 

 bition, in great variety and of a superior qualit}^ The butter and 

 cheese was not large in quantity, but was of excellent qualit}-. 



The cattle-pens were well filled. Some of the Alderne^-s exhibited 

 by the " Bacon Farm," L. L. Goodspeed, Esq., and S. B. Phin- 

 ney, would compare favorably with those on exhibition at the New 

 England fair, a few weeks previous. 



The show of horses and colts was equal to former years. 



It is enough to say that the fair w-as a success, and, except for 

 the unfavorable weather, would have exceeded an}' previous year. 



The dinner of the Society, in the upper hall, on the second day, 

 was well attended. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler delivered the address. 

 He was met at the depot by man}^ of the members of the Society 

 and the Rescue Hook and Ladder Compan}', and escorted by the 

 Cornet Band of that place to the fair-ground. The exercises at the 

 dinner were interesting. After prayer b}^ Rev. Mr. Pope, Gen. 

 Butler delivered his address upon the subject of " Debt, National 

 and Private." This occupied nearly an hour, and was listened to 



