BRISTOL SOCIETY. 585 



consented to assist in the examination of the articles offered 

 for premium, and to whose better taste and judgment they 

 were happy to defer in all cases, especially when the articles 

 in question were the products of the fairy-fingers of their own 

 sex. 



[This committee awarded over one hundred premiums.] 



Fat Cattle, Horses, and Steers. 



The committee on fat cattle, horses, and steers, have, with 

 all the care which their limited time and the situation of the 

 animals would allow, examined ' the several animals which 

 were presented to them for premiums, and now submit to the 

 society the result of their deliberations. 



The committee regret that the number of fat cattle was less 

 than upon some former occasions. But it is not remarkable 

 that some one of the numerous departments in which the ex- 

 hibition is divided should occasionally suffer a diminution, 

 while the general prosperity of the society is rapidly increasing, 

 and almost every other department exhibits a remarkable in- 

 crease. Having maturely considered the claims of the several 

 contributors, the committee have awarded the following pre- 

 miums, viz. : on 



Fat Oxen. 

 For the best ox — 



1. P. E. Williams, for the nigh-ox of his pair, . $10 00 



2. Elbridge G. Hunt, off-ox, 



3. James Austen, nigh-ox, .... 



4. Daniel Wilbur, " . . . . 



5. P. E. WilUams, off-ox, .... 



8 00 

 6 00 

 5 00 

 4 00 



The committee regret that candor hath compelled them to 

 mention the falling off from the last exhibition in steers, both 

 in number and quality, is greater than that of fat cattle. We 

 are aware that other pursuits, manufacturing, mercantile, nav- 

 igating, and mechanic, seem to promise greater pecuniary 

 returns than agricultural ; and to this cause must be imparted 

 the inattention to the oldest, the most healthful, the most hon- 

 orable of all occupations, — the cultivation of the earth. And, 



