HISTORY 



OF THE 



SMITHFIELD CLUB. 



ON December I7th, 1798, the great Smithfield market day 

 before Christmas, a number of agriculturists assembled 

 under the Presidency of the Duke of Bedford and laid the 

 foundation, under the title of the Smithfield Cattle and Sheep 

 Society, of the national society, now known as the Smithfield 

 Club. No small interest must always attach to the first 

 roll of members, and especially to the first name on the roll 

 John Wilkes, of Measham, Derbyshire, the proposer of 

 the Society, for the little institution then founded has grown 

 in the course of one hundred years to a more commanding 

 position and exercised a greater influence upon the Agriculture 

 of this country, than could ever have been hoped for or 

 anticipated by its founders. 



In the June following, at an adjourned meeting held by 

 invitation of the Duke of Bedford at the Woburn Sheep 

 Shearing a noted place and event in the agricultural 

 annals of the last century the preliminaries for commencing 

 and carrying out of the object of the Society were completed. 



This at the time took the form of offering premiums for 

 the best beast above a stated weight, and fed on grass, hay, 

 turnips, or cabbages ; also for the best beast fed on corn or 

 oil cake ; for the best sheep fed on hay, grass, turnips, or 

 cabbages ; and for the best sheep fed on corn or cake. 



But the great object present in the minds of the founders, 

 viz. the improvement of the stock of the country, and 

 particularly the bringing out of the principle of early 

 maturity, which is only another instance of the application 

 of quick returns in trade to agricultural matters was 

 emphasized by subsequent prize lists, and also by the 

 admirable speeches delivered at the dinners which were held 

 during each Show. When we remember that a great increase 

 in population was taking place in the country about this 

 very time (1798), we can see of what vital importance the 



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