increase of the food supply became to the nation, and how 

 opportune in its object and aims was the establishment of 

 the Smithfield Club. 



Naturally the one and best way of carrying out such an 

 object would be by holding Shows, the value of which as 

 a means of exciting interest and imparting instruction, needs 

 no demonstration. Much interest, therefore, will always 

 gather round the different places where the Shows of the 

 Society were held, as marking more or less distinct epochs 

 of progress, and helping to mark off the three great periods 

 of the Club's history. 



1798-1838. 



The first Show was held at Wootton's Livery Stables 

 (Dolphin Yard), Smithfield. Fifty guineas were offered as 

 prizes in the four classes represented, and over 40 was 

 taken as entrance money. It was a beginning. The 

 animals exhibited attracted considerable notice, and the 

 prize sheep was considered to be the first that ever stood 

 on Smithfield stones.* 



At an early stage it became necessary to correct an 

 erroneous idea that the aim, or at least one aim, of the 

 Society was to benefit a class. The President, the Duke of 

 Bedford, at the annual dinner in 1800, took occasion to refer 

 to this idea, and also to further define the real aim the 

 members should have in view. He said 



"Without doubt there are two things we should most 

 solicitously avoid : first, most certainly not to associate to 

 raise prices .... Secondly, we ought to pursue no 

 measure which would have even the appearance of raising 

 prices. The only true object of the farmer is to profit, not 

 by high prices, but by great products. The increase of 



*In connection with this it may be interesting to quote from an 

 account of London, written by Fitz-Stephen in the reign of Henry II. 

 (1154-1189) in which he speaks of the market as follows : 



Of Smethfield. 



" Without one of the gates is a certain field plain [or smooth] both 

 in name and situation. Every Tuesday unless some greater festival 

 come in the way, there is a brave sight of gallant horses to be sold, 

 many come out of the city to buy or look on, to wit, Earls, Barons, 

 Knights and Citizens, all resorting thither .... In another part 

 stand the country people with cattle, and commodities of the field, 

 large swine, and kine with their udders strutting out, fair bodied oxen 

 and woolly flock." 



It was not until 1614, that the market was paved all over. 



