would not despair of their country, and who considered 

 that further and greater benefits in the improvement of live 

 stock might be brought about by a continuance of their 

 exertions, and the views of these prevailed. How far-sighted 

 and right these views were, have been amply demonstrated 

 by the subsequent history of the Club. 



In 1821, however, the Duke of Bedford finally withdrew 

 from the Club, and announced his discontinuance of the 

 Bedford prizes." 



No history of the Club would be complete which did not 

 place on record the great and important services which the 

 Dukes of Bedford rendered to it. What a thoughtful, wise, 

 and generous parent is to the child, these noblemen were to 

 the Club in the early days of its existence. Their names, 

 indeed, were so identified with it, that its Shows at one 

 time were popularly known as the Duke of Bedford's Cattle 

 Show. They will always stand high among the Agricul- 

 turists of this country, but none of their labours will 

 be remembered with more gratitude than the fostering 

 care which they bestowed upon the Smithfield Club in the 

 earlier years of the first great period of its existence. 



For three years the Presidency was vacant, the duties 

 attaching to the office being discharged by one of the Vice- 

 Presidents the late Sir John S. Sebright, Bart., until in 

 1825 it secured a worthy successor to its former Presidents 

 in the person of Viscount Althorp, afterwards Earl Spencer 

 a nobleman, who, like his predecessor, was destined to 

 exercise a great and permanent influence upon its fortunes. 



In 1826, the Secretary, Mr. John Farey died, and was 

 succeeded by Mr. William Farey, who held the office until 

 his death in 1836, when Mr. Humphrey Gibbs was elected 

 Honorary Secretary. 



Between these dates the Club was gradually extending its 

 influence, and a lady exhibitor, Miss Strickland, a daughter 

 of Sir George Strickland a noted breeder of Durhams 

 had already carried off a prize. Its sphere of usefulness 

 became so enlarged that steps were taken to obtain better 

 premises in order to provide for its increasing requirements. 

 This desirable end was accomplished in 1838, when the 

 premises known as the Horse Bazaar, in Baker Street, were 

 acquired for the Show of 1839. 



"That His Grace did not cease to take an interest in the Shows 

 may be seen from the fact that in 1825, he, with three Herefords 

 defeated three Durhams belonging to the Rt. Hon. Charles Arbuthnot, 

 thus carrying off a sweepstake. 



