Though some thought that the new Society would 

 develop at the expense of the older one, it has not turned 

 out so, and there certainly never was any idea of rivalry in 

 any shape or form in the minds of the agriculturists who 

 were associated with both these workers in the common 

 cause. The Smithfield Club had its own special aim, which 

 may be briefly described as scientific breeding and feeding. 

 It, therefore, could not fail to be at one with a Society 

 whose own aim was to bring science to bear upon all other 

 Agricultural operations. But in this connection it may be 

 noted that at the annual dinner during the Show of 1840, the 

 President, Earl Spencer, in laying stress upon the common 

 bond of action alluded to, said : " It is now three years since, 

 in this room, I suggested the establishment of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society of England. I hope and trust that 

 there is not one of you, that chanced to be present, who 

 has reason to regret the establishment of the Society. But 

 for the Smithfield Club, that Society would never have 

 existed." 



Among the guests on that occasion was the President 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society for the year, Philip Pusey, 

 Esq., M.P., who, in reponse to the toast of his health and 

 success to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, said : 

 " I should feel great embarrassment in returning thanks for 

 the honour you have done me, but that I see present many 

 of the members of the Society of which I have the honour 

 to be President. It is natural that I should feel some 

 embarrassment on this occasion, the more so, as I feel that 

 this room is the cradle of the Royal Agricultural Society. 

 To our noble President, to the Duke of Richmond, to Mr. 

 Handley, and many others, the Society owes its existence." 



Mr. Pusey's speech at the same meeting is noteworthy 

 for a reference to the Club's own work. In noticing the 

 increase in population we have already referred to, and the 



Goswell Street, on the 8th of December, 1837, and it was then deter- 

 mined that, if the co-operation of the Duke of Richmond could be 

 obtained, its formation should be publicly mooted at the dinner of the 

 Club on the nth, as recorded above. In doing this, the late Earl 

 Spencer, after having alluded to the objects of the Club, as not embracing 

 agriculture generally, said," If a society were established for agricultural 

 purposes exclusively, I hesitate not to assert that it would be productive 

 of the most essential benefits to the English farmer ; " and later in the 

 evening, the Duke of Richmond said, " As an individual I feel it my 

 duty to give my support to my noble friend in his exertions to institute 

 such a society." The late Mr. Handley also expressed his thorough 

 concurrence in the proposal. B.T.B.G. 



