10 



It was fortunate for the Club that a worthy successor 

 to the great men who had gone before him was at hand. His 

 Grace the Duke of Richmond, who as Vice-President had 

 for many years been intimately connected with the affairs of 

 the Club, was unanimously elected President. It was only 

 a natural outcome of the genuine regard and respect which 

 these many years of unceasing interest in their doings had 

 drawn forth, that in 1850 the same year in which Her 

 Majesty the Queen, and H.R.H. the Prince Consort again 

 visited "the Show led the members to pass a resolution that, 

 in order to show "their appreciation of his services and their 

 feelings of respect, the Club desires that his Grace's profile 

 should appear on the reverse of the Club's medals, and that 

 His Grace be requested to sit to Mr. W. Wyon, R.A., of 

 Her Majesty's Mint, for the preparation of a die." 



In 1851 it was resolved that in future the cattle should 

 be classified according to breeds, and consequently we 

 find them so arranged for the Show in 1852. This is some- 

 times spoken of as a new departure, but it should be noticed 

 that the classfication was not new ; but that the Club only 

 reverted to the system of separate competition between 

 each breed as had been established at its shows some fifty 

 years before. The silver cup now offered for the best ox or 

 steer, and the best cow or heifer shown in any of the separate 

 classes, correspond exactly in principle with the extra prizes 

 offered in 1807, and following year, and the champion plate, 

 now given for the best beast in the show, carries out this 

 principle still more completely. 



The Show of 1854 saw tne first visit, in company with 

 their Royal Highnesses the Prince Consort and Prince 

 Alfred, of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and the beginning 

 of that interest which has since become such a popular 

 feature in the history of the Club. 



Its operations, however, had now become so greatly 

 increased in every way, that the size of the Shows, and the 

 number of visitors attending them made it imperative that 

 once more steps should be taken to secure premises 

 commensurate with its needs. 



In 1858, on the motion of Mr. John Giblett, a 

 committee was appointed " to inquire into the practicability 

 of procuring a better and more commodious place for the 

 Smithfield Club to hold its annual exhibitions." 



The Committee received many suggestions and offers, 

 including one from the Crystal Palace Company at 



