60 



the plowing was of superior quality. For the Drawing Match, 

 which took place immediately after, there were ten entries, and 

 the work was well done. An exhibition of horses upon the track, 

 closed the exercises of Thursday. 



Friday morning came with lowering skies, and by eight o'clock 

 gave promise of a stormy day. All the out-door operations were 

 sadly interfered with. The Spading Match was carried on in the 

 midst of a driving rain, but the five contestants worked with a 

 will, and showed good training. The Exhibition of Horses on the 

 track was proceeded with under great disadvantages, and most of 

 the spectators were driven to the Hall for protection against the 

 rain. Here, in addition to the attractions before mentioned, were 

 fine displays of Bread and of Dairy products, which attracted much 

 attention. 



At 12| o'clock. Col. John W. Thomas, sheriff of the County, 

 and chief marshal of the day, assisted by his aids, Messrs. C. G. 

 Mackintosh, of West Roxbury, and J. E. Gay, Hiram Gay, Brad- 

 ford Kinsley, and R. L. Warren, of Stoughton, formed a proces- 

 sion, and, preceded by the Medfield Cornet Band, which furnished 

 excellent music during the day, passed into the upper hall, when, 

 after a blessing had been invoked by Rev. Dr. James Freeman 

 Clarke, chaplain of the day, the company partook of an excellent 

 collation, which had been provided under the direction of the 

 Committee of Arrangements. 



At the conclusion of the dinner, John Gardner, Esq., first 

 Yice President of the Society, called the meeting to order, and 

 after a few appropriate remarks, in which he alluded to the en- 

 forced absence of the President, introduced Hon. Henry F. 

 French, of Cambridge, as the orator of the occasion. 



Judge French, one of the Trustees of the State Agricultural 

 College, announced that that institution would be the subject of 

 his address, and proceeded to give an interesting statement of the 

 origin, condition, purposes and general relations of the scheme of 

 founding the College. He explained the necessary expense of the 

 experiment, and drew an outline of the general idea of the place 

 and organization of the College. Its government Avould be such 

 as to harmonize with the true principles of the republican theory 

 of equal i-ights. After explaining at considei'able length, why we 



