370 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Bonhard, however, never entered on his duties. Indeed, at 

 the time of his appointment, on 17th January 1866, he was 

 seriously unwell, Mr Macduff being unable to take the 

 active duties of the office, Mr Hall Maxwell continued to 

 attend to the business till the month of April 1866. 

 Before that time arrived, Mr Macduff's illness had resulted 

 in his death. Mr Macduff died on 21st March 1866. 



On the death of Mr Macduff of Bonhard, the course of 

 the Directors was quite clear as to his successor. At the 

 time Mr Macduff had been chosen, the gentleman who 

 stood second was Mr Fletcher Norton Menzies. To this 

 gentleman the Directors at once turned on Mr Macduff's 

 death, and at a meeting of the Directors held on 25th April 

 1866, when, all the other candidates having withdrawn, 

 except Mr Baillie of Coulterallers and Mr Menzies, the 

 latter was elected without a dissentient voice — a resolution 

 formally confirmed at the anniversary general meeting on 

 1 6th January 1867. 



Disastrous recollections are associated in the agricul- 

 tural mind with the year 1866. That was the year of the 

 great prevalence of rinderpest. As a consequence, cattle 

 shows everywhere were suspended throughout the country, 

 and the show of the Highland Society formed no exception. 

 The Society held several meetings to concert measures, and 

 to press sound views on the attention of the Government. 

 A large and influential meeting of the Directors was held 

 on the 3rd September, the Duke of Buccleuch presiding, at 

 which it was unanimously resolved to memorialize the 

 Government, recommending that the holding of lean and 

 store markets for cattle should for the time be entirely 

 suspended, and that especially Falkirk Tryst should not be 

 held. 



In 1867 the Society held a very successful show at 

 Glasgow, the meeting opening on the 30th of July. Of 

 cattle there were, in all, 286 entries. Of those 121 were 

 Ayrshires, which, as usual at Glasgow, had the place of 

 honour. In the class of aged bulls the first prize went to 



