460 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



share in its direction, and that, although not debarred from 

 becoming members, they were scarcely expected to do so. 

 It is unnecessary now to explain that this feeling was un- 

 founded ; it is the boast of the Society, as a national body, 

 that it represents every class connected with the agriculture 

 of the country, and it is evident that, without the co-opera- 

 tion and aid of all, and more particularly of those practically 

 engaged in farming, it cannot command that position which 

 is so requisite for the furtherance of its important objects. 

 Within the last few years, several tenant farmers have 

 become Directors of the Society, and, independently of the 

 advantages afforded by their knowledge and experience, 

 their presence at the Board has tended to dispel the 

 impression which has been alluded to, and to induce their 

 brother farmers more generally to rally round the Society. 

 The Directors think that this would still farther be pro- 

 moted were the present subscription reduced, as the Society 

 could not more emphatically express its desire to include in 

 its ranks the farmers of the country, than by inviting their 

 adhesion on terms more favourable than those accorded to 

 other parties. Such an advantage, besides, would be but 

 reasonable, and no more than what the tenantry have a 

 right to expect. Their connection with land generally is 

 neither so extensive nor so permanent as that of a pro- 

 prietor ; and they should not, therefore, be called upon to 

 contribute in an equal degree to the support of the Society. 

 It seems somewhat incongruous that a tenant, paying per- 

 haps a rent of moderate amount, should not have it in his 

 power to become a member on terms more favourable than 

 those imposed on the largest landowner in the country.' 



The amount of the reduced subscription was fixed at 

 los. annually, in place of ;^i 3s. 6d., with the power of pur- 

 chasing a hfe subscription for £$ 5s., instead of ^12 12s. 



The Report was unanimously agreed to at the General 

 Meeting on 8th January 1850, and was, in terms of the 

 Charter, confirmed by the General Meeting in June 1850. 

 To show that the privilege was properly appreciated by the 

 tenantry, it may be mentioned that above 300 of this class 

 joined at the election of members in July 1857. 



