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 passa 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 the 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 
