8 
fear that it would soon be impossible to produce sufficient 
for the consumption of the country, he said: ‘‘ At this day 
we produce two sheep fit for the market where our forefathers 
only produced one, and this great result is owing in a great 
measure, to the formation of clubs of this description.” 
An example from the working of the Club of the desire 
to encourage the development and improvement of breeds 
specially suited to particular localities, is seen from the 
establishment about this time of a class for Scotch and 
Welsh (and later on Irish) cattle, in order that their develop- 
ment should not be retarded by the discouragement 
involved in competing with larger growing breeds. 
The Show in 1840 was visited on the Tuesday by 
H.R.H. Prince Albert, and also on the Thursday by 
H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge. 
It was at the meeting in this year that, in increasing 
the value of the Gold Medal, it was determined as a 
token of the Club’s appreciation of their President’s interest 
and labours on their behalf, that Earl Spencer’s likeness 
be stamped on the side of it, and that his Lordship be 
requested to sit to Mr. William Wyon, R.A., of the 
Mint, in order that a perfect likeness be procured. 
The progress of the Club was now very rapid. H.R.H. 
Prince Albert, and H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, were 
both elected members in 1841. In 1843, Mr. Humphrey 
Gibbs resigned the office of Hon. Secretary, and was 
succeeded by Mr. (afterwards Sir) B. T. Brandreth Gibbs, 
whose name will always be honourably associated with the 
Club. 
In 1844 Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Albert 
visited the Show. 
Of course increased attention caused a _ certain 
misconception of the effects of the Club’s efforts, by 
those who were imperfectly acquainted with the objects 
which the Club had in view, and this misconception 
has continued among some until the present day. 
The writer of ‘British Husbandry,” in Vol. I. of the 
“Library of Useful Knowledge,” while placing the Smithfield 
Club first among those who have contributed to the high 
state of perfection which a portion of our cattle have attained, 
says that it has been ludicrously objected to by the latter, 
that the animals exhibited at their Annual Show are 
‘Too dear to buy, too fat to eat,” 
and an impression has gone forth that the premiums 
