1839-1861. 
The first Show in the new premises at Baker Street was 
held under happy auspices. The situation was a little 
distant from Smithfield, but this slight drawback was 
counterbalanced by so many advantages that all concerned 
agreed in congratulating the Club upon the change. Great 
alterations and improvements had been made for the 
purpose of showing to advantage the various breeds, and 
affording room for the visitors. The wider thoroughfares, 
the better lighting, and the arrangements generally by which 
visitors could view the animals in greater comfort, formed 
such a contrast to the Club’s late quarters in Goswell Street, 
as to realise the expectations of those who had anticipated 
that more spacious and convenient premises would not only 
produce a larger exhibition, but would also induce a larger 
number of persons to visit the Show yard. It was 
estimated that from 20,000 to 25,000 people attended during 
the Show days, including a number of ladies of rank, while 
as to the exhibition itself, the journals of the day, as well as 
the speeches at the annual dinner, laid stress upon its 
unusual excellence. 
It is pleasant to note also that the financial trials, once 
so heavy a drag upon the Club’s usefulness, had now 
disappeared. : 
Not the least interesting feature of this auspicious meeting 
was the reference by the President to the recently-formed 
Agricultural Society (now the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England), and ‘the drinking of the health of the President, 
the Duke of Richmond. His Grace, in reply, anticipated 
that the new society would be as successful as the Highland 
Society—an anticipation which has been more than fulfilled 
—and made a humorous appeal for recruits. 
The late Sir B. T. Brandreth Gibbs considered that the 
proposal for the formation of the Royal Agricultural Society 
of England having been first publicly announced by the 
President of the Club, at the Annual Dinner at the Free- 
mason’s Hall, on December r1th, 1837, the Royal 
Agricultural Society may, therefore, fairly be looked upon 
as an offspring of the Club.* 
* Such various versions have been given of the origin and foundation 
of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, I may here state, that the 
late Mr. Wm. Shaw (the Editor of the AZark Lane Express and Farmers’ 
Magazine, who, on the formation of the Society became Secretary), had 
an interview with the late Earl Spencer, the President of the Club, and 
Mr. Humphrey Gibbs, the Hon. Secretary, in the Club’s parlour in 
