5 
would not despair of their country, and who considered 
that further and greater benefits in the improvement of live 
stock might be brought about by a continuance of their 
exertions, and the views of these prevailed. How far-sighted 
and right these views were, have been amply demonstrated 
by the subsequent history of the Club. 
In 1821, however, the Duke of Bedford finally withdrew 
from the Club, and announced his discontinuance of the 
Bedford prizes.” 
No history of the Club would be complete which did not 
place on record the great and important services which the 
Dukes of Bedford rendered to it. What a thoughtful, wise, 
and generous parent is to the child, these noblemen were to 
the Club in the early days of its existence. Their names, 
indeed, were so identified with it, that its Shows at one 
time were popularly known as the Duke of Bedford’s Cattle 
Show. They will always stand high among the Agricul- 
turists of this country, but none of their labours will 
be remembered with more gratitude than the fostering 
care which they bestowed upon the Smithfield Club in the 
earlier years of the first great period of its existence. 
For three years the Presidency was vacant, the duties 
attaching to the office being discharged by one of the Vice- 
Presidents—the late Sir John S. Sebright, Bart., until in 
1825 it secured a worthy successor to its former Presidents 
in the person of Viscount Althorp, afterwards Earl Spencer 
—a nobleman, who, like his predecessor, was destined to 
exercise a great and permanent influence upon its fortunes. 
In 1826, the Secretary, Mr. John Farey died, and was 
succeeded by Mr. William Farey, who held the office until 
his death in 1836, when Mr. Humphrey Gibbs was elected 
Honorary Secretary. 
Between these dates the Club was gradually extending its 
influence, and a lady exhibitor, Miss Strickland, a daughter 
of Sir George Strickland—a noted breeder of Durhams—- 
had already carried off a prize. Its sphere of usefulness 
became so enlarged that steps were taken to obtain better 
premises in order to provide for its increasing requirements. 
This desirable end was accomplished in 1838, when the 
premises known as the Horse Bazaar, in Baker Street, were 
acquired for the Show of 1839. 
*That His Grace did not cease to take an interest in the Shows 
may be seen from the fact that in 1825, he, with three Herefords 
defeated three Durhams belonging to the Rt. Hon. Charles Arbuthnot, 
thus carrying off a sweepstake. 
