2 
increase of the food supply became to the nation, and how 
opportune in its object and aims was the establishment of 
the Smithfield Club. 
Naturally the one and best way of carrying out such an 
object would be by holding Shows, the value of which as 
a means of exciting interest and imparting instruction, needs 
no demonstration. Much interest, therefore, will always 
gather round the different places where the Shows of the 
Society were held, as marking more or less distinct epochs 
of progress, and helping to mark off the three great periods 
of the Club’s history. 
1798-1838. 
The first Show was held at Wootton’s Livery Stables 
(Dolphin Yard), Smithfield. Fifty guineas were offered as 
prizes in the four classes represented, and over £40 was 
taken as entrance money. It was a beginning. The 
animals exhibited attracted considerable notice, and the 
prize sheep was considered to be the first that ever stood 
on Smithfield stones.* 
At an early stage it became necessary to correct an 
erroneous idea that the aim, or at least one aim, of the 
Society was to benefit a class. The President, the Duke of 
Bedford, at the annual dinner in 1800, took occasion to refer 
to this idea, and also to further define the real aim the 
members should have in view. He said— 
‘‘ Without doubt there are two things we should most 
solicitously avoid: first, most certainly not to associate to 
raise prices .... Secondly, we ought to pursue no 
measure which would have even the appearance of raising 
prices. The only true object of the farmer is to profit, not 
by high prices, but by great products. The increase of 
*In connection with this it may be interesting to quote from an 
account of London, written by Fitz-Stephen in the reign of Henry II. 
(1154-1189) in which he speaks of the-market as follows :— 
Of Smethfield, 
‘Without one of the gates is a certain field plain [or smooth] both 
in name and situation. Every Tuesday unless some greater festival 
come in the way, there is a brave sight of gallant horses to be sold, 
many come out of the city to buy or look on, to wit, Earls, Barons, 
Knights and Citizens, all resorting thither. ... In another part 
stand the country people with cattle, and commodities of the field, 
large swine, and kine with their udders strutting out, fair bodied oxen 
and woolly flock.” 
It was not until 1614, that the market was paved all over, 
