HISTORY 
OF THE 
SMITHFIELD CLUB. 
On December 17th, 1798, the great Smithfield market day 
before Christmas, a number of agriculturists assembled 
under the Presidency of the Duke of Bedford and laid the 
foundation, under the title of the Smithfield Cattle and Sheep 
Society, of the national society, now known as the Smithfield 
Club. No small interest must always attach to the first 
roll of members, and especially to the first name on the roll 
—John Wilkes, of Measham, Derbyshire,—the proposer of 
the Society, for the little institution then founded has grown 
in the course of one hundred years to a more commanding 
position and exercised a greater influence upon the Agriculture 
of this country, than could ever have been hoped for or 
anticipated by its founders. 
In the June following, at an adjourned meeting held by 
invitation of the Duke of Bedford at the Woburn Sheep 
Shearing—a noted place and event in the agricultural 
annals of the last century—the preliminaries for commencing 
and carrying out of the object of the Society were completed. 
This at the time took the form of offering premiums for 
the best beast above a stated weight, and fed on grass, hay, 
turnips, or cabbages; also for the best beast fed on corn or 
oil cake; for the best sheep fed on hay, grass, turnips, or 
cabbages ; and for the best sheep fed on corn or cake. 
But the great object present in the minds of the founders, 
viz. the improvement of the stock of the country, and 
particularly the bringing out of the principle of early 
maturity, which is only another instance of the application 
of quick returns in trade to agricultural matters—was 
emphasized by subsequent prize lists, and also by the 
admirable speeches delivered at the dinners which were held 
during each Show. When we remember that a great increase 
in population was taking place in the country about this 
very time (1798), we can see of what vital importance the 
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