42 



THE OPENING ADDRESS OF 



Tompson, Esq., J. S. Muskett, Esq., T. G. Tuck, Esq., W. 

 Gilbert, Esq., R. W. Parmeter, Esq. J. Postle, Esq., H. 

 Francis, Esq., J. Warnes, jun., Esq., R. Wright, Esq., Rev. 

 Canon Surtees, Rev. S. Jodrell, Rev. Dr. Sutton, Rev. T. P. 

 Slapp, Rev. S. Pitman, Rev. J. Hurafrey^ Rev. G. Fauquier, 

 Rev. J. Bulwer, Rev. E. Postle, Rev.* A. Keppel, Rev. J. 

 Holmes, the Mayor of Norwich, Messrs. Roberts, Atkinson, 

 S. Abbot, jun., Allen, Bennett, Baker, Bidwell, Burton, Bur- 

 rell, Barcham, G. Brown, Bygrave, Cubitt, Gower (Dilham), 

 Gedney, Harvey, Garnham, W. Howes, S. Lock, J. Hewlett, 

 Barton, Moss, Gillett, Mayes, Hart, Land, Read, Rudd, Howes, 

 Rust, and a large number of other most respectable and influ- 

 ential occupiers. 



The Hon. W. Rous said — In opening the business of this 

 Meeting it will not be necessary for me to enter into any 

 lengthened details of the objects of the Flax Society: those 

 objects have already been sufficiently explained in various 

 letters in the county newspapers, and have also formed the 

 subject of several articles written with great force and ability 

 by the editors of our valuable journals. In a word, this 

 Society seeks to add to the happiness and security of the com- 

 munity by advocating a plan which, if adopted, promises to 

 be beneficial to all classes, and especially to the poorer classes, 

 by providing for them increased valuable employment. Nor 

 is it desirable that I should occupy your time by any details 

 on the art of growing flax, or on the spirited mode by which 

 we hope to attain immediate perfection in the cultivation of 

 that plant. Those details will be much better explained to 

 you by my friend Mr. Warnes, whose zeal in the cause of 

 benevolence demands your esteem, and whose knowledge on 

 this subject will doubtless obtain your serious attention. I 

 shall therefore confine myself to a short statement of the 

 exciting causes which produced the flax agitation. Firstly — 

 the knowledge of the vast sums of money annually sent out of 

 the country for the purchase of adulterated oil-cake, urged 

 many gentlemen to attempt a discovery of some efficient sub- 

 stitute, the produce of our own soil. After a series of experi- 

 ments by Mr. Warnes, which were afterwards severely and 

 accurately tested by many gentlemen of the North Walsham 

 Club, it was proved to demonstration, that a compound of 



