In Memoriam.— The late Sir W. Miles, Bart, M.P. 325 
that, too, at a time when the duties were boih important and 
laborious ; for during his Stewardship the Exhibition had 
grown from a couple of sheds to an extent wliich even then 
gave promise of the vast proportions which the Shows have 
attained in recent years. 
It is somewhat remarkable that, although Mr. Miles took such 
an active part in connection with this department of the Society's 
Shows, his name does not appear conspicuously in the Journals 
of that period. This, however, may be accounted for from the 
fact that it was not then the custom for the Senior Steward of 
the year either to write the Reports or any introductory com- 
ments on those furnished by the Judges. The amount of work 
which jNlr. Miles did for the Society, therefore, must not be 
measured by this silence ; for there can be no doubt that many 
of the difficulties inherent to the establishment of an Exhibition 
of Implements, and to conducting the Trials, were in a great 
measure overcome by his personal activity and perseverance. 
Although Mr. Miles retired from the office of Steward after 
the Northampton Meeting, in 1847, he continued to take a 
leading part in the proceedings of the Society as a Member of 
the Council, and, from the year 1852, as one of the Vice- 
Presidents. 
In 1854—5 he occupied the important office of President of 
the Society ; and in this capacity he headed a deputation sent 
by the Council to the Universal Exhibition of 1855 in Paris, 
where he and his colleagues were received, both by the Emperor, 
the Ministers, and the learned Societies of that capital, with 
marked courtesy. 
The Society's jNIeeting at Carlisle being held under his Pre- 
sidency, he most handsomely offered his corn crops for a 
thorough trial of reaping-machines during the harvest ; and he 
received and entertained the Stewards, Judges, and officials, 
with the greatest hospitality, at his seat, Leigh Court, near 
Bristol. 
The Report on the Trials concluded with the following 
tribute : " The Judges cannot close this Report without ex- 
pressing their obligations and thanks to Mr. IVIiles for the great 
facilities offered by him for the trials of these machines, and for 
his obliging kindness to themselves and to all engaged in the 
experiments." 
In concluding these imperfect remarks, it is only just that 
ample testimony should be borne to the unwearied energy which 
Sir William Miles (then Mr. Miles) displayed in everything he 
undertook. No day was too long for him, and no obstacle too 
great to be surmounted ; and whatever want of previous pre- 
parations may have occasionally marked his administration, 
