The Foundation of the Royal Agricultural Society. 9 
arose, a small section of the meeting encouraging the speaker 
by their cheers, whilst the majority of those present expressed 
their disapprobation. The Chairman, having pointed out that 
the requisition convening the meeting confined it to those who 
concurred with the promoters in the formation of the proposed 
Society, permitted Mr. Bell to proceed for a time, but he was at 
length called to order, and after several pertinacious attempts 
to gain a further hearing, the Chairman declined to allow him 
to proceed further. Thereupon Mr. J. J. Allnatt, who said that 
" he represented a considerable interest in the loyal county of 
Berks," took up the opposition, claiming his right to be heard 
at a public meeting ; but Lord Spencer pointed out that this 
was an assembly of persons who concurred in certain principles, 
and that those who did not so concur had no business there at 
all. Further interruption ensued, and Mr. Allnatt said he 
should go back to Berkshire and tell the farmers that he had 
been refused a hearing ; whereupon the Chairman characteris- 
tically retorted that he had not the slightest objection to his 
saying that he refused to hear him, for he (Earl Spencer) was 
well known to farmers, and the} T would form their own estimate 
of the statement. The Duke of Kichmond rose to reply to 
certain of the objections that had been raised, whereupon some 
one called out, " Every independent farmer is going to leave 
the room ; " and his Grace continued, amid laughter, " Then I 
will wait till they have done so." Some dozen persons then left 
the room, the disorder terminated, and the resolution was put to 
the meeting and carried unanimously. 
The next speaker was Sir Robert Peel, who said that he 
had readily postponed the performance of public duties in 
order to be present, because of the deep interest which he took 
in the prosperity of agriculture ; and expressed his belief that 
the establishment of the proposed Society would be productive 
of the most important benefits. Sir Robert warmly supported 
the principle of political neutrality, and proposed the second 
resolution, affirming — 
" That it be a fundamental law of this Society that no question be dis- 
cussed at any of the meetings of a political tendency, or which shall refer 
to any matter to be brought forward or pending in either of the Houses of 
Parliament." 
This was seconded by Mr. C. Shaw Lefevre and adopted ; 
after which Sir James Graham, who expressed the regret of 
Lord Stanley at his inability to attend the meeting, proposed 
a resolution that the Society should consist of two classes of 
subscribers — Governors and Members. This resolution having 
been seconded by Mr. Alderman Copeland, Mr. Webb Hall took 
