The Plymouth Meeting. 
-54:3 
favourable outdoor conditions. A heavy fall of rain took place, 
it is true, on the Thursday morning, but it was acceptable 
rather than otherwise on the ground of the much-trodden 
Show-yard, whilst the afternoon and the following day were 
.again delightfully pleasant. 
All day on Saturday the live stock were arriving and taking 
up their allotted positions. Long, however, before the hour 
appointed for divine service on the Sunday, the whole ground pre- 
sented a neat, trim appearance, and everything was in readiness 
for the busy day to follow. The Rev. W. St. Aubyn, Rector 
of Stoke Damerel, conducted the service, which was held in 
the large tent on the ground, and the Bishop of Exeter, Dr. 
Bickersteth, delivered an impressive sermon from the text 
(Jeremiah xvii. 7, 8), " Blessed is the man that trusteth in the 
Lord, and whose hope the Lord- is. For he shall be as a tree 
planted by the waters." 
Early on the Monday morning Sir Jacob Wilson, as Honorary 
Director, received the Judges in the large tent, and, having 
thanked them for placing their knowledge and experience at 
the service of the Society, succinctly explained their various 
duties, which they at once proceeded to discharge. It was late 
in the evening when the final stock awards were posted up. 
On the following morning the general meeting of members (a 
report of which is given in the Appendix, page cxvii.) was held 
in the large tent, Lord Moreton occupying the chair. 
This was decidedly the most brilliant da}* of the Plymouth 
Meeting; for once the almanack was right, and it was Mid- 
summer Day, not only in name, but in nature — one of those 
gloriously beautiful days which we appreciate and enjoy the 
more in this country because of their rarity. The scene in the 
middle of the ground at about the time of the afternoon parade 
will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it. The 
excitement of yesterday's contests had died away, the battle of 
the breeds languished, the sun shone out of a sky unflecked 
with cloud, the heat was moderated by a delicious breeze from 
off the gently rippled sea, and gathered upon the rich green- 
sward of Pennycomequick were the youth and beauty of 
Devonshire. 
During the remaining three days admittance was obtainable 
1 at the popular price of one shilling, but the largest attendance 
was on the "Wednesday, when 39,308 persons paid for admission 
at the turnstiles. For a long series of years Wednesday has 
been a half-crown day, and the price of admission has not been 
reduced to a shilling until the fourth day of the Meeting. This 
year, in deference to the strong representations of the Mayor of 
