860 = 594 The Royal Agricultural Society of England. 
Exclusion of 
Politics. 
CHAPTER I. 
Objects, Constitution, and Management. 
When founded The Rojal Agricultural Society of England commenced 
and incorpo- career in 1838 under the name of " The English Agriculti 
Charter Society."* On March 26th, 1840, it obtained a Royal Charte 
Incorporation, which enumerated the chief founders of the Soci" 
and recited that they had " formed themselves into a Society 
the general advancement of English Agriculture," and that 
" essential principle " of its constitution was, " the stri 
exclusion from their councils of every question of discuss 
having a political tendency, or which shall refer to any ma' 
to be brought forward, or at any time pending, in either of 
Houses of Parliament." Accordingly, the Royal Charter wsi 
granted " under the condition that a principle of its constitutio 
shall be the total exclusion of all questions at its meetings, t 
in its proceedings, of a political tendency, or having referent 
to measures pending, or to be brought forward, in either of oi 
Houses of Parliament, which no resolution, bye-law, or otht 
enactment of the said body politic and corporate, shall on an 
account or pretence whatever be at any time allowed t 
infringe." Political subjects were further defined to be "thos 
questions of debate on which the people of every individu? 
country entertain sentiments so much at variance with each other. 
The exclusion of questions of a political nature from th 
this provision. Objects of the Society was no doubt essential to its success i 
the time when the Royal Charter was granted ; and if th 
Charter has conferred on the Society no other benefit, it 
the very beneficial effect of producing cohesion in the new! 
formed association by giving the force of law to what wa 
previously a voluntary resolution which might have bee 
rescinded by the majority of members present and voting a 
any Meeting of the Council. Of late years it has often beei 
questioned whether the Society should not be at liberty t 
* It may be desirable to mention that in the United Kingdom tliere is n 
obstacle to the voluntary association of individuals for the promotion of any la^\ 
ful object. The embodying of such an association into a corporate body, whic 
has power to hold property in its own name, and to bo itself responsible for it 
debts — thus relieving the individual members from personal pecuniary liabilitit 
aiising out of its action — can be accomplished either by means of a Roya 
Charter, or (of late years) by registration under the " Limited Liability Com 
panics Acts." In the former ease, the objects and rules of the association mur 
1)0 approved by the I'rivy Council, and their essence is embodied in the Revo 
Charter of Incorporation, the limits of which must not bo exceeded. In tli 
latter case, the Board of Trade is the examining body, and its function hus . 
more or less commercial character, lloyal Charters are not now granted excep 
for wull-dcfiued objects of recognised public utility. 
