The late Sir Watkin Williams Wi/nn, Bart, M.P. 623 
and generous landlord, with a kindly word for any in distress, 
and an encouraging one for any in prosperity. 
Yet another anecdote. Sir Watkin, in a round with his 
agent, saw one farm looking well tilled, and in every way 
reflecting credit on its occupier. He was pleased with what 
he saw, and as]^:ed his agent if the tenant wanted anything done 
for him. The adjoining farm was carelessly managed, and was 
overrun with docks and thistles. This did not escape the eye 
of the keen-sighted baronet, who told his agent to tell the 
tenant that if he could afford to grow so many weeds as well as 
corn, he could afford to pay more rent. Although Sir Watkin 
was not a pioneer of agriculture, or an experimentalist as a 
farmer, his home farm at Wynnstay was carried on in a practical 
and scientific manner, and the Christmas markets at VVrexham 
and Oswestry every year were supplied with magnificent fat 
cattle, whilst many were killed at home for distribution amongst 
the poor. His connection with the Royal Agricultural Society 
of England dated back forty years, as in 1845 he was elected a 
Governor. In 1854 he became a Member of the Council, and 
in 1871 he was Vice-President, and the next year he was 
President at the Cardiff Meeting. Perhaps there was nothing 
in his life he was more proud of than being President of the 
Show when it was held in Wales, and his reception was of a 
most cordial and enthusiastic nature. He gave a gold cup, 
value 100 guineas, for the best-managed farm in South Wales, 
and this munificent prize created a keen and interesting com- 
petition. 
Whilst Sir Watkin's name will not be quoted as foremost 
in the van in agricultural experiments and reform, yet he 
was a valuable member of the Council, and his opinion on any 
matter before the Society invariably carried weight. No figure 
was better known in the Royal Showyards than was his, and no 
member had more at heart the welfare of the Society than Sir 
Watkin. On the occasion of the memorable Show at Kilburn, 
he had a large dinner party at his house in St. James's Square. 
A number of his tenants had come up to London (many, it was 
said, by their landlord's generosity), and these and almost every 
friend and neighbour were invited to the dinner. What fun it 
was ! Many could hardly speak English, and many had never 
been out of Wales before. No wonder that a diner-out, return- 
ing from a party the other side of the square, was fairly puzzled 
when he heard a group of Sir Watkin's guests discussing the 
dinner, the Show, and the weather in St. James's Square at 
midnight, and in their own Welsh language, and reported at 
his Club that a number of lunatics were at large, and using an 
unknown tongue. 
