Agriculture and the House of Russell. 135 
eluded the exiled King of France, Louis XYIII., and several 
of the noblesse who followed his fortunes and misfoi'tunes. 
On the last day of this sheep-shearing, Mr. Coke, in 
acknowledging the toast of his health, remarked on the great 
advantages which had arisen from such gatherings, and, referring 
to the exertions made by Sir Joseph Banks in favour of Merino 
sheep,' admitted the service he had rendered to our manufac- 
turers, but thought it could hardly be expected that the breed 
would be serviceable in yielding mutton to the country, and 
proposed as a toast, " Sir Joseph Banks, and a fine fleece on a 
fat carcass." Sir Joseph, in responding, urged that the improve- 
ment of the Merino sheep had but just begun, but he anticipated 
that they were as capable of development as the Lincolnshires 
or Southdowns, and had no doubt that in a few years the breed 
would answer all the purposes which its patrons desired. Time 
has, however, shown that the practical agriculturist was right, 
and that the sanguine expectations of the great naturalist have 
not yet been fulfilled. 
The sixth Duke also succeeded his brother as President of 
the Smithfield Club, and continued in oflSce till 1813, when he 
resigned the post on proceeding to the Continent, but most 
generously placed at the disposal of the Club the sum of 125 
guineas, to be offered annually in prizes, which were subse- 
quently distributed under the name of the " Bedfordian plate and 
medals." On his return from abioad he resumed the presidency, 
which he continued to hold until 1821, when he withdrew from 
the Club altogether, being of opinion that its objects had been 
fully attained, and that it had no longer any raison d'etre. The 
members were, however, opposed to its dissolution, and, after an 
interregnum of three years. Lord Althorp (afterwards one of 
the chief founders of the Royal Agricultural Society) became its 
third President,^ and inspired its operations with renewed 
vigour. It is probable that a similar feeling led to the ultimate 
discontinuance by the Duke of the Woburn sheep-shearings, as 
advance was made in agricultural practice, and their usefulneps was 
superseded by the formation of numerous agricultural societies. 
An excellent idea of the scene at these famous sheep-shear- 
ings, as they were held in the days of the sixth Duke of Bedford, 
is obtainable from a now rare engraving from a painting by 
G, Garrard, A.R.A. — "the modeller of cattle" already referred 
to — published in May, 1811, and a copy of which (presented in 
November, 1875, by Messrs. Eastons and Anderson) is now 
' It is stated that at the sheep-shearing in 1799 some Spanish wool from 
sheep bred in England was sold to the wool-slaplers at tis. per lb. 
» Journal K.A.S.E., Vol. I. 3rd Series (1890), p. 149. 
