Annual  General  Meeting,  December  8,  1909.  xxxiii 
Honess,  H.  E.  Hopper,  J.  G.  James,  A.  L.  Jessopp,  H.  Jonas,  W.  T.  Jordan, 
Dunbar  Kelly,  H.  J.  Kingwell,  John  K.  T.  KingweU,  M.  H.  Knowles,  E.  J. 
Lamb,  W.  Langridge,  J.  S.  Ledbrook,  F.  D.  Little,  Hanslip  Long,  W.  H. 
Lythall,  Kenneth  J.  J.  Mackenzie,  C.  J.  B.  Macdonald,  Joseph  Martin,  John 
Maughan,  H.  C.  Minchin,  C.  Morris,  W.  J.  Morton,  J.  M.  Moubray,  J.  Reginald 
Naylor,  W.  Nisbet,  T.  G.  Owen,  Benjamin  Painter,  William  Parlour,  Martin 
Pate,  Professor  Penberthy,  Messrs.  E.  C.  Ransome,  D.  R.  Ratcliff,  E.  S.  Reid, 
E.  Rosling,  F.  G.  Samson,  F.E.C.V.S.,  E.  W.  Shepperson,  Franklin  Simmons, 
H.  M.  Simmons,  S.  Simpson,  James  Sinnott,  Dr.  F.  B.  Skalweit,  Messrs.  Abel 
Smith,  M.P.,  S.  vSnell,  J.  M.  Sturgess,  J.  Herbert  Taylor,  G.  D.  Thody, 
J.  Tompkins,  Edward  Trimen,  Eldred  Walker,  Martin  H.  Ward,  T.  H.  Ward, 
J.  W.  Watt,  F.  N.  Webb,  W.  Wills,  J.  C.  Winn,  &c.,  &c. 
Chairman’s  Opening  Remarks. 
The  Duke  of  Devonshire  said  he  was  sure  they  would  all  have  heard 
with  the  deepest  and  most  sincere  regret  that  their  President,  Lord  Jersey, 
was,  on  account  of  his  severe  illness,  unable  to  be  present  that  day.  During 
his  term  of  office  Lord  Jersey  had  devoted  himself  heart  and  soul  to  the  welfare 
and  prosperity  of  the  Society,  and  they  all  hoped  that  he  would  soon  be  re- 
stored to  health  and  able  to  carry  out  his  duties  with  his  accustomed  vigour. 
He  was  glad  to  be  able  to  read  the  following  telegram  from  Mr.  Little,  Lord 
Jersey’s  agent : — 
I am  desired  by  Lord  Jersey  to  express  his  deep  appreciation  of  the  sympathy 
extended  to  him  in  his  illness  by  many  members  of  the  R.A.S.E.,  and  his  regret  that 
he  is  unable  to  be  present  at  the  general  meeting  to-day.  He  is  making  excellent 
progress  towards  recovery. 
His  Grace  was  sure  he  would  only  be  expressing  the  sincere  wish  of  every  one 
present  when  he  hoped  that  that  progress  would  be  continued. 
They  hail  again  the  privilege  of  meeting  in  that  room,  through  the  kindness 
of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Hall  Company  and  the  Smithfield  Club,  and  the 
Society  was  deeply  indebted  to  them  for  allowing  them  the  use  of  the  room. 
The  first  business  of  the  meeting  was  the  presentation  of  the  Balance-sheet, 
and  printed  copies  of  the  Show  accounts  were  in  the  hands  of  those  present. 
When  they  took  into  consideration  the  very  inclement  weather  from  which  they 
suffered  at  Gloucester,  he  hoped  they  would  not  consider  the  Balance-sheet  at 
all  unsatisfactory.  He  had  had  the  privilege  of  being  there  every  day  of  the 
Show,  and  considering  all  the  circumstances  of  the  weather,  if  there  was  only 
an  actual  deficit  of  327L  on  the  working  of  the  Show,  he  thought  it  reflected 
the  greatest  credit  on  all  concerned.  If  ever  advertisement  was  required  as  to 
successful  management  and  good  co-operation,  he  believetl  it  was  to  be  found 
in  the  balance-sheet  in  their  hands  that  day.  Apart  from  the  weather,  he 
thought  they  had  every  reason  to  congratulate  themselves  on  the  result  of  the 
Show,  which  was  in  every  other  respect  a most  markeil  success.  They  owed 
a very  great  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  work  done  by  the  Local  Committee, 
who  had  thrown  themselves  into  the  success  of  the  Show  with  the  greatest 
cordiality,  and  the  successful  results  of  the  Show  were  very  largely  due  to 
what  they  had  done.  At  the  same  time  he  would  like  to  take  the  opportunity 
of  expressing  the  gratitude  of  the  Society  to  the  Mayor  and  Mayoress  and  to  the 
Corporation  for  their  most  kind  and  generous  hospitality  and  for  their  great 
exertions,  individually  and  collectively,  to  promote  the  success  of  the  Show. 
As  they  knew,  the  Show  of  next  year  would  be  held  at  Liverpool,  on  the 
Wavertree  Playground,  from  June  21  to  26,  and  so  far  as  they  bad  gone,  every- 
thing pointed  to  a most  successful  meeting.  The  prize-sheet,  which  would  be 
ready  at  the  beginning  of  next  year,  would  be  found  to  be  one  of  the  most 
liberal  that  had  ever  been  provided,  and  bore  ample  testimony  to  the  generosity 
of  the  various  Breed  Societies  which  had  again  come  forward  with  contribu- 
tions to  the  Prize  Fund.  He  had  had  personally  the  opportunity  of  meeting 
several  of  the  Members  of  the  Local  Committee  at  Liverpool,  and  he  knew  they 
were  determined,  if  possible — and  they  well  knew  that  when  Lancashire  people 
