Special  Council , May  12,  1910. 
xxm 
The  Secretary  announced  that  the  trustees  of  the  “ Queen  Victoria  Gifts” 
Fund  had  decided  to  make  a grant  to  the  Royal  Agricultural  Benevolent 
Institution  of  140Z.  for  the  year  1910. 
Other  business  having  been  transacted,  the  Council  adjourned  until 
Wednesday,  June  1,  1910,  at  11  a.m. 
THURSDAY,  MAY  12,  1910. 
At  a Special  Council,  held  at  16  Bedford  Square,  W.C.,  Sir  Gilbert 
Greenall,  Bart.  (President),  in  the  Chair  : — 
Present : — Trustees. — Mr.  F.  S.  W.  Cornwallis,  the  Earl  of  Coventry,  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire,  Lord  Middleton,  Lord  Moreton. 
Vice-Presidents. — H.R.H.  Prince  Christian,  K.G.,  Mr.  C.  R.  W.  Adeane, 
the  Rt.  Hon.  Ailwyn  E.  Fellowes,  the  Earl  of  Northbrook. 
Other  Members  of  the  Council. — Mr.  T.  L.  Aveling,  Mr.  Richardson  Carr, 
Mr.  Howard  Frank,  Mr.  Ernest  A.  Hamlyn,  Mr.  J.  Howard  Howard,  Mr.  W.  A. 
May,  Mr.  William  Noctori,  Mr.  Frederick  Reynard,  and  Mr.  George  Taylor. 
The  following  members  of  the  Liverpool  Local  Committee  were  also 
present : — The  Lord  Mayor  of  Liverpool  and  Mr.  Percy  F.  Corkhill. 
The  Secretary  reported  the  receipt  of  numerous  letters  and  telegrams  from 
Members  of  the  Council  expressing  sympathy  with  the  object  of  the  meeting, 
and  regret  at  their  inability  to  be  present. 
The  requisition  from  the  President  for  summoning  the  Special  Council 
meeting  having  been  read, 
The  President  rose  to  propose  an  address  of  condolence  with  His  Majesty 
King  George  on  the  death  of  His  late  Majesty  King  Edward  the  Seventh.  He 
said  the  duty  that  devolved  upon  him  was  the  most  solemn  winch  a President 
of  that  Society  could  possibly  be  called  upon  to  perform.  They  met  together 
under  the  shadow  of  a national  sorrow.  They  mourned  the  loss  not  only  of 
their  gracious  Sovereign,  but  also  of  their  patron  and  greatest  benefactor.  After 
his  all-too-short  reign,  their  beloved  Sovereign  King  Edward  the  Seventh  had 
passed  away  so  suddenly  that  as  yet  they  scarcely  realised  the  force  of  the  blow. 
They  were  met  there  that  day  to  place  on  record  as  best  they  could  the  expres- 
sion of  their  profound  sorrow  for  the  loss  they  had  sustained.  The  agricultural 
community  owed  a deep  debt  of  gratitude  to  their  late  beloved  Sovereign.  He 
was  ever  mindful  of  the  nation’s  interes  s,  and  it  was  therefore  not  surprising 
that  he  took  such  a great  personal  interest  in  their  Society,  which  devoted 
its  energies  to  the  preservation  of  England’s  greatest  industry. 
They  knew  that  in  His  Majesty  King  George  the  Fifth  they  possessed  one 
who  had  always  shown  himself  in  active  sympathy  with  the  agriculture  of  the 
country  in  general,  and  with  that  Society  in  particular,  despite  the  fact  that  his 
duties  had  called  him  to  other  parts  of  the  Empire  for  such  lengthy  periods. 
They  might,  therefore,  rest  confident  of  the  future  ; and  he  was  sure  he  was 
speaking  the  thought  which  must  be  present  in  the  minds  of  them  all  when  he 
said  that  they  fervently  hoped  that  His  Majesty  King  George  might  have  health 
and  strength  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  the  almost  overwhelming  duties  with 
which  he  was  confronted,  and  still  be  able  to  give  them  not  only  his  patronage, 
but  also  his  actual  support. 
At  the  request  of  the  President,  Mr.  McRow  then  read  the  following 
Address  to  His  Majesty  King  George  : — 
ROYAL  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY  OF  ENGLAND. 
TO  THE  KING'S  MOST  EXCELLENT  MAJESTY. 
May  it  please  Your  Majesty  : 
We,  the  President  and  Council  representing  the  general  body  of  Governors  and 
Members  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  desire  humbly  to  approach 
Your  Majesty  with  the  assurance  of  our  loyal  and  devoted  attachment  to  Your 
Majesty’s  Throne  and  Person,  and  of  our  sincere  and  respectlul  sympathy  with 
