Royal Agricultural Society : Oxford, 1839 ; Cambridge, 1840. 209 
Kirkleavington in Yorkshire, to Hull, and there shipped to London, then 
put into the canal boat, and forwarded to Aylesbury. They remained the 
night, and the next day were driven ten miles to Thame, and finally, the day 
after, another thirteen miles to Oxford, having been nearly three weeks on 
the road ! If the renowned “ Tommy Bates,” their owner, now wished to 
send his cattle to Windsor or Oxford from Darlington, he could put them 
into a close van, and in twenty-four hours they would reach their destina- 
tion — (page 232). 
The animals thus referred to were the four exhibits sent 
to the Oxford Meeting by the famous Shorthorn breeder, Mr. 
Thomas Bates, of Kirkleavington, viz., a roan bull, “ Duke of 
Northumberland” (1,940), a roan cow (dam Matchem Cow) 
afterwards named the Oxford Premium Cow, a roan in-calf 
heifer, “ Duchess 4<2nd,” and a yearling red heifer, “ Duchess 
43rd.” Mr. Bates accompanied his beasts on board during 
their adventurous sea journey, and looked after their treat- 
ment. Whilst in the London Docks, the “ Duke of North- 
umberland ” became restive and slipped, lying across the 
gangway ; but he was quieted by Mr. Bates and suffered no 
injury. 
The site of the Show-yard was “ Mr. Pinfold’s pasture ground, 
Holywell,” which is now covered with the buildings of Mansfield 
College. This field was about seven acres in extent, conveniently 
adjacent to the town, and forming part of a farm at Holywell, 
in the occupation of Mr. John Pinfold, a wealthy bachelor, 
carrying on a large butcher’s business in Oxford market, 
chiefly in connexion with the college kitchens. During the 
Show Mr. Pinfold entertained Mr. Bates at Holywell ; and Mr. 
Frederick King, of Wealdstone, Middlesex, who was present 
with his father at the Oxford Meeting, writes that as they were 
personal friends of Mr. Pinfold, who was much engaged in his 
ordinary occupation at such a busy time, they saw a good deal 
of his guest. “ Mr. Bates ” (says Mr. King) “ spent most of his 
time with my father and myself, and confided to me how his 
bull was descended from the breed of the celebrated Durham 
Ox, even now admitted to have been the grandest specimen of 
the Shorthorn breed ever yet produced.” 
A handbill (for a copy of which the Society is indebted to 
Mr. King) was extensively circulated as to the arrangements for 
the Show, and on page 210 is given a reduced copy of it, as 
nearly as possible in facsimile. 
Lord Spencer, the President of the Society, with Mr. Hum- 
phrey Gibbs, the Director of the Yard, and the Stewards 
(Messrs. S. Druce, E. Franklin, and B. T. B. Gibbs, “ on the 
part, of Mr. Trinder”), were early at Oxford directing the 
arrangements, and during the whole of Sunday and Monday 
