220 
The First Two Country Meetings of the 
At least 1,000 prospective diners were waiting fit thd 
doors an hour before the feast began, and punctually at 4 
P.M. the outgoing President (Earl Spencer) took the chair. 
The company included nearly all the leading members of the 
Society, together with several distinguished guests, amongst 
whom were the Chevalier Bunsen, and the great American 
statesman — perhaps the greatest orator the United States has 
ever produced — Daniel Webster, who was then, for the first and 
only time in his life, on a visit to Europe, and devoted parti- 
cular attention to the agriculture of England and Scotland. 
Lord Spencer was, of course, overjoyed to witness the successful 
issue of the Meeting. During the proceedings his Lordship 
remarked that for many years past the formation of such a 
Society had been his urgent desire, and he had been apprehen- 
sive lest the effort might be attended with failure ; but if he had 
entertained any feeling of concern as to whether it would meet 
with the real support of the farmers of England, the question 
had now become no longer a matter of doubt, for he saw before 
him the most convincing proof that the movement had resulted 
in the highest success. 
Amongst the other speakers were the Duke of Richmond 
(the President-elect), the Vice-Chancellor (replying for the 
University in the absence of the Duke of Wellington, the 
Chancellor), Sir James Graham, Chevalier Bunsen, the Earl of 
Devon, the Provost of Queen’s, Mr. Daniel Webster, the Mayor 
of Oxford, Mr. Handley, M.P. (who read out the lists of the 
successful competitors), Lord Moreton, the Marquis of Down- 
shire, Lord Stradbroke, Lord Talbot, Lord Sandon, Sir Thomas 
Acland, the Rev. Dr. Buckland, Mr. Philip Pusey, and Mr. Shaw 
(the Secretary). 
Those were the days of portentously long toast lists, and 
interminable after-dinner speeches ; but the visitors present 
appear to have maintained their enthusiasm to the last, for 
“ loud cheering ” and “ immense cheering ” punctuate the report 
of almost every speech up to the last, when the toast of “ the 
Agricultural Labourer ” was drunk with “ loud applause and 
three times three.” The success of the evening was, however, 
made by Mr. Daniel Webster, the American statesman, whose 
stirring oratory appears to have thrilled all present. 
Lord Spencer having coupled his name with the toast of 
“ Distinguished Strangers,” as that of “ a most illustrious 
visitor from the country whose people we are obliged legally to 
call foreigners, but who are still our brethren in blood,” Mr. 
Webster, in responding, said that he was more than ordinarily 
moved by the spectacle of so great an assemblage of persons, 
