408 
THE DEVON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
rule would go far to banish many diseases from our stables, 
which are a disgrace to our societies and to the country. 
If the Royal Agricultural Society could be induced to adopt a 
similar resolution, it is scarcely possible to calculate the good 
that would be produced. 
The judges had, however, recommended for a prize a cart 
mare and a foal, about which there was nothing wrong, although, 
if any valuable horses had been exhibited, the mare and her foal 
would probably have been passed over. 
The Chairman very warmly and properly expressed his hope, 
that, on a future occasion, the show of horses would be better. 
He hoped that they would not degenerate, and go back to the 
old Devonshire hack- horse again ; and that gentlemen would 
not fancy that, because McAdam had made the roads smooth, 
and the shoeing-smiths had carefully performed their duty, there 
was no occasion to improve the breed of the horse. 
Mr. Sillifont said, that after the description which they had 
of the horses, and when they were told that the best of them did 
not deserve a prize, and they had further heard that the only 
gentleman who had shewn any thing worthy of the notice of the 
society was a lady, he trusted that they would drink his toast 
with enthusiasm : — “ The plough and the fleece.” 
The adjudication of the prizes for sheep was then read, to which 
succeeded that of cattle. 
On the healths of “ The successful candidates” being drunk, 
Mr. Kekewich made the following beautiful reply. He said 
that he little expected to address them as one of the successful 
candidates : that was an honour to which he did not expect to have 
attained. He then proceeded to enlarge on the importance of the 
agricultural interest, observing that, in his opinion, on it the pros- 
perity of the country depended. Those were engaged in it who 
lived on the soil, and were attached to the soil, and would leave it 
unimpaired to their posterity — who were the pride and glory of 
our native land — and who expended their capital and enterprise in 
contributing to make this country the first in the scale of nations. 
They lived in a time of great public excitement ; but in this 
society they could throw aside all questions but one, and meet 
in the greatest harmony and cordiality. While turbulent and 
stormy discussions were taking place without, here was peace 
and concord within ; here they could be united while the storm 
was raging without. They could join hand in hand, and heart 
with heart, in endeavouring to promote the interests of agricul- 
ture. Much had been said about the relative condition of Devon 
and Cornwall with respect to agricultural improvement; that, 
