10 
Sir Jacob Wilson. 
But there was still another disease to combat, and, as will 
be shown later on, Mr. Wilson took an important part in 
ridding the country of pleuro-pneumonia. 
Shortly after the passing of the Act of 1884 it was felt that 
some public recognition was due to Mr. Wilson for the great 
services he had rendered to the cause of agriculture, and a 
meeting in the Royal Showyard at Shrewsbury on July 4, 
1884, originated by a circular letter signed by the Earl of 
Lathom, Lord Egerton of Tatton, and Mr. S. P. Foster, of 
Killhow, was the means of putting this feeling into tangible 
form. The idea was eagerly taken up, and a large and 
influential committee was appointed. This committee shortly 
afterwards issued the following circular : — 
In recognition of Mr. Jacob Wilson's services in the cause of agriculture, 
it is proposed to present him with a public testimonial. For twenty years he 
has been a most active member of the Council of the R.A.S.E., and since 1875 
has been the Honorary Director (Steward of General Arrangements) of the 
Showyard (including the International Exhibition at Kilburn), as well as a 
member of the Council of the Shorthorn Society and of the Smithfield Club. 
The Royal Commission of Agriculture, which sat for three years, was 
largely indebted to him for the untiring assistance he afforded to its labours. 
He also rendered signal service to the country by the part he took in further- 
ing the passage through Parliament of the Cattle Diseases Bills of 1878 and 1884. 
It is proposed to entertain him at a public dinner in London on Monday, 
December 8 (the first day of the Smithfield Club Show), when the testimonial . 
will be presented. 
Subscriptions were limited to twenty guineas ; the list 
was headed by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and a most 
general and ready response ensued, upwards of 1,300 sub- 
scribers, of all ranks and of almost all nationalities, sending 
in their names. The dinner took place at Willis’s Rooms, 
London, on Monday evening, December 8, 1884. The Duke 
of Richmond and Gordon, K.G., presided, and about 250 
noblemen and gentlemen were present. The testimonial 
took the form of an old silver soup tureen and ladle of the 
time of George III. and a purse of 3,000 guineas. The 
following inscription was engraved upon the tureen : — 
Presented 
to 
JACOB WILSON, Esquire, 
together with a purse containing 
Three Thousand Guineas, 
in recognition of his services in the cause of Agriculture, 
at a Banquet held at Willis’s Rooms, 
on December 8, 1884, 
His Grace the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, K.G., 
in the Chair. 
The guest of the evening sat at his Grace’s right hand, a'nd 
was supported by a noble and distinguished company. After 
the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been honoured, the 
