Agricultural and Commercial Society. 25 
Government Secretary's Office, 
Georgetown, Demerara, 
22nd May, 1901. 
Sir, — I liave the honour by direction of the Governor 
to forward, herewith, a copy of a Circular Despatch 
from the Secretary of State for the Colonies dealing 
with the objects of the newly established Commercial 
Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade. 
His Excellency would be glad to obtain the 
co-operation of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial 
Society in giving effect to the views expressed by 
Mr. Chamberlain, and to be favoured with the opinion 
of the Society as to how this may best be done. 
I have the honour to be. 
Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
A. M. ASHMORE. 
The Secretary, 
Royal Agricultural and 
Commercial Society. 
Downing Street, 
30th March, 1901. 
Sir,— On the 26th of July, 1897, the Board of Trade 
appointed a Committee to consider and advise as to 
the best means of bringing to the knowledge of traders 
in this country the information furnished by Consuls, 
Conmiercial Attaches, representatives of the Colonies 
and other officers as to the supply and demand and 
other conditions of the markets in their respective 
districts, and to report how far arrangements could be 
made for the exhibition of trade samples in London 
or in ])rovincial trade centres. This Committee reported 
in July, 1(S98, and, after full consideration of their 
report, a copy of which is enclosed, and in pursuance 
of one of the principal suggestions made in it, a 
Coiniiii3i'cial [ntellijj^ence Branch of the Board of Trade 
was opened in October, 1899. 
D 
