Clubs & Societies in British Guiana to 1844. 87 
Societies, this strike having given them a serious blow, 
and broken the slight bond which held them together. 
Like their immediate predecessors they were ruined by 
concerning themselves with the great labour question, 
which put in the background everything tending to im- 
provement in Agriculture ; this was the reason why the 
founders of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial 
Society were so particular in ruling that no political dis- 
cussions should take place at any of their meetings. The 
Royal Gazette of October 14th 1845, in speaking of a 
ploughing match in Barbados and the want of some- 
thing of the kind in Demerara said, " where are our 
Agricultural Associations to stimulate and encourage 
improved methods of cultivation ? The mischief among 
the Planters of this Colony is their self-enforced isola- 
tion : for deep reasons perhaps, their want of concert 
and mutual confidence. Each man thinks and acts for 
himself ; his neighbour's system is not his; and in a few 
years he lustily complains of being ruined. Just so. 
But whose fault is it ? The Government ? The Govern- 
ment here at least is not to be blamed. It would be well 
for our agriculturists if they trusted more to themselves 
and less to Governments and Courts of Policy." 
This article calling upon Demerarians not to let Bar- 
bados be ahead of them, was probably the first hint 
which led to the foundation of the present Society. But 
other agencies were at work. In the Town Council on 
the 13th of November 1843, Mr. SL Jacobs moved that 
the Court of Policy be asked for a grant of a portion of 
the land on which the old hospital then stood, for build- 
ing a Town Hall. He was authorised to state that a 
thousand pounds could be raised in Water Street for the 
