70 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
On Wednesday, December 4tb, the annual meeting of 
members was holden at Hanover Square, the Duke of Rich¬ 
mond in the chair. 
Mr. Hall Dare read the report of the Council. 
Before the report was adopted, a discussion upon the pro¬ 
ceedings of the Council took place, in especial reference to 
the amalgamation of the offices of secretary and editor, to 
which double office Mr. Jenkins, assistant secretary, librarian, 
and curator of the Geological Society of London, and editor 
of the quarterly journal of that society, had been appointed. 
The several speakers, Messrs. J. C. Morton, T. Duckham, 
Clare, Sewell Read, M.D., Sidney, Sir Geo. Jenkinson, Sir M. 
Lopes, Sir W. Stirling, and the Rev. J. Constable, were unani¬ 
mous in condemning the course which the Council had 
adopted in selecting a gentleman for the office of editor who 
admittedly knew absolutely nothing of agriculture. It was 
allowed that the committee of selection had appointed the 
best among the candidates who offered themselves for election, 
but it was nevertheless contended that the association of two 
perfectly distinct offices had kept out of the field eminent 
practical agriculturists, who would otherwise have been 
induced to come forward. 
At tbe conclusion of the discussion the Chairman put the 
motion that the report be adopted, which was carried against 
many dissentients. 
Subsequently, the subject of shearing sheep in April for 
the Society’s exhibition in July was considered. 
jMr. Willson also made some suggestions in respect of the 
erection of buildings by the exhibitors instead of by the 
Society’s contractors. 
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the pro¬ 
ceedings. 
THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW. 
If success is the test of merit, the exhibition of fat stock 
at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, this year, may claim to 
have been highly meritorious. The general opinion among 
the numerous visitors was that no such show of stock had 
been seen in the hall on any previous occasion. 
The Herefords were the most prominent feature of the 
exhibition, and next to them the Devons took place. The 
