PRESENTATION TO MR. FRYER. 
627 
that feeling with him. He had for long endeavoured to convince 
all with whom he conversed on this matter that if they wished to get 
rid of the disease, they must kill all infected cattle. With this 
object in view, he wrote to Mr. Pulleine, of Clifton Castle, asking 
him to call a meeting of the landowners and tenant farmers, and he 
should ever feel thankful to him for the readiness with which he com¬ 
plied with his wishes. What the result was they already knew— 
the district was saved from a severe visitation, and this with the sacri¬ 
fice of only twenty-three head of cattle, and a comparatively insignifi¬ 
cant pecuniary payment. To him it was an anxious time, because 
he had undertaken to carry out what all considered difficult, and 
many impossible ; and had he not succeeded they knew the penalty 
that usually attached to failure, however well directed the efforts may 
have been. He certainly received as liberal a share of abuse as most 
people did who had an unpleasant office to fill. But this he could 
charitably overlook, and wait till the storm blew over; for he knew 
full well that a change of opinion must come. He had a few good 
and kind supporters, and when he had power to cope with this 
terrilile malady, he could set about to carry out the wishes of the 
subscribers and the committee with promptitude. He felt flattered 
to find that they thought his efforts had done some good in the w^ay 
of saving a good deal of valuable stock in this, and preventing the 
spread of the disease into other localities. There were some pleasant 
reminiscences connected even with the discharge of a disagreeable 
duty ; and in honour to the gentlemen who were so unfortunate as to 
have the plague on their premises, he must say that in nearly every 
instance they treated him with the greatest kindness and considera^ 
tion, and were ready and willing to carry out his instructions. But 
he could not say as much for many who had no cause to complain. 
He thought he ought to tell them that he never saw one killed out of 
the very great many cattle destroyed by his orders. This gave him 
just reason to be proud of the confidence that was placed in him, and 
that on the whole he was satisfied that his orders were faithfully 
executed. He would not detain them longer, but from his heart 
thanked the subscribers for their liberality, and the committee of 
management for the trouble they must have taken to raise the means 
to purchase such beautiful works of art. He should especially value 
the address, as containing the names of so many kind friends, whom 
he hoped for some years to see. He had great pleasure in accepting 
the testimonials ; and would hand them down as heir-looms in his 
family, so that his children and their successors, as they read over the 
inscription and the names, might be reminded of the sad trials through 
which the agricultural interests had passed. In closing he hoped 
that God might in His mercy avert from the shores of Britain such 
another calamity. He thanked them again for their kindness, and 
resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. 
XLII. 
13 
