JjVN'UAT^Y 1. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S CO^IPANION. 
24.Q 
assertion that is ntteviy incorrect. On this matter will I, ■ 
aidetl hy m>i Mr. Latham and Wallis, enter into mortal 1 
combat with him, his Mr. Latham, and IMr. MTight, and, ' 
moreover, give him the whole society of antiquaries as his 
Bashi Bazooks,—Mb B. Tkget.uf.ier. 
TEE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POULTRY 
EXHIBITION. 
This Poultry Show took place at Southwell, on the 10th 
and 20th inst.. under the immediate patronage of Lord 
Hill, Y iscount Galway, and a large proportion of the neigli- 
I bouring aristocracy and gentry. It is the third meeting of 
this Society; and we are informed that this year the stipe- 
riority of the exhibition over those of the two preceding 
I years was most remarkably evident. The principal feature 
I of the show was its really asc/b/character; the Dorkings, 
Geese, and Turkey classes being quite efpial in quality to 
j those varieties as exhibited at any of our most important 
I meetings; while the fancy iioultiy mustered not only meagre 
as to numbers, but, if we make one or two solitary excep¬ 
tions, were only inditferently represented. From the e.x- 
ceedingly low temperature of the weather, 1he attendance 
of ladies on the first day was very limited indeed; “a 
Inihj jiic.rcinij ” north-east wind tending much to prevent 
them and also children from ventuiing to brave its 
severity. This leads us to make a few fi'iendly obser¬ 
vations, which our experience in such matters suggests 
may possibly be considered worthy of attention in future 
years. It is everywhere admitted, that one of the most 
important considerations to a committee of management 
is tlie realization of sufficient funds to carry an equal, or 
still more extended prize-list at subsequent meetings. Now, 
it must be evident to all that this cannot be effected unless 
either at the individual expense of the gentlemen forming 
the society, or from the surplus funds obtained by admission 
money. There are several reasons that may be adduced 
why iioultry exhibitions held in summer time are more 
2 }rnJU-pro(liicini/ than during the severities of winter. The 
days are infinitely longer; day-tickets by railway are then 
in great requisition from amateurs who may reside in some¬ 
what distant localities, whilst the tendency in all minds to 
avail themselves of a summer’s day excursion of pleasure is 
equally notorious. If, on the other hand, a snow-storm un¬ 
happily takes place about the time fixed for the exhibition, 
the limitation tlius made upon the funds of the institution 
none but those parties who have been actual sufferers from 
it can sufficiently appreciate. AVe know numerous instances 
of committees who were thus suddenly deprived of the 
means of again holding their annual re-union, not from any 
fault of their own seeking, but simply from the unexpected 
disadvantages we have just alluded to. 
At Southwell, the exhibition taking place in two very 
commodious tents, the severity of the cold was most i 
extreme; but by introducing iron tire-baskets at intervals, 
unpleasantry from this cause was speedily removed alto¬ 
gether ; and we cannot refrain our well-merited approval of 
the energetic exertions of the Committee to counteract, by 
every available means in their power, this unforeseen 
drawback on their finances. Still, however, we doubt not 
that the public gener.ally rvere not aware of this means 
being resorted to for their temporary convenience, and, con¬ 
sequently, the amount of entrance-money was proportionably 
limited. 
AVe will just give one other hint in the way of improve¬ 
ment on the late plans, viz., the arraiu/cmciit of the different 
classes in respect of light. The Geese, Turkeys, and Ducks 
may be placed in the more obscure portions of a poultry 
show, with comparatively little injury either to the general 
effect of the whole, or their chances of prize-winning ; on 
the contrary, tlie Game, Hamburghs (of all kinds), Bolands, 
Spanish, Sebright Bantams, or any others of the strictly 
fancy varieties, require the best Vajht, both for public inspec¬ 
tion, and not less so for the certain and proper adjudication 
of the society’s premiums. 
AVe will now take a cursory glance through the different 
classes. The Spanish (both old and young) were of a quality 
that somewhat disappointed our anticipations—not a single 
pen in either class of really first-rate character competing. 
The however, compensated fully for this deficiency, 
the whole of them being extremely good. By the prize-list 
we published last w'eek it will be seen that first quizes fell to 
the lot of H. Smitli, Esq., of the Grove, Cropwell Butler, 
and fully maintained the high repute of that gentleman’s j 
stock of this useful variety. The Cochins were not remark- j 
able in any way, with one exception; these were the first adult 
prize birds, and very rarely before have we seen so excellent , 
a pen of really well-matched “ Silver Cinnamons.” The | 
AATiitc, Partridge-coloured, and Black Cochins were in no 
way remarkable; the latter being decidedly the most indif¬ 
ferent of the whole. Brahmas were reqtresented by one 
solitary qren, in two classes ; but these not being sufficiently 
worthy, the prize even to them was withheld. All the Game 
were such as we rarely meet with, the whole being very 
good. Among the first-qtrize qiens, we especially noticed a 
very perfect pen of really** blue Game,” a variety in them¬ 
selves, but, from their excellence of character likewise, were 
much noticed by visitors. 
We were not a little amused in these classes by the various 
artifices practised by the owners to improve, if qtossible, the 
general appearance of their favourites for this ^^arlicular 
occasion. Not only had tweezers been sedulotisly employed, 
but “bandoline” Itad also been used to lay still more closely 
the feathers on tlie heads of the cocks; whilst some few 
parties, whose purses would not permit the expense of this 
costly appliance from the lady’s toilet-table, were con¬ 
tented to use soup for tbe same end. AA'e willingly admit 
such tactics'may easily deceive the uninitiated, but with 
qiarlies as experienced as the gentleman who officiated at 
this meeting, it proved that much prior toil and trouble 
were thrown away. 
The Haniburi/hs were not so good as we could have 
desired. Aqien of Golden-qiencilled, however, formed a re¬ 
markable exception to this otherwise general rule. The 
Cross breeds (from which we never expect mucli interest) 
here did but little to raise our previous opinions of them as 
exhibition birds. Among the Bantams were a very excellent 
qien of Golden laced, and a superior one of Silver-laced 
Sebrights. 'The Black ones were also very good indeed. 
In the extra variety of Bantams, a group of the now 
.almost extinct feather-legged and booted birds were most 
worthy of attention, from their singularity, and still greater 
hardiness of constitution. 'The Black-breasted Bed Game 
Bantams were also unusually excellent. 'The Bucks, as a 
whole, were tolerably good, tbe Bouens being decidedly the 
worst variety. In 'Turkeys and Geese the Nottinghamshire 
Show has very rarely been excelled, the weights of some of 
the winning pens being most extraordinary. AA'^e feel much 
qjleasure in recording this advancement towards perfection, 
on account of tlieir widely-diffused utility, more especially at 
the present festive season. 
A circumstance came to our knowledge at the Southwell 
Show, to which we (though painfully) must allude. A party, 
whose name we here for obvious reasons decline mention¬ 
ing, had forwarded some fowls for exhibition, that, by some 
miscliance of tlie railway officials, were delayed until so 
late an hour that the awards had been determined long 
before their entrance into the show-tent. 'They, of course, 
were placarded, ** too late for competition; ” their owner, 
immediately on being apprized of this mishap, showed 
symptoms of much anger and uncontrollable excitement, 
w'alked up to the unoffending birds, and actually (though 
mildly expostulated with by the indignant b 3 standers), in¬ 
stantly destroyed them. AVe forbear any further comment 
than the simple cxqiressiou of our mvn convictions, that such 
reckless and unmerited cruelty could never have been prac¬ 
tised on really superior poultry, had their infuriate owner 
refiected for a single instant, or viewed, as others did, the 
unmitigated folly of the act he qmrpetrated, and his con- 
se(iuent degradation in the estimation of every one who 
witnessed it. 
AVe have, since writing the above, been informed the at¬ 
tendance of visitors on the second day of exhibition was 
exceedingly good ; and most sincerely we congratulate the 
committee on this ^result, for the indefatigable individual 
exertions of each and all its members richly deserved it. 
Nearly three hundred pens of poultry competed, and the 
prizes w'ere satisfactorily aw'arded by jMr, Edw'ard Hewitt, 
of Spark Brook, near Birmingham. 
