THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION, February 3, 1857. 313 
discharges his duties, and his firm integrity of purpose. 
The process of “ trimming,” we are sorry to say, appears to 
have been resorted to in this Exhibition more than is 
generally the case; two pens being absolutely disqualified 
from this cause alone, although they were otherwise 
excellent. Several other pens, where the nefarious practice 
was not carried out to the same extent, were allowed to pass 
muster, simply from the fact that, although the Judge was 
perfectly convinced that they had been tampered with, proof 
was impossible. 
The Hamburgh class was especially excellent in all its 
varieties, and the Game fowls exhibited were the most 
meritorious birds that have ever been witnessed. We 
rejoice in the fact that the days of cock-fighting, at least 
amongst the middle and higher orders of society, are, owing 
to the diffusion of knowledge and the consequent advance¬ 
ment of civilisation, numbered with the past. 
The Cochin-China fowls formed a very meritorious class, 
and reminded one very forcibly of the very excellent birds 
that were to be met with at the time they were first in¬ 
troduced into Poultry Exhibitions. 
In the Polish classes the black Poles, with white crests, 
have certainly never been excelled at any previous Exhibition 
throughout the country. 
The Bantams mustered numerously, and were very 
excellent in character. 
The Brahma Footras. —The singular tendency of this 
class to “ breed out ” from an affixed standard was never 
more positively elucidated than on the present occasion. 
Although the colours have ever been various in this class, 
the most extreme case came under our observation, there 
being in the Exhibition a white one. A most excellent cock 
in this class also only received a simple “commendation” 
from the fact that it was vulture or falcon-hocked. 
Amongst the Hamburghs , the perfection of some, or, 
indeed, most of the birds was very remarkable, the wdiite 
ear-lobe being present in almost every instance. 
The Aylesbury Ducks were worthy of the highest com¬ 
mendation ; but 
The Rouen breeds were not so commendable as some 
frequently to be met with, lacking, in a great degree, size. 
In the class for any Extra Variety of Ducks, a pen of the 
“ Penguin ” species, exhibited by Lord Berwick, excited 
great attention from their singularity. We are informed 
that these are the first specimens of this variety that have 
ever before been publicly exhibited. 
The Pigeons formed an attractive feature of the Exhibition, 
being beautiful birds. 
The Judges were Mr. Hewitt, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, 
for all varieties except Game, which were judged by Mr. S. 
Foulds, Chowbent, and Pigeons by Mr. Hale, of Handsworth. 
In the Game classes there is not a doubt that the Game 
Judge acted with the most perfect and unflinching integrity 
of purpose; we could not, however, view many of the deci¬ 
sions without regret, considering the specimens merely as 
exhibition-birds. It was evident “ the pit ” formed the 
ruling feature in his mind, and one to which in all cases it 
lias naturally reverted; consequently, although, witluJUt 
doubt, the best “fighting” birds we found amongst the Cup 
birds, almost every possible description of wrong “match¬ 
ing,” to wit, Red-breasted Cocks with Black-breasted Hens ; 
Duck-winged Cocks with Grey Hens; and, in other in¬ 
stances of success, the position of the sexes reversed. Such 
must inevitably ensue in cases where “ fighting ” properties 
are deemed all important, and have been constantly enter¬ 
tained; still for exhibition, attention to proper matching must 
always be duly appreciated. 
The foregoing report is partly from the Preston Guardian, 
and partly from the notes of our Reporter, who is disabled 
by a severe family affliction. 
We stated in our last that we should have some peculiar 
! circumstances to state relative to this Show; and we now 
! place them before our readers, by publishing the following 
letter from Mr. Hewitt, one of the Judges :— 
“ I was waited upon prior to leaving home for Preston, 
and after every inducement of argument was wasted to 
prevent my attending the Show, to the honest fulfilment of 
1 my previous engagement with that Committee, the question 
was asked me, What sum I received last year for my services ? 
and the offer at once made, to pay me that sum, if I would 
not go, 1 but leave them on their backs.’ With unfeigned in¬ 
dignation I declared my determination was ‘to go;’ and 
that I could not be bought by a price equal to their united 
fortunes, whatever they might be. I went, and as I antici¬ 
pated, had to fulfil the duties of a second party, after my own 
award-book was fulfilled. 
“ At the Show, a Mr. --, of Preston, brought the 
astounding accusation against me, that I had, by means of 
‘ preconcert,’ awarded the prize of the largest Silver Cup to 
Mr. Wright, of Widnes, undeservedly, and that I visited 
him ; also, that Mr. Wright himself had sent him a mes¬ 
sage, some six weeks back, stating, ‘ he might wager any 
amount up to a Tl,0G0 on the result, for he was to have it.’ 
“ Flesh and blood curdled at such a representation, but I 
instantly announced ‘ that I would not leave the room until 
Mr. Wright had been sent for, and the matter scrutinised before 
the whole Committee.’ It was done. Mr.-refusing 
to reduce his accusation to writing, repeated it verbally, in 
Mr. Wright’s presence. I need scarcely say that a greater 
injustice or untruth was never perpetrated. It was proved 
satisfactorily, Mr. Wright ‘ never before saw, or knew, that 
Mr.-existed; that he never wagered under any cir¬ 
cumstances ; neither did he ever send any message to any 
one to do so.’ In reply to open query, Mr. Wright also 
‘assured the Committee, that I never entered his house but 
once, and that was at the Runcorn Meeting to lunch, some 
six months since, and that, neither verbally, nor yet in 
writing, had any allusion whatever to this Cup transpired 
between us.’ The Committee of fourteen persons then 
passed the following resolution, nem. con. (except Mr. 
-) :—‘ That this Committee are fully assured, there is 
neither cause nor reason for the accusation preferred by 
Mr.-, and their confidence in the perfect rectitude of 
Mr.Hewitt’s awards remains entirely unshaken.’ Mr. Wright 
means to take further steps. 
“ It is justice to myself to say that Messrs. Brundrit, 
Dixon, of Bradford, Breavington, of London, Geldard, of 
Kendal, &c., in short, the company universally, were con- 
I current in the fact, Mr. Wright’s three pens far surpassed 
Mr.-. I told the Preston Committee, the moment I 
arrived at the Bull Hotel, of the disgraceful, dishonourable 
offer made to me to leave them in the lurch ; this was the 
night previous to my awards, and before the above had 
transpired, so ‘ they anticipated something.’ ” 
This narrative needs no comment. We hope Mr. Wright 
will expose and prosecute the party who libelled him; and 
we hope that Mr. Hewitt’s immoveable integrity will induce 
Committees to secure his services at all future Shows of any 
importance. _ 
NOTTINGHAM CENTRAL POULTRY 
ASSOCIATION. 
In our report of this Show we omitted to state that John 
Eodbard Rodbard, Esq., Aldwick Court, Langford, near 
Bristol, took the Silver Cup, value Ten Guineas, for the best 
collection of poultry, and also the Five Guinea Cup for the 
best pen of Black Spanish. Mr. George Daft, of Hal- 
lougliton, Southwell, taking the Silver Cup, value Five 
Guineas, for the second best collection of poultry. We are 
also informed that Greening’s pens will not be employed 
in future at this Exhibition. 
“POINTS” IN AWARDING CUPS FOR 
COLLECTIONS. 
I most particularly wish it to be understood, I am neither 
a fault finder, a caviller, nor one hard to please ; but I think 
it the duty of all who are interested in the pursuit, or who 
take pleasure in it, to give their opinions when they think 
they are for the better management of the Poultry Exhi¬ 
bitions in which they all delight. 
Cups for the best collections are now things of every-day 
occurrence, and till lately, I believe I am correct in stating, 
the awards have generally been acquiesced in. I prefer 
that term to the hackneyed one of “ gave universal satisfac¬ 
tion.” I have never seen the last term so near of attain¬ 
ment as at the late Birmingham Show. There were no com¬ 
plaints. If the absence of pain be pleasure, and the absence 
