The Petersfield Agricultural Society held their annual meeting on Monday the 6th inst. The show of stock of every description, both in quantity and quality, was much better than has been exhibited at any former meeting, especially in South Down sheep. The members of the Society were occupied till three o’clock in inspecting the animals brought on the ground for competition; and at that hour they adjourned to the Dolphin Inn, where a very large number of the members and their friends sat down to dinner; the President of the Society (Richard Norris, Esq. of Basing Park) in the chair. Many appropriate toasts, attended with observations and remarks, touching the interests of agriculture, were given. “The King”—“Breeding in all its branches;” “Liberal landlords and deserving tenants”—“The Petersfield Agricultural Society”—“Mr. Coke”—“Mr. Norris, the President”—who returned thanks in a short address, strongly recommending the propriety of giving as much attraction to the meeting as possible, and advocating the attempt to establish a wool fair on the day of their Anniversary Meeting; in consequence of which every wool grower then present agreed not to offer his wool for sale till that day; and, from the centrical situation of Petersfield, it was thought that the object might in a few years be accomplished. The following premiums, amongst others, were awarded :—
…
His Grace the Duke of Richmond, Samuel Jellicoe, Esq. Messrs. Bernard, King, &c. &c. were admitted new members. C. J. Hector, Esq. in a speech of considerable length, propose a subscription by the farmers, for a piece of plate to Joseph Hume, Esq. M. P. for Aberdeen, in testimony of his great exertions in attempting to reduce the national expenditure, and consequently alleviate the burthens of agriculture, and subscribed one guinea.
