The Annual Meeting of the Petersfield Agricultural Society was held at Petersfield, on Tuesday the 13th day of August. The Exhibition of Stock took place in a field belonging to John Shackleford, Esq. adjoining the town. The Stock produced was considered to be of the first description, and gave great satisfaction to the company present, which chiefly consisted of Farmers and Breeders of Stock, and it was much regretted that several gentlemen who formerly patronised the Shew by their personal attendance, were absent upon the occasion, and upon the whole, the meeting was thinly attended, and did not go off with that spirit which had been observed heretofore. The utmost harmony prevailed at the dinner, which was served by Deane, at the Dolphin Inn, in his usual excellent manner, and a conversation connected with Agricultural subjects kept up during the day. It seemed to be the prevailing opinion that the capital of the Yeomanry was rapidly declining, and that they were totally unable to sustain the present weight of taxes, tythes, rates and other outgoings; and that an overwhelming crisis was approaching. Several practical farmers gave their opinion upon the subject of Rents and outgoing, and it was stated that if the present tenantry of the country and their families were reduced or annihilated, the land would go into hands unequal in skill and capital either to employ or to administer the necessary relief to the poor, thereby creating not only much local distress and inconvenience, but considerably augment the existing difficulties of the country in general.
Mr. Ellman, of Glynde, the celebrated breeder of South Down Stock, was present, and addressed the company in a clear and perspicuous speech upon the distressed state of the Agricultural interest, which he attributed chiefly to the great weight of taxation under which the country laboured, and which, in his opinion, entirely prevented the tenantry from getting remunerating prices for their produce.
After the prizes were distributed by Mr. Jas. White of Paulsgrove, who presided in the absence of Richard Norris, Esq. President of the Society, a Resolution was entered into by the Subscribers (for which see Advertisement), and the company separated under the pleasing hope, that although they could not any longer continue their exertions for the improvement of stock, they might, by their intended meetings, conduce not only to the benefit of the tenantry of the country, but also of the Landed proprietors, whose interests are inseparably connected with those of their tenants.