The toast was drunk with all the honours, and the Secretary, Mr. C.
Bousfield Shaw, read a list of subscriptions headed by the Queen with
L25. The Prince of Wales gave, in addition to his annual subscription of
ten guineas, a donation of 100 guineas. The largest list of collections
was Mr. Naish's, of L465. The total amount was no less than L8000.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., then proposed the toast of "The Executive Council,
the Secretary, and the Honorary Local Secretaries." In the course of his
speech, he remarked that it had been well said by His Royal Highness
that agriculture is exposed to more vicissitudes and difficulties than
almost any other industry, and it was surprising that it should have
existed so long without any benevolent institution. They must not forget
in that room that they owed the fact that such an institution now exists
to the kind and generous heart of their old friend, Mr. Mechi, the
founder of this society; and the tenant-farmers of England would never
forget the day when the Heir Apparent to the Throne of England
condescended to preside at their annual banquet.

The Marquis of Huntly responded, and said as an example of the good done
by active local energy, that in Cheshire they only had last year a
donation of ten guineas, and subscribers of thirty-one, while from
Norfolk, the Prince's county, with a smaller agricultural population,
they had donations of L826.

The Prince of Wales then said:--

"The list of toasts which we all have before us has now come to
an end, but I shall take the liberty of proposing one more
toast, the last, but by no means the least. We have been
honoured on this occasion by fair ladies, and I think it would
be very wrong if we were to separate without cordially drinking
their health. We see especially how much the comfort, the
well-being, prosperity, and happiness of farmers and
agriculturists depend upon a kind wife to cheer them by the
fireside at the end of their day's work, and to lighten by
female influence the load of difficulties. It affords me the
most sincere pleasure to couple with this toast the name of one
to whom this institution is so much indebted--Mr. Mechi. Lord
Huntly has been mentioning to you the word 'energy'; and if it
had not been for the energy of Mr. Mechi this society would
never have existed. Let me also say, it would not be so
prosperous as it is now if it were not for th