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THE Commercial and A'gricullural Magazine.

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No. XXIX] DECEMBER 1801. or. N.

THE TWO PRIZE OXEN, 1801. For the Commercial and Agricultural Magazine.

HE two Oxen, which we have endeavoured accurately to

repreſent in the Print at the front of this Number of our

Magazine, were the property of Mr. Weſtcar and his Grace the Duke of Bedford.

They were exhibited at the Annual Shew of Fat Cattle, at Smithfield, Dec. 12, and were both candidates for the firſt prize of the firſt claſs, which was to be given to the handſomeſt and beſt 0X, without any reſtriction reſpe&ing the kind of food, or time in fattening.

The White Ox was fed by Mr. Weſtcar, and obtained the moft honourable of the prizes given by the above Society. This beaſt was ſeven years old, of the Heretordſhire breed, and was one of the eight purchaſed, in a lean fate, at the enormous price of L35 each, at Ledbury Fair, on Lady Day, 1799. This ox, from his ſize, fineneſs of bone, and extremely beautiful] proportions, was reckoned by far the moſt valuable of. the above party, and eſteemed then worth /{50. He was in colour a perfe white, which is rather uncommon in this breed, excepting a ſmall in- termixture of red ſpots. His hips were as prominent, well covered, and widely extended, as repreſented in the print. He is ſaid to have been. ſold for an extremely bigh price, to Mr. Chapman, of Fleet Market. His weight was more, when dead, than 240 ſtone.

Mr. Weſtcar exhibited the own ſiſter to this ox, the ſame in colour ánd general merits, which likewiſe obtained a prize.— She was one year younger,

The Red Ox was fed by his Grace the Duke of Bedford, and gained the ſecond prize of the firſt claſs, value 20 guineas, This ox was likewiſe of the Herefordſhire breed, ſeven years old, and was eſteemed by many judges to be as fat as his oppo=- nent, but was rather heavier in bone, and inferior in ſize. We venture to ſay, however, that Mr. Wefſtcar felt himſelf harder preſſed this year, in the conteſt, than he has ever been before 5 even than he was laſt year, by Mr. Grace. This beaſt weigh- ed, when alive, 28 hundreds and a half; and, when dead, the carcaſe weighed 240 ſtone. He was ſold for a high price to Mr. Wacie, butcher, in Newgate market, who found no difficulty in diſpoſing of the meat at an extraordinary rate. This Ox, like- Com.© dg. Mag. Vol. V. 3D