7805.] On the Breed of Sheep. 158

the Leicester Should prove to be Superior, I mean in quantity and weight of mutton ſrom an acre of ground.

Mr. Young's coneluding paragraph is alzo well deserving more particular notice, 25 it Strongly tends to prove, what has been so often advanced, that our climate is more congenial to the nature of Merino Sheep than that of Spain, and that they are impatient only of an excess of heat.

On the whole of the consideration, then, as to the article of carcase, or the relative quantities of mutton Supposed to be produced from equal quantities of pasture or other teed be- tween Merino and Leicester Sheep, our Sentiments appear to be widely different. 1 am willing to contend that the Merino would be more than equal, but equal at least; whereas Pastorius, Seems to think that the proportion in favour of Lei- cester would be as Six inches to one inch.

1 have frequently Slaughtered Merino lambs at Six to eight months old, Such as have been rejected for breed, and have often found them to weigh up as high as nine pound per quarter; and after will Pastorius perform six times or&en twice as much from his Leicester ewes of double that weight in carcase? I think not.

In No. 66, p. 17, the following passage is introduced, by way of note,“ With 50 tlin a coat of fat, Spanish mutton would neither make a Sufficient quantity of broth, nor glide down the throats of the labouring classes; nay it would abso- Lutely Stick in the dry and dusty throats of the pitmen and coal-heavers on the Tyne and the Wear. Possibly this was obtruded by the witling critic so justly condemned by your correspondents, No. 67, p. 106 and 107. If, however, it twuly belong to Pastorius, it is clear that he must have been most gross]ly imposed on by hearsay evidence, and that he had ne- ver Seen 07 tasted Merino mutton; for if he has Seen and tasted, he would'readily acknowledge(maugre his almost in- Surmountable prepossession) that Merino mutton is inferior to Done in the kingdom, and as much Superior to Leicester mut- ton as is the finest capon to an old Superannuated hen; and this 1s the least praise that[, with many others who have had abundant opportunities of comparing, can bestow on it.

It is a coal country for many miles Surrounding Bath, con- Sequently we have pitmen and coal-heavers in pretty consider- able number, and a useful, hardy, muscular, and laborious race they are certainly. Is it not known especially, that As race Stands foremost in the annals of pugilisin? And yettheir thoats require not to be continually bazted wirh melted grease. It on Some occasions they moizten their clay with üiberal po- tions of nut-brown ale, it is then that they are in the zenith ef their glory.