1805.] On Leicester and Merino Sheep. 38,3

Jand or Southdown, the former being about 12d, and the Jatter half-a-erown, and this too in the very teeth of a de- mand S0 pre3sing for cCoarse combing wool, that its adyocates complain they are unable to Supply.

"But I did State, and I request to repeat the Statement, that a common farmer would be enabled to produce-on his own homestead Merino wool, weight for weight, at as easy an ex- pence, as he could produce Leicester wooi under the Same circumstances, at J2d. or any other price; and it is my clear intention, without the smallest degree of hesitation or reserve, to enter into the consideration of wool and carcase combined, on both Sides, and admitting Such data also as are formed on the distant Speculations Suggested by Pastorius, as that fine and coarse would become equivalent terms.

Were we to reason, indeed, on the data we actually pos- Ses3, 1. 8, on the prezent relative prices of Leicester and Merino wool, then I would be inclined to go thus far, and gay=-=the wool of the Merino would produce as much profit from any given quantity of food, as the woo! of the Leicester and the carcase taken together, and thus the Merino carcase, which I still hold to be equal to the Leicester, may in future be thrown out of the question.

It inust be granted, that the present price of Merino wool is enormously high, and 30 it must ever be, in a degree, whilst the expence on tbe bare transit from a foreign country Shall exceed two Shillings per pound. It is an evil, of which the manufacturer loudly complains, and which, in a national view, I conceive it would be desirable to obviate, or at least 10 mitigate. If it long exist in its present force, it may Some day prove fatal to a very valuable branch of your com- merce.|

The French are well known to be advancing with rapid Strides, in the growth of Merino wool; as. well, they are rapidly advancing in, the amelioration of the race they have recently exhibited, fleeces of annual growth weighing 15 or 161bs. each, aid their Speed is accelerated by the annual ingress of a large number of individuals from Spain, under national Süpulation imposed by the iron hand of Bonraparte. With an iron hand, he Scems to be owner of a penetrating head. Gare qui[a touche!

Ve possess Ihe mewz:s of mitigating the evil complained of by our manufacturers, dzey were obtained in amy and bopor, aud you will permit me'once more to repeat, that we are indebted for them to the patriotizm of our king. In justice, It ought not ouly to be repeated, but to be recorded in orateful and perpetual memorial. And it ought to„be recorded, in hovor 10 Dr. Parry, that almost zingly, he in=

73 Ag. Mag. Yol. 12. Si