fM.

Sx:or^^9^'^'^ III 4^

WOOL

:.i!l.

•J

\

SPECIAL I

COLL

SF

377

.R450

1790

I

■fi -^o

REPORT

OF T H F

COMMITTEE

OF THE

Highland Society of Scotland^

ON THE SUBJECT OF

SHETLAND WOOL.

zS&dmnL ^-m^^^y^ ->

X

E P O R T

O F T H E

COMMITTEE

O F T H E

Highland Society of Scotland^

TO WHOM THE SUBJECT OF

SHETLAND WOOL

WASREFERRED.
^ W I T H A N

APPENDIX,

Containing fomc Papers, drawn up by

Sir JOHN SINCLAIR and Dr ANDERSON,

IN REFERENCE TO THE SAID REPORT.

Patrem famllta Lomim agamus ; qua acccpimus faclamus 7nclkra ;
inajor ij}a Laredilas a nobis cd pcjieros iranfcat, S E N E C A.

EDINBURGH:

Printed for the use of the Society,

And fold by W. Creech, J. Donaldson, and A. Guthrie, Edinlur^.

T. Cadell, J. Stockdale, J. Debrett, and J. Sewel, London:

DuNJ.op and Wilson, Glafgoiv .■ Angus and Son, Aberdeen.

Amid 1790.

/>•*

/^/J 11 L

ADVERTISEMENT,

A.T a General Meeting of the Highland Society of Scot-
land, held at Edinburgh, on Friday the 9th of July 1 790,
the following refolution was unanimoully adopted.

«* That the Meeting approve of the meafures propofed
*< by the Directors for the prefervation and continuance of
« the Shetland breed of fheep, fo remarkable for their
" fine wool ; and they entirely agree in opinion with
« the Committee, that their Report on that fubjeiH:, laid
« before the Society, fliall be printed and publiflied for
** the information of the public ; and they remit to the
*« Committee of Dire£lors to fuperintend, and give orders
*' for printing the fame, with all convenient fpeed *."

In confequence of the above refolution, the Report, with
the Appendix, are now printed for the ufe of the Society j
and as they relate to a fubjecl of great national importance,
and interefting to many other diftri«Sts of the kingdom, be-
lides the Highlands, it was thought proper to permit the

pubFiGation

» The thanks of the Socitty were, at the fame time, unanimoufly voted to
Sir John Sinclair of Ulbfter, Bart, for the great pains and trouble beftowed by
him on the fubjetft of the Report ; — to Dr James Anderfon, for the intelli-
gent and ingenious papers written by him, in reference to the fame; —
to Arthur Nicoifon, Efq. younger of Lochend ; and to the Rev. Mr John
Morifon,minifterof Delting, for the ufcful information they were fo obliging
■IS to communicate to the faid Committee. The Committee of Directors
\'-e alfo authorifed to ifTue precepts on the Treafurer for the premiums
* -"IS propofed by the faid Report to be given and advanced.

X

[ vl ]

publication of them, that the information they contain
might be more generally made known and circulated.

It may be proper to add, that as there are many Indivi-
duals who may have material fadls or obfervations to com-
municate refpe£ling the wool of the Northern and Weftern
Iflands of Scotland, or who may be defirous of contributing
to the prefervatlon and the increafe of fo valuable an article
among the productions of Great Britain, that any letters
addrefTed either to Sir John Sinclair of Ulbfter, Bart. M. P.
Convener of the Committee of Directors on this fubje^l, or
to William Macdonald, Efq. the Secretary, will be laid be-
fore the Society, and properly attended to.

Edinburgh, 2^th Augujl 1 790.

T 0 T H E

DIRECTORS OF the HIGHLAND
SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND,

THE

REPORT of the Committee to
whom the fubjeft of Shetland
Wool was referred.

JLN the inveftigatlon of this important fubje(5l,
your Committee was favoured with the attend-
ance of Arthur Nicolfon, Efq. younger of Loch-
end, in Shetland ; of the Rev. Mr Morifon,
minifter of Deking in Shetland ; and of Dr
Anderfon of Cotfield, near Edinburgh, whofe
zealous and public fpirited attention to the im-
provement of the Britifh fifheries, and to other
points connected with the profperity of this
country, is well known to the Society.

It appears to your Committee, from the evi-
dence of thefe gentlemen, that the fubjedt recom-
mended to their enquiry is one of the moft im-
portant that could poffibly be brought under the
confideration of the Highland Society. The
n.umber of fheep in Shetland, it is believed, can-

A not

r THE REPORT, &c.

not be lefs than 100,000, and are probably
more. Their fleeces, which, at an average, do
not produce above a pound and a half of wool
each, is not worth at prefent above fix pence
per pound, or L.3250 in all ; whereas the fineft
wool might fetch at leaft five fliillings per
pound ; and confequently the fleeces of the
fame number of fheep, if they yielded nothing"
but fine wool, might be valued at L. 32,500, or
ten times the above fum. If the fame breed were
reared in the Hebrides, and in the Orkney
Iflands (where they would thrive equally well),
wool might be produced in thofe negleded
parts of Great Britain to the value of perhaps
half a million : In procefs of time, alfo, the fame
fpecies might be extended to other diftridts
of Great Britain. Your Committee, however,
think it proper to remark, that attention to the
finenefs of the wool muft always diminifh in
proportion as the carcafe becomes valuable ;
and, confequently, that fine-wool'd fheep are
more likely to be preferved in their higheft flate
pf perfedion, in remote parts of the country,
than in the neighbourhood of the metropolis *.

At

* In Dr Anderfcn's opinion, the Northern and Weflern
Iflands of Scotland are peculiarly well calculated for rearing ^iqe-
yvool'd fliecp : For, in the firft T:lacc, the climate is favourable

THE REPORTi &c, a

At the fame time, were the Spanifh breed of
fheep introduced and multiplied in this country
(fmce they produce a fpecies of wool better
calculated than the Shetland for fome manu-
fadlures, particularly broad cloth J), and were
the importation of Spanifh wool prohibited,
it would foon become of more confequence to
attend to the fleece in every part of the king-
dom.

From the information of the gentlemen above
mentioned, it would appear, that the perma-
nent finenefs of the wool depends entirely up-
on the breed of fheep ; for, on the fame paf-
ture, and in the very fame climate, fheep with

the

for that purpofe ; in the fecond place, the quality of the wool
would be the objedl of the farmer, as the carcafe would be of
lefs value ; and, in the third place, when a good breed was once
obtained, there would be lefs rifle of its being debafed by im-
proper mixtures, where the flieep were kept in feparate iflands,
than where various breeds were contiguous to each other.

X The exafl nature, quality, and ufes of the Shetland wool
have never been fully afcertained. It is certainly preferable
to any other for (lockings, and probably for all light woollea
manufafturesj as fhawls, waillcoats, &c. Perhaps, mi;<ed with
Spanifh, it might alfo anfwer for broad cloth ; but it has not
perhaps ftaple fufficient for that manufafture of itfelf. There can
be no doubt of its anfwering for hats, a manufadlure that ought
to be encouraged in the Highlands, and which even the women
in that part of the country might wear, with advantage to their
looks and appearance.

4 THE REPORT, Sec.

the ^»efi and with the coarfeji wool are main-
tained ; infomuch that, from the wool of the
fame flock, fome {lockings worth two guineas
per pair, and others worth lefs x\\2s\ four pence ^
are produced.

Your Committee have not been able to col-
1e£l materials fufficient for attempting a long
invefligation into the peculiar nature and qua-
lities of the Shetland breed of fheep ; but they
beg leave briefly to fl:ate fome of the moft im-
portant particulars which have come to their
knowledge.

1 . It would appear that there are tv/o kinds of
fheep producing fine wool to be found in thefe
iflands : One, known by the name of the kind^
ly ficep^ whofe whole body almoft is covered
with it ; another, whofe wool is fine about the
neck only, and other particular parts of the
body. The colour of the fine wool alfo varies,
fometimes being of a pure white, which is fup-
pofed to be the foftefl and moft filky, at other
times of a light grey, fometimes of a black, and
fometimes of a rulTet colour.

2. The fheep producing this wool are of a
breed, which, for the fake of diflindion, might
be called the beaver Jheep ; for, like that ani-
mal, many of them have long hairs growing

amongft

T H E R E P O R T, &c. 5

amongft the wool, which cover and fhelter it ;
and the wool is a fpecies of fine fur refembling
down, which grows in fome meafure under the
protection of the hair with which the animal is
covered.

3. Your Committee underftand that the (heep
producing this fine wool are of the hardieft na-
ture ; are never houfed nor kept in any pard-
cular pafture ; and that in the winter feafon
they are often fo pinched for food, that many
of them are obliged to feed upon the fea-ware
driven upon the fhore. It is obferved, how-
ever, that the healthieft flieep are thofe which
live conftantly upon the hills, and never touch
the fea-ware.

4. Laftly, It appears that the Shetland fheep
are never dipt or fliorn, but that, about the be-
ginning of June, the wool is pulled off (which
is done without the fmalleft pain or injury to
the animal), leaving the long hairs already
mentioned, which Ihelter the young wool, and
contribute to keep the animal warm and com-
fortable, at a feafon of the year when cold and
piercing winds may occafionally be expeded
in fo northern a latitude *.

Your Committee have the fatisfadion of add-
in?,

* It is fald that ihefe long baits come off later in the feafon,
towards the end of September.

4 THE REPORT, he.

ing, that they have reafon to believe that fome
remains of the fame breed of fheep may ftill be
found in the Weftern Iflands, and perhaps in
fome of the remoteft parts of the Highlands,
where the native race of the mountains have
not been contaminated by a connedlion and in-
tercourfe with animals of an inferior fpecies
in regard to the quality of their wool, and va-
luable principally for their carcafe.

Your Committee will now proceed to ftate
fome circumftances, which feem to render an
immediate attention to this fubjed: abfolutely
neceflary.

I. The proprietors of the Shetland Iflands
have fo much bent their attention to fifhing, as
in a great meafure to negledt other occupations.
No pains therefore has been taken to keep up
this valuable breed, or to preferve it from de-
generating. At prefent the different kinds of
ilieep are fo mingled together in almoil every
part of the Shetland Iflands, that in a very
jhort fpace of time the fineft race might be-
come totally extind, unlefs the opportunity
which now fortunately prefents itfelf is feized.

Indeed, both in Shetland, and in every part
of the country, it ought to be inculcated as
much as poiTible, that, by proper attention,
the bcft fort of every fpecies of animal may be

obtained.-

T H E R E P O R T, &c. 7

obtained. It Is well known to what perfec-
tion particular kinds of fheep and cattle, which
in their judgment were preferable to every o-
ther, have been brought by Meffrs Bakewell
and CuUey. In Galloway, polled cattle pre-
vail, to the exclulion of other breeds, becaufe
in that country there is a ftrong prediled:ion in
their favour. By attention, Mr Farquharfou
of Invercauld, in the very heights of Aberdeen-
fhire, has obtained, without any foreign affift-
ance, a breed of cattle, producing the richeft
milk of any in Great Britain ; and if the inha-
bitants of the Shetland, of the Orkney, and of
the Weftern Iflands, will m;ike a point of it,
there is no doubt, that by breeding always
from the beft rams and ewes, and gradually
extirpating the inferior fpecies, the beft breed
of Shetland Iheep may be multiplied with ama-
zing rapidity. The experiments made by M,
Le Blanc, and the celerity and fuccefs with
which he has propagated the Spanifh breed of
fheep in France (an account of which will be
found in the Appendix), fully juftify this af-
fertion.

"2. In Shetland, as la other places, improve-
ments are attempted with the beft intentions,
which often turn out to be the reverfe. Thus,
y/ith a view of mending the Shetland breed,

fome

§ THE REPORT, &c.

fome flieep from the fouthern parts of Scotland
were lately brought to thofe iflands. From
fuch an importation, the Society will eafily
perceive that no improvement in regard to the
finenefs of the wool could be expeded. Un-
fortunately, alfo, the fheep thus imported were
difeafed, and have introduced into the Shetland
iflands a diftemper among their flocks, by which
many have already periflied, and which may
prove defliruQive to many more : Nor is it
poflible to fay to what dreadful extent its rava-
ges may yet be carried,

3. There is reafon to fuppofe that the mofl:
is not made of the fine wool now produced in
Shetland j for though fome high-priced fl:ock-
ings from that country are fold, yet the price of
the wool is in general very low (at an average
not exceeding fixpence per pound) ; and it is
believed, that from inattention, or from igno-
rance of the art of forting the fleece, much fine
wool is thrown away, and lofl: among the
coarfe wool, made into ftockings of from 3d.
to 38. per pair.

As a proof how little the real value of the
Shetland wool is known in that country, your
Committee thought it advifable to have the fol-
lowing experiment tried. They diredled fome
of the coarfe Shetland ilcckings, fold at Edin-
burgh

T H E R E P 0 R T, &c. 9

burgh for about ^d. per pair, to be purchafed,
and decompofed^ or reduced again to wool. The
wool, after being carded, w^as delivered to Mr
Izet the hatter, who very obligingly agreed to
try how far it might anfwer for the manufac-
ture of hats, both by itfelf, and with a mixture
of other wool. The ftrength of the woolj it is
evident, muft have been much injured by being
fpun and knit, and afterwards untwifted and
decompofed ; yet the wool was found capable
of being made into hats, and there is reafon to
believe that the raw material was more valuable
than the ftockings when manufactured.

Lajlly^ The Committee are decidedly of opi-
nion, that the fined breed of Shetland fheep
might be extended to the other iflands of Scot-
land, and in procefs of time to other diftriCls
of Great Britain. On this head, they beg leave
to refer to a very ingenious paper drawn up by
Dr Anderfon, which will be found in the fecond
number of the Appendix to this Report.

In another paper alfo (fee Appendix, No. III.)
the Doctor has drawn up a plan for eftabliihing
wool markets, in order to raife the value of that
article by a competition of buyers; w^hich would
probably prove an efFe£lual means of encoura-
ging the production of fine wool in Shetland,
and in other p?ats of Scotland, were proper at-

B tentioii

10 THE REPORT, &c.

tention paid to that great and valuable fourcc
of national wealth and induftry.

The Committee Vv^ill now fubmit to the con-
fideration of the Directors the meafures, which,
they are humbly of opinion, might be of efien-
tial fervice in promoting fo important an objed,
as the prefervation and extenfion of this valu-
able fpecies of fneep, the laft remnant of the
ancient breed of Scotland.

1. It feems to be very defirable for the Di-
rectors to have ocular infpedion both of the
beft breed of Shetland fheep, and of the fmeft
wool which they produce. For that purpofe,
it is fuggefted, that a fum be laid out from the
funds of the Society, in the purchafe of wool
and fheep, to be fent by the firft fhips from
Shetland to Leith. MefT. Nicolfon and Mori-
fon have very obligingly promifed to lay out
the money to the beft advantage ; and Dr An-
derfon, v>^ho refides at Leith, has offered to take
the flieep and wool under his care, until they
are called for by the Directors.

2. It feems proper to have the fulleft and
moft authentic information refpeQing the hifto-
ry, the real nature, and qualities of the Shetland
fheep in general, and more efpecially of thofe
which produce the fineft wool ; and alfo fimilar
accounts of the fheep of the Weftern Iflands,
which are fuppofed to have been originally the

fame.

THE REPORT, &c. ii

ilime. They are of opinion, that the moft pro-
bable means of obtaining this information,
would be, for the Society to give an honorary
premium for the beft and approved account of
the Shetland breed of iheep, and alfo for the
beft and approved account of the fheep of the
Weftern Iflands. The accounts to contain the
fulleft information that can be procured refpedl-
ing the hiftory of the differe^it breeds to be
found in thofe parts — the manner in which the
the fheep are in general managed — their food —
the quantity, colour, finenefs, and value of their
wool — their difeafes, and their cure- — and whe-
ther the fheep are folded, houfed, clipp'd, &c. —
Their fize, weight, price at different ages, and
the age to which they are in general kept,
pught alfo to be mentioned.

3. It would be very defirable to induce the
gentlemen of Shetland to pay every proper at-
tention to their native breed, and to prevail up-
on them, if pofTible, to confine themfelves to the
beft fpecies only. They have already proved
what they are capable of efFeding, by their fuc-
cefsful exertions in carrying on the fiftieries on
their coafts ; and confifting, in general, of re-
fpedable and intelligent individuals, there is no
plan recommended by the Society, which they
will not probably be difpofed to follow, particu-
larly one which would prove equally advan-
tageous

12 THE REPORT, &c.

tageous to themfelves, and to their country.
With a view, therefore, of directing their atten-
tention, and that of the inhabitants of Shetland
in general, to fo important an object, it is fug-
gefted, that premiums fhould be given to fuch
proprietors as fhall keep a parcel of fine-wool'd
flieep in a feparate holm or fmall ifland ; and
alfo to fuch perfons as fhall produce the fineft-
wool'd tups for the improvement of the breed ;
and that proper judges fhould be appointed for
determining thefe premiums.

For carrying thefe purpofes into execution,
the Committee fubmit to the Directors the pro-
priety of recommending it to the Society to
adopt the following refolutions.

1 . That the Committee of Directors be im-
powered to lay out a fum, not exceeding ten
guineas, in the purchafe of fheep and wool from
Shetland, and other places, where the fame
breed of fheep are fuppofed to exifl.

2. That a premium of five guineas value be
given to the perfon who fhall give in to the So-
ciety the befl and approved account of the Shet-
land fheep, with regard to the nature and hiflo-
ry of the different breeds which are to be found
there — the manner in which the fheep are ma-
naged— their food — the quantity, colour, and
value of their fleeces — their difeafes, and the
ufual remedies,— an^ alfo the w^eight of their

carcafesj

THE REPORT, &c. 13

€arcafes, their price at difTerent ages, the age
to which they are in general kept, together with
any other fa6ts and obfervations which may be
judged material.

3. That a like premium be given for a fimir
lar account of the fheep in the Weflern Iflands,
or any of them,

4. That a premium of five guineas value fhall
be given to any proprietor or inhabitant of the
Shetland Iflands, who, in the courfe of fummer
1793, fliall produce the greateft number of fine-
wool'd or kindly fheep, which have been kept
for tw^o years in a feparate holm or ifland, fo as
to have no communication with any other fheep,
particularly at the rutting feafon, the number of
fuch fheep not to be lefs than thirty at the
time they are produced.

5. That a premium be given of three guineas
for the befl and fineft woolM tup, two guineas
for the fecond, and one guinea for the third, to
be produced at each of the following places, viz.
Grimifta near Lerwick, North Brae, and Mid-
yett, at any time to be publicly advertifed in the
different parifh churches, on or before the 20th
of Odober 1 790.

6. That the judges for determining thefe pre-
miums fhall be Arthur Nicolfon, Efq. younger
of Lochend ; the Rev. Mr John Morifon, mi-
nifler of Pelting ; Mr Thomas Bolt, fador to

Sir

14 THE REPORT, kc.

Sir Thomas Dundas ; Gideon GifFord of Biifta,
Efq. ; Thomas Mouat of Garth, Efq. ; and Mr
John Mouat, furveyor of the cuftoms at Ler-
wick. That any three of them fhall be a quo-
rum : That they fhall have power to nominate
and afliime three other perfons to ad: with
them : That Mr Nicolfon be convener ; and
that they be inftruded, in judging of the merit
of the flieep, which fhall be produced to obtain
thefe premiums, to attend to the rules laid down
by Dr Anderfon, in the paper marked Appen-
dix, No. V. which appears to the Committee to
contain many very ufeful practical obfervations.
Lq/ilj, The Committee fubmit to the Dired:ors
the propriety of encouraging the extenfion of this
native breed to other parts of Great Britain, and
of trying, in proper fituations, various experi-
ments refpedting the nature of their wool, SiC.
With that view, it might be advifable to recom-
mend this fubjedt to the attention of the Duke of
Argyle, the Earl of Breadalbane, Lord Macdo-
nald, Col. Macleod of Macleod, Mr Mackenzie
of Seaforth, Mr Macleod of Harris, Mr Mac-
donald of Clanranald, Mr Macdonald of Boifdale,
MrMacniel of Barra, Mr Maclean of Coll, Mr
Macneil of Colonfay, Mr Campbell of Shawfield,
Mr Campbell of Jura, Mr Macniel of Gigha, and
the other proprietors in the Weflern Iflands, —
of Sir Thomas Dundas, Mr Honyman, and Mr

Trail,

THE REPORT, kc. 15

Trail, in the Orkney Ifiands, — and of the Earl
of Moray, and Mifs Scott of Scotftarvet, in the
Forth, all of whom have fmall holms or ijQands
in which this breed might be kept feparate from
other fheep ; and farther, with a view of de-
noting the zeal of the Society for attaining this
obje£l, it might not be improper to vote an ho-
norary premium to them, in the fame manner
as to the proprietors in Shetland, in the event of
their keeping apart a parcel of fine-wool'd fheep,
either of their own breed, or imported from
other places.

The Committee cannot conclude without re-
commending the paper marked, No. IV. in the
Appendix to the attention of the Society. In
it, Dr Anderfon proves, from the moft indif-
putable authorities, that, in ancient times, the
wool of Great Britain was not only greatly fu-
perior to the Spanifh, but was accounted the
fmeft in the univerfe. Its prefent degeneracy,
therefore, can only be attributed to negled: ; and
its former excellence may yet be recovered, un-
der the protection of a patriotic Sovereign, by
the encouragement of fuch public fpirited bo-
dies of men as the Highland Society, and by
the exertions of zealous and active individuals,
whofe time cannot be devoted to a more im-
portant purpofe, or yielding more real and per-
manent fatisfaCtion,

FOSTSCRIPT,

I

POSTSCRIPT.

SINCE the preceding Report was fcnt to the prefs, the
author of it was led to examine the account of the famous
Ryeland, or HereforJfliire breed of fneep, given by Mr
Marfliall. (Rural Economy of Glouceftei-Paire, vol. ii.
p. 233). It is vvell known that this breed produces the
bell: wool of any in England, which, though not fine enough
to be an entire fubflitute for-Spanifli wool, yet in fomc
degree fupplles its place, and fells at the rate of two fliil-
lings per pound, when Spaniflx wool fells for three. It is
lingular, that in this work, publiihed in 1789, a fimilar ap-
prehenfion is ftated, left this excellent breed fliould be ir-
retrievably lofb, unlefs fome proper means are foon devifed
for its prefervation. The Ryeland breed having been tried,
and found to anfwer in the moil: northerly county of Scot-
land (which the author can aflert from his own experience),
he is perfuaded that they might be introduced with fuccefs
into other diftri£ls ; and, in particular, he would recom-
mend them to the proprietors of the Weftern Highlands
and Iflands, as peculiarly well adapted for that part of the
kingdom.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

An Account of the Experiments made by M. Le Blanc, for im^
proving the ^lality of Wool in France.

[Extrafled from the Tableau Gipncral du Commerce, par M. Gournay, Avo.
cat, voce, MareuU-U-Port.']

In 1 762, M. Le Blanc, Member of the Provincial AfTembly
of Champagne, colledled a flock of 300 fheep, whofe wool he
fold the fucceeding year for 410 livres (about L.17 Sterling).
Little fatisfied with the refult, he determined to try what
could be eiFecHied by improving the breed. He procured,
therefore, fome fheep of a better race from Flanders, Picar-
dy, and the provinces in that neighbourhood ; and in three
years time he fold the wool of 300 fliecp for 520 liTres, and
in fix years for 680 livres, or L.28 : 6 : 8.

This fuccefs was far from fatisfying his ambition. In
1775, he fct about procuring flieep of a ftlil better quality.
In 1783, he obtained a ram and two ewes of the Efcurial
breed from Spain, and two rams of the fame fpecies from
the famous flock of M. D'Aubenton, at Montbard *. From
that period, the quantity and the quality of his wool impro-
ved fo much, that the fleeces of 300 flaeep, in 1788, fold
for 2300 livres, or about L. 100 Sterling f.

C The

* M. Le Blanc has fince been intrufted with a flock of two rams and
twenty-eight ewes, of the beft Spanifli breed, prefented by the King of
France to the Province of Champagne.

f The quantity of the wool, by attending to the proper breed, was fo much
increafed, that even young rams, of two years old, produced fix pound two

ounces

18 APPENDIX, No. I.

The experiments made by M. Le Blanc have fully afcer*
tained, that neither the foil, nor the climate, has fuch influ-
ence on the quality of the wool, as is commonly imagined *.
France pofTtfles in her extenfive dominions a great variety
of climate, and paftures of various kinds, calculated for
maintaining every fpecies of flieep. Yet it is only within
thefe few years that it could boafi: of flocks of fine-wool'd
Iheep. According JLo M. Le Blanc, the bad quality of the
wool in France, and he might have added, in other parts of
Europe, is entirely owing to the inattention and ignorance
of the farmer, who, neglefting to preferve the beft fpecies,
and to extirpate the bad, infenfibly fufFers the moft valuable
part of his property to degenerate and to perifh before him.
" Under the hand of an intelligent pofieiTor (he adds), na-
ture is embellifhed and brought to perfeftion ; whereas,
when left to ignorance and floth, it is rapidly degraded."

From the fame experiments, it appears, that the quality
of the v/ool depends principally upon the male ; and that,
when the ram is of the beft fpecies, the fecond or third ge-
neration always carries the fineft poffible wool. It is afto-
nifliing, therefore, with what rapidity any breed might be
multiplied and brought to perfection. An hundred rams
and a thoufand ewes of tlie Spanifli breed, and a proper
number of Englifli ewes, might, in the fpace of ten years,
be increafed to a million, and might fupply thefe kingdoms
with all the line wool that It now imports from Spain. For
it is to be obferved, that one ram is fufficient for fifty ewes
at an average ; and that the offspring of Englifli ewes would

produce,

ounces of waihcd wool; and as the firfl: aivd fecond quality of liis wool fold,
in 1787, for four livres per pound, it follows, that the deece of a young ram
was worth about 24 livres, or L.I Sterlirg;.

* M. Le Elanc acknowledges, that the paflure has great influence on the
/izg of the Ihcer, and confequcntly that the large Iheep of Flanders and Lin-
Ci-lnlhire would diminiih in a dry and arid pafture; but the wool which thf
animal prcduc.-d Wfuid continue nearly the f;!mc.

APPENDIX, No. L ,9

produce, In the fecond or third generation, as fine wool as
the original Spanifh breed.

Thefe obfervations are not only applicable to France and
England, but even to Scotland. For M. Le Blanc aiTerts,
that the Spanilh breed is fuperior to every other for the
ftrength and vigour of the fpecies, as well as for the excel-
lency of its wool, accommodating itfelf to all climates, and
feeding on any pafrure. Nor does it require more pains,
nor a greater quantity of food, to rear and nourifli flieep of
a good quality, than of a bad, whilft the wool produced by
the former is above four times more valuable than the latter.
There are many parts of Scotland, therefore, particularly
fuch as are not much incommoded with fnow in the winter
feafon, where this breed might be propagated to advantage.
It may be proper to add, that, in the opinion of M. Le
Blanc and of other writers, there is no fenlible difference, in
point of quality, between the wool of the Spanifh flieep that
travel from one part of that kingdom to the other, and of
the flieep that always continue in the fame place, where
equal attention is paid to the breed ; and there is reafon to
believe that thofe annual peregrinations, on which fo much
ftrefs is generally laid, is owing to neceffity, and the fcarcity
of food, in confcquence of the multitude of fheep that are
kept together, and not from any idea that a change of
pafture, or any continuation of the fame temperature or cli-
mate, is at all elTential.

Thefe obfervations are not perhaps immediately con-
nected with the original fubject of the Report, namely the
iheep of Shetland. But they were thought too material to
be omitted, and they corroborate the principle therein fta-
ted, that the quality of the wool depends upon the breed,
and not upon the foil or climate j and farther proves in how
fliort a fpace of time 100 rams and 1000 ewes of the befl:
breed, with the affiftance of a proper number of ewes of an
inferior quality, might replenilh the Shetland Iflands with

fine-wool'd

20

APPENDIX, No. II.

fine-wool'd fheep, provided a proper plan is followed for
that purpofe.

No. 11.

Memorial concerning the Improvement of Highland Wool, pre-
fented to a Committee of the Highland Society of Edinburgh^
June 8. 1790. By James Anderfon, LL. D.

THE wool of Great Britain was, for many sges, the
fineft in Europe, and, as fuch, it fold at the higheft price
in the manufacSluring diftrifts of the Netherlands and Italy,
Many are the treaties on record concerning this important
branch of commerce, and various are the regulations and
political events to which it gave birth. At that time, Spa-
nifli wool, though valuable, held only a fecondary and very
inferior rank in the mercantile world \ and it was only after
the efFefls of many injudicious legiflative regulations in Bri-
tain began to be felt, which, by finking the mercantile
value of wool, made the carcnje an objeft of principal con-
cern to the farmer, that Britifli wool was gradually negle(Sl-
ed, and the wool of Spain began to obtain an afcendency
over it. At the prefent time, Spanifh wool is of a finenefs fo
far fuperior to that of England, as not to admit of a com-
parifon : The confequence is, that the fineft cloths, which
in every part of Europe ufed formerly to be "made of Britifh
ysrool, are now univerlally made of Spanifh wool entirely ;
and England, which, in confequence of that fuperiority, e-
ftabliflied an unrivalled woollen manufacture, is now obli-
ged to depend entirely on Spain for what fhare in this ma-
nufadlure that proud and rival power fhall be pleafed to
permit. At prefent, Britain pays to Spain on an average
of years about 6oo,oool. per annunt for wool alone, though
her exports oifiiie wooUcn cloths are greatly dimiiiifhed.

Thefe

APPENDIX, No. 11. 21

Thefe fadls, which cannot be controverted *, ought to
make a deep impreffion on the mind of every real well-
wiflier of his country ; — and the firft queftion that occurs
is this, — Is the breed of fneep that formerly produced fuch
valuable vi^ool fo entirely loft as that it cannot at all be
found, or is it ftill in our power to recover it, and by what
means ? For, fince it is certain that the foil and climate oi
this ifland did once produce the fineft wool, it feems unne-
cefTary to fpend time in proving that it might be once more
made to yield it, could the fame breed of fheep be recover-
ed, or another of equal value be obtained.

After the moft diligent enquiry I have been able to make,
it feems to me highly probable that this fine breed of fheep
is totally and irrecoverably loft in EnglancL The adulte-
rated remains of it ftill exifts indeed in the county of Here-
ford, on the border of Wales ; but there, it has been fo
much debafed by intermixing with other breeds, as to pro-
duce wool of a ftaple, which, though ftill fine, is far infe-
rior to that of Spain, which it formerly fo greatly excelled.

/// ^cotland^ it is probable we fliall be obliged to come to
the fame conclufion. For more than a century paft, the
coarfe-wool'd fheep have been imperceptibly debafing this
breed, under the name of improving it, fo that I am incli-
ned to believe, that on the main-land of Scotland, the true
unmixed breed is now irrecoverably loft.

In the time of Hector Boethius, this breed of flieep, we
know, was common. In Annandale, Niddifdale, and Gal-
loway, flieep of this kind then univerfally prevailed ; and
though in the greateft part of thefe diftri^s the pure breed
be now entirely loft, ftill fome degenerate remains of it are
found in feme of ihe moft remote parts of Galloway. In
thofe days the fame breed of flieep fprend over a large di-
ftridl in the north-eaft parts of Scotland alfo, extending from
the vale of Efk, on the borders of the county of Angus, to

the

* For thf prccf of this fes Appeadix, No. IV.

22 A P P E N D I X, No. II.

the d'lCtvidi of Buchan, in Aberdeenfliire : But at prefent
it cannot be found in eltiier of thefe phces. No veftige of
this kind of flieep has been found in Elkdale for many years
paft : But in the moft mountainous parts of Aberdeenfliire,
It is known, that feme of thefe flieep ftill were to be found
tolerably pure, about forty years ago. They are now, how--
ever, there alfo (o much adulterated, as fcarcely to leave a
mark of their former qualities. The fame may be faid of
the Weft Highlands, where, though fome fine-wool'd.
iheep do ftill remain, yet they are debafed j and every day
pdds to the degree of deterioration. Even in the Wejiern
IJles^ the furor of improvement has fo generally prevailed,
that it is believed none of them contain the breed entirely
unmixed, though the flieep are there Icfs debaled than on
the main Und ; and it is not impoffible, but by a diligent
fearch there, fome of them fnight ftiii be found that have
jiot been much debafed.

If this breed of fheep fcIU exifls entirely unmixed any
where, it is in the Shetland Ifles ; but, even there, it is up-
on the very verge of being irrecoverably loft. A mixt
breed very generally prevails in thefe iflands, and no care
is taken to prevent the beft from being debafed. Several
r.ttempts to improvey as it has been called, their breed, by
introducing foreign flieep into thefe iflands, have been
made ; and one in particular, of modern date, has been at-
tended with confequences that threaten to be very fatal. A
difeafe has been by that means introduced among the flieep,
thathas already killed many, and threatens the remainder with
defi;ruclion. Still, however, a conflderable number are alive.
In fome remote corner among thefe iflands, where the flieep
have been neglected, it is not impofllble, but a few indivi-
duals of the true fine-wool'd breed may yet be obtained, if
proper meafures fliall be adopted for difcovering and prefer-
ring them. The value of that wool is well known. It has
been admired by all who have had accefs to fee It ; but no

attempts

APPENDIX, No. II. 23

attempts have been made to fave the breed from entire an-
nihilation. Now is the time, or never ; and what obje(£l can
be more becoming the attention of this Society than the pre-
fervation of a moft valuable production, that has long been
in fome meafure peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland !
The opportunity is favourable. Two gentlemen are prefent *,
who, with an ardour becoming the ancient race of Caledo-
nian patriots, are wiUing to fecond the views of the Society
to the utmoft of their power, if thefe views fhall be direct-
ed towards this point ; and few, it is believed, with equal
good will, have equal flcill, and equal power to be of fervice.
By their means the breed may be prel'erved from total de-
ftruiftion j and, were a few of the true breed of fine-wool'd
fheep once obtained, they can be placed, by the favour of
an eminent member of this Society |, in a fltuation where the
breed cannot be adulterated but by delign, and where there
cannot be a doubt that they will profper abundantly j where
alfo experiments could be made with eafe for afcertaining
the value of the wool, and means of improving It.

I am happy in having this opportunity of reprefenting to
the Society my idea of the importance of this objeCl, and
indulge the pleafing hope, that, from the well known 2eal
of the Members of this Society for the promoting of every
valuable improvement in thefe kingdoms, efFeCtual meafures
will now be taken to preferve the valuable breed of fhecp
in queftion, and that future ages fhall not be able to fay it
perillied through negleCl in cur time.

* Arthur Nicholfon, Efq. younger of Lochcr.d, and the Rev. Mr John
Morifon, mmifter of Delting, in Zetland.

f The Duke of Argyle.

No, 11.

24 A P P E N D I X, No. lit.

No. III.

A Momor'ialf containing fome Hints for anvahening a fpirit cf
Indujtry in the Highlands ^ and Propofals for ejlahlijhing Mar'-
iets for JVool in that part of the kingdom.

I T is an undoubted facSl, that nothing tends fo much t&
excite induftry as a ready market for the articles it produ-
ces, and a fair price proportioned to their intrinfic value, — -
In every country where fuch marlcets abound, induftry is
found to flourifh ; and wlierever they are not, the people are
indolent, and difcover a want of energy in all their enter-
prizes. To this circumftance we are in a great meafure to
afcribe the national chara£ler of the Dutch for induftry ;
and to the fame caufe we muft refer the indolence of the
Poles, Ruffians, Turks, and many other nations. The na-
tives of the Highlands of Scotland experience this misfor-
tune in an eminent degree, which checks the hand of in-
duftry at home, and gives room for the people being brand-
ed with opprobrious epithets, which experience has proved
to be entirely groundlefs. Where is the country, I would
afe, in which a native of the Caledonian mountains has ac-
cefs to a ready market, that he does not outftrip all his ri-
vals, and make money in fituations where others lefs indu-
flrious than he are reduced to beggary and want ! Give
them, therefore, ready markets for the produdlions of their
native wilds, and they will become aiSlive and induftrlous,
rich and flourifliing.

Among the few' produ£lions of their native mountains, no
one article, except live (lock, is perhaps of greater value than
wool; and this promifes to become from year to year of
greater and greater value ftill. Their climate is peculiarly
favourable for producing wool in greater perfeclion than any
other part of Britain ; and they pofTefs natural advantages
for improving tlieir breeds of fliLcp, and meliorating their

wool,

APPENDIX, No. III. 25

livool, that no other nation in Europe can pretend to equal *.
Their remote fituation, too, renders the cukivation of nvooi
of greater importance to them than to the natives of other
parts of Bi-itain, becaufe the carcafe there muft always be of
finaller proportional value.

It were vain, however, to expe£l that ever the natives
can be taught to make the proper ufes of thefe fingular na-
tional advantages, unlefs care fhall be taken to open among
them convenient markets for their wool, in centrical and
acceffible places, where the different wool-growers could
meet with a variety of rival merchants, who, by their com-
petition, might bring every fpecies of wool to its fair intrin-
lic value, and thus enable the wool-growers to judge with
precifion which kind it was moft their intereft to rear. This
therefore, as an obJ€£l of the firft importance, ought to be
kept fteadily in view by thofe who wifli to promote the im-
provement of the Highlands of Scotland, and to excite a fpi-
rit of induftry among its people.

At the prefent moment they poflefs wool of great value,
for which no adequate price can be drawn ; it is therefore
often applied to ufes that wool of a very inferior quality
might anfwer, and of courfe it may be lefs profitable to the
grower than wool of a quality greatly inferior. The breeds
of fhecp, therefore, which ought to be valuable chiefly on
account of their wool, are neglefted, and others that are
really of much inferior value, but which are accidentally from
this caufe at prefent more profitable, are preferred in
their ftead.

To remove thefe evils, it appears to me, that one of the
firft enterprizes of this Society ought to be, to eftablifh
fome large annual fairs in thofe parts. "Wool is an article
there of fuch importance, and it is to be now had on thefe
coafts in fuch quantities, and at fo low a price, as to be
an object fufficient to bring monied men from a diftance

D for

* See Appendix, No. IV.

26 A P P E N D I X, No. III.

for the purpofe of purchafing that commodity ; and where-
ever much money is to be got, and many people are brought
together, various other articles of general ufe will be pro-
duced for fale. Every perfon, on thefe occafions, each in
his refpe£tive fphere, will be induced to bring forward the
articles that his ingenuity or induftry have enabled him to
obtain, which he will be difpofed to fell to thofe who fliall
have occafion for them. A wool fair, therefore, though it
may be nominally fuch only, will be, in effedt, a feminary
of general induftry, and lay the foundation of future infti-
tutions, that in fucceeding times may be objects of admira-
tion and envy to furrounding nations. Antwerp, which
for many ages excelled every other place in the univerfe,
owed its origin to a temporary concourfe of people of this
fort j and Leipiig, to this hour, is in a great meafure fup-
pcrted by its annual fair.

Fairs have in general owed their origin to accidental cir-
cumftances, and have therefore, as being detached inftitu-
lions, been frequently cftabliflied in places that were incom-
modious, and have been held at times that were inconve-
nient, confidered in relation to each other. In the prefent
cafe, however, fhould this Society think of encouraging
fome inftitutions of this nature, it would be becoming the
wifdom of fuch an auguft body to plan thefe inftitutions
in concert^ to ufe the language of Lord Bacon, fo as they
might mutually accord with and fupport each other, rather
than to interfere in any refpeil. They ought, therefore,
to be fo fituated, in refpe£l oiplace^ as to be convenient for
the inhabitants of large diftricls around them, and accef-
fible to ftrangers by fea ; and fo arranged, as to titne^ as to
allow the fame perfon to attend the whole of them in rota-
tion, if he Ihould fo incline.

On thefe principles, I would beg leave to fuggeft, with
a view iperely to give an idea of what might be done in
Other places, when it might become necefiary to eftablifti

fairs

APPENDIX, No. III. 27

fairs in them, that at prefent it might be proper to fix on
the following places in the ilaires of Argyle and Invernefs ;
as the circumftances of the country feem to call for them,
and in the following rotation.

At Tohcrmoryy in MuU, for the fouthern diftri£l of the
Weflern Ifles — at Fort JFilliam, for the extenfive country
of Lochaber — and at Bunaiv and Inveraray ^ each for their
refpeftive diftrlcls of Argylefhire, now become a confider-
able fheep country. The rotation in point of time might
be on the fame day in each fucceeding week. i*Vr/?, Tober-
mory— Second) Fort William — Third, Bunaw — and foiirthy
Inveraray. By this means the fame perfon could not only
attend the whole, but the fame vejjet might accompany
him to each, to take his goods on board, without being at
the expence of warehoufe rent, &c. This might at prefent
be done with regard to the three firfl — and were the pro-
pofed canal at Crinan made, the whole of the four might
then be included.

It is here unnecelTary to enter into details refpedling the
tolls to be levied at thefe fairs ; for this Society is too en-
lightened not to fee that tolls, confidered as an article of
profit, ought to be entirely excluded, though, if thefe tolls
are extremely moderate, confidered as a mean for afcer-
taining the progrefs of improvement, they might have their
ufe. The Society, if ever they fliall come to think feriouf-
ly on this fubjedl, will alfo fee the neceflity of obtaining
fome alterations with refpedt to laws that at prefent tend to
check the tranfporting of wool and other produ£lions and
manufa£tures of thofe iflands, from place to place, con-
cerning which it would be here improper to enlarge.

The only apology I make for taking up fo much of
the time of this Society, is the idea I entertain of the vaft
importance of thofe countries to which thefe hints allude,
confidered in a national light, if they fhould ever be em-
ployed for the purpofes that nature evidently intended them,

and

2S A P P E N D I X, No. IIL

and the deference I pay to the fuperlor judgment of thofer
who have feen and approved of thefe propofals.

No. IV.

Memorial concerning Britip Wool, proving its fuperior value
and finenefs in former times, and the Natural Advantages of
the Northern and Wejlern parts of Scotland for raifitig the
Finefl JVcolf and Improving the Breeds of Sheep in other re-
fpeBs*

THE fa£ls aflumed In the tWo preceding papers are of too
much confequence to be admitted without proofs : But it
would far exceed the bounds which the prefent memoir ad-
mits of, to adduce all the proofs of them that might eafily
be produced. It fliall fuffice, therefore, here to ftate only a
few of the many that might be found, from fuch authorities
as may be relied on.

The finenefs of Britifli wool was fuch as to induce the
Romans, -while they were in pofleffion of this ifland, to efla-
blifh a cloth manufadlure at Winchefter, for the ufe of the
JEmpercrs*. This, therefore, muft have been deemed the
jBnefl wool in the univerfe at that time; for it Is well known,
that the Romans were peculiarly attentive to Iheep, and held
fine wool in the higheft degree of eftimation ; and that
then almoft the whole civilized nations on the globe,
were fubjecled to the power of the Roman Emperors. Be-
fore they became acquainted with Britain, the wool of Tur-
detaniay a province of ancient Spain, was much efteemed by
them, but that, in time, gave place to the wool of the Co-
raxiy a people of Afia. Strabo, fpeaking of Turdetaniay
fays, ** Frequens inde primum vcjlis veniebat, nunc vero Coraxo-
rum amplius lanifuium excellentjjftma pulchritudhnsy unde ad'

mijfarii

* Cibfon's Camden's BritJmaica, p. n8.

APPENDIX, No. IV. ^

imjjarii arletes talento emnntur.^^ A talent was equal toL.2i6
Sterling; a high price for a fine-wooUed ram. Strabo lived
under the reign of Augufiius, before the productions of Bri-
tain were well known to the Romans ; and it appears from the
fa£l: above ftated, that even the wool of the Coraxi was in Its
turn deemed Inferior to that of this ifland, for it was here that
tlie Roman Emperors, during their moft luxurious sera, chofe

to fupply themfelves with their moft fumptuous robes.

In conformity with this idea, we jSnd that Dionyfnis Alea^
andrimiSy in his treatife de fttii orbis, as quoted by HoUing-
flied, makes ufe of the following hyperbolical plirafe, ftrong-
ly expreffive of the uncommon finenefs of Britlfli wool, as
well as the dexterity of Brltilli fpinjlersy according to the
prevailing opinion of the time. " The wool of Britain (fays
he) Is often fpun fo fine, that it is in a manner comparable
to the fpider's draught *." A phrafe, which, if not ftrictly
juft at the time, feems to have been prophetic, as I at this
time produce to the Society a fpeclmen of the lingularly fine
woollen yarn, fpun by Mifs Ann Ives of Spalding, in Lin-
colnfhire, which, though ftrong, is drawn to fuch a finenefs,
that a pound weight of the yarn meafures no lefs than
168,000 yards in length, which is equal to 95 miles f. —
This young lady, who has fo far outdone any thing of this
fort that has been known, hopes to be able to make it ftill
finer, had (he fome of our Shetland wool. ** I think (fays
fhe) your Shetland wool the fofteft I ever felt, and make no
doubt it would fpin beautifully fine. If a fmall quantity
Could be got, I fliould like much to try it." The wool fhall
be fent ; and I hope to be able to fliow the Society fome
of the yarn made of it ftill nearer in finenefs " to the fpi-
der's

* Hoi. Chron. of Eng. p. 221.

f This is equal to eleven fpindlcs, wanting one and one third cuts of the
meafurc for yarn in the neighboarhood of Edinburgh. This yarn was fpun
from Englilh wool produced by a mixed breed, reared by Sir Jofeph Bank?,
Bart, from the fined woord Lincolnflure ewe.', improved by a Spanifh ram.

^o A P P E N D I X, No. IV.

der's draught," than that I have now the honour to pro-
duce.

During the diftradlions that prevailed in Britain after the
Romans left this country, the manufaiflure of cloth, like eve-
ry other branch of induftry introduced by that civilized
people, fell into negle£t : But a manufacture of fuch general
utility could not be entirely loft. From probability only, we
might therefore fafely conclude that it was ftill carried on
to a certain degree. But notwithftanding the general igno-
lance that prevailed for many ages, and the inattention of
our writers to the progrefs of ufeful arts, we are ftill able to
gather from a few fcattered hints that have been accidental-
ly preferved, that the manufafture of wool was at all times
confidered as a favourite employment by the people of Eng-
land, and that the fuperior finenefs of that wool over all
others was univerfally known and freely acknowledged j
though our hiftorians in general have, through inattention,
difregarded thefe fa^fls, and given an erroneous account of
the introduftion and progrefs of the woollen manufaClure in
.^ England. The very name by which unmarried women in
I England are defigned, viz. SplnJIers, is a proof at once of the
\ antiquity and univerfality of this manufacture ; for the prac-
I tice muft have been univerfal, when it was thought proper
[to defign all women Spinfters 5 and the antiquity of this epi-
l thet is beyond the limits of any record, or even traditional
^account 01 its ongm.

The mother of Alfred the Great is reprefented as being
Ikilled in the fpinning of wool herfelf, and bufied in train-
ing her daughters to the fame employment. This feems
indeed to have been the favourite employment of the great
people of thofe times ; for Fabian, fpeaking of Edward the
Elder, who died anno 925, fays, " He fet his fons to fcole,
and his daughters he fet to ivcl iverke, taking example of
Charles the Conqueftadour *."

It

* Fabian. Chron. ch, 179,

APPENDIX, No. IV. 31

It has been commonly aflerted, and generally believed,
that the woollen manufacture was introduced into England
by Edward III. but the fa£l is, that this manufadlure had
been always confidered in this ifland, from the days of the
Romans in it, as its chief and favourite manufacture. This
was fo much the cafe, that Gervafe of Canterbury, who wrote
about the year 1 200, found this manufadlure of fuch old
(landing in Britain, that no trace of its origin, nor tradition
concerning its introduction there, could be obtained. " The
art of weaving (fays he) feemed to be a peculiar gift beftowed
upon them (the people of Britain) by nature *."

Madox, in his hiflory of the Exchequer, has alfo prefer-
ved many interefting faCls, which clearly prove that the
woollen manufacture was an old eftablifhed bufinefs, carried
on to a vaft extent, even in feparate departments, by nume-
rous and powerful guild fraternities, long before the time
our hiftorians have faid it was introduced into the country.
From thefe notices the following ftriking faCls are feleCted.

Anno 1 140 (the 5th of King Stephen), he takes notice,
that

** The weavers of Oxford pay a mark of gold for their
gild."

** The weavers of London, for their gild, L.xvi."

*< The weavers of Lincoln, two chafceurs, that they might
have their rights. *'

" The weavers of Winchefter, one mark of gold, to have
their cuftoms and liberties, and right to eleCl the alderman
of their gild." And,

" The fullers of Winchefter, L.vi for their gild f.''

Thus it appears, that weaving was at this time an old and
long-eftablifiaed bufinefs, carried on to a great extent by
guild fraternities eftablifhed in many and far diftant parts
of the country ; and that even the fubordinate department
of fulling was not only carried on as a diftinCt employment

by
* Gerv. Chron. ool. 1349 f ATadox fiift. Exch. p. 33a,

32 A P P E N D I X, No. IV.

by individuals, but had alfo attained to fuch a magnitude, as
to be creeled into a feparate guilds and all this two hun-
dred years at leaft before the days of Edward III. the fup-
pofed introducer of the woollen manufafture into Eng-
land. ^

That the art of dying was carried on by a gmldry^ I have
not been able to learn, though it is highly probable 5 but
that it was carried on as a feparate, honourable, and lucra-
tive bufinefs, is clearly proved by the following faft that
incidentally occurs in the fame author.

*« Anno 1 201, David the Dyer pays one mgrk, that his
manor of ■ may be made a burgage *."

That fome adequate notion may be obtained of the mag-
nitude and importance of the woollen manufacture in thofe
days, when compared with others, I fliall feledt from the
fame author the following fadls, by which the reader may
compare the wealth and power of the weavers and the bakers.

" Anno 1 150. The weavers of London {land charged with
ui marks of gold for the farm of their gild for two years j
the bakers of ditto, with one mark and vj ounces of gold."

*' Anno 1 164. The weavers of London rendered L.xij
per annum for the farm of their gild ; the bakers of ditto,
li.vj per annum f."

In both thefe cafes, it Is obfervable, that the gild of
weavers pay precifely twice as much as that of the bakers ;
"which proves in a moft convincing manner, that it muft
have been at that time a very great and flourifliing manu-
fac^ure, indeed the flaple of the country, as no other gild
paid fb much in thofe days.

Other notices prove that the woollen manufacture was
then carried on to a very great extent, and that the fale of
cloth had even been a great bufinefs, and of old {landing, at
this early period. Thus,

" Anno 1 140. The men of Worcefler pay C fhilllngs,

that

• Mad. Hift. Exch. p. 37?. f lb. p. ajZ,

APPENDIX, No. IV. 33

that tliey may buy and fell dyed cloth, as they ivere luotit to
do in the time of King Henry the Fir ft *. We fhall by and
by have occafion to lliew that this muft have been Britifli
made, and not foreign cloth ; Co that the manufaflure was
not only of old {landing, but extremely extenfive in the
days of Henry I. Other notices to the fame purport oc-
cur.

«' ^nfio 1225. The weavers of Oxford pay a cafk of wine,
that they may have the fame privileges that they enjoyed in
the days of King Richard and King John f ."

The extent of the woollen manufacture in England, at
t^ie period of which we now treat, may be gathered from
other circumftances. The bufincfs of dying, as has been
already obferved, was then a diftindt and honourable em-
ployment ; and though we fhall have occafion to fhow that
cloth was then dyed of many colours, yet blue muft have
been one of the chief colours, and nvoadj as being the
only blue dye in thofe days. In great requeft. So great
was the demand for this article, that, though Britain was
at all times noted for its culture. It became necefTary to Im-
port woad from foreign parts ; and we find the following
fums accounted for by fundrles, as the citjioms paid for woad
imported in the year 12*3. That the reader may be able,
without trouble, to form an idea of the value of thefe fums
in thofe days, two additional columns are made 5 the firft de-
notes the prefent value of the filver actually contained in
the refpedtive fums, if eilimated at the fame price per ounce
It would fell for at prefent \ and the other the comparative
^ alue of the fame fum at the time, according to the eftimate
of Mr Hume and others.

E Customs

* Mad. Hift. Exch. p. i86. f 11^- P- »S6.

34 A P P E N D I X, No. IV.

Custom & paid for wood imported intoEnglandy anno 1213, viz.

"InKent&Suffex.Dover

eX'

SU-ver at the EJIlmated -vo'
prefent ftan- lue at the
dard. time about

,

cepted,

I.

■103 tj

4 = L.321 10 6 = L.3aoo 0

0

" Yorkihlre,

98 13

4 = 306 10 0 = 3090 0

0

" London,

17 13

4 = 54 18 9 = 540 0

0

" Norfolk and Suffolk,

Si 6

0 = 165 4 7 = 1650 0

0

" Southampton,

7a I

10 = 3Z3 98= 2230 0

0

" Effex,

4 a

4 = la 3 4 = lai 0

0*

L.349 9 a L.1083 16 10 L.10831 o o
This account ferves not only to prove that the woollen
manufadlure was then carried on to a great extent, but it
alfo gives fome notion of the places where it waseftablifhed.
From this, and fome of the former notices, it appears that
this manufaclure fi;ill kept its ground at Wincheficr, where
the Romans eflablifhed it, as Southampton, the port of
Winchefter, flands very high in the above lift.

Sir Mathew Hale remarks, that, ** in the time of Hen-
" ry II. and Richard, this kingdom greatly flouriflied in
*' the manufa^re of cloth ; but, by the troublefome wars
" in the time of King John and Henry III. and alfo of Ed-
** v/ard I. and Edward II. this manufacture was nvholly lojl^
" and all our trade ran in wools and wool fells, and
" leather |." That the woollen manufacture greatly de-
clined in thofe troublefome times is not to be doubted ; bot
that it was wholly lojl is fully proved to be a miftake, even
from the fadts already fpecified, of which we fhall foon find
farther proofs. The account juft now ftated, of the im-
portation of vrcad, it deferves to be remarked, was for
the 14th year of King John.

It was judged to be not improper thus to prove that the
woollen manufacture was eftablifhed in Britain even before
the Flemings are known to have poflefied it at all ; nor is
it improbable that they might even receive the fu-ft rudi-
ments of the art from hence, along with the wool that was

ncccflary

* Hif:. Eidi. p. t Halt'; prim. on'g. of Mankind, p. 161.

APPENDIX, No. IV. 35

neceflary for its fupport : There is reafon at leaft to believe,
that, during the troublefome times taken notice of by Sir
Mathevv Hale, many of our manufadlurers took refuge in
the Low Countries, and improved the woollen manufacture
of that country. Be that, however, as it may, it is more
our bufinefs in this place to take notice, that Critifli cloth
was in thofe days made of Britifh wool alone, and that this
fold at fuch a high price as to give encouragement to the im-
portation of the cheaper wool of Spain into Britain, which
was of fuch an inferior quality as made it neceflary to pro-
hibit the ufe of it, left it fhould have debafed our manu-
fadlures. Thus,

« Anno 1 172, King Henry II. exprefsly ordained by fta-
tute, that Spanifli wool fhould not be mixed with Englifh
wool in the making of cloth.*"

And that the cloths fo made of Englifh wool were broad
cloths, and that thefe cloths were of a fine quality for fo-
reign markets *, aud that, at this period, the Englifh manu-
fafturers pofTefTcd the knowledge of feveral particulars in
that art that were afterwards loft, and carried on fuch an ex-
port of various kinds of cloth, as to become a confiderable
object of revenue, will appear from the following fadls.

Antw 1 2 1 2, in the Alagna Charta of King Henry III. it
is particularly provided, as follows, viz.

<' That there be one breadth of dyed cloths, rufTets, and
** haberjets, i. e. two yards within the lifts %."

And, in the year 1284, Edward I. impofes the following
duties on woollen goods exported, viz.

*' For cloth 6ytdfcarlet in gfain f, two fhilllngs a cloth."

*' Item J

* Andcrfon's Hiftory of Commerce, p. 189. \ lb. a>ino 1212.

f By fcarkt in grain we are here certainly to underftand that fine crimfon
made from kermes, called afterwards crimfon ingrained, becaufe of its per-
manency of colour. Scarlet, properly I'd called, made from cochineal, was
not known for many ages afterwards. It was probably the fame colour that
is called liczvne in the 47th ad, pa!;liament zd of James II. of Scotland.

36 APPENDIX, No. IV.

" lieniy IS. 6d. for every cloth In which a grain coLur
** is intermixed,,

** liem, 1 2d. for every cloth without grain *."

The art of dying graitied colours feems to have been then,
well known, though^ in the days of Elizabeth, our manu-
faclurers appear to have been ignorant of that branch of
the bufinefs.

From the days of Edward I. to thofe of Charles I. the
•woollen manuJcElure^ and the exportation of Englifli cloth and
•wooly were the principal objedls of legiflation, in as far as it
refpe61s commercial objedls. During all this period, Britifh
cloth, made entirely of home materials, was fought for with
great avidity by all nations ; and Englifh wool, in particu-
lar, was fo much coveted abroad, as to be the object of in-
numerable treaties with foreign Princes. The commercial
hiftory of this period exhibits, indeed, little elfe than an
uninterrupted feries of petitions from various defcrlptions of
men for obtaining it, and of treaties and fpecial grants from
the Crown for that purpofe. To enumerate thefe in detail
would be too long for this effay — But it is alm&fl impofllble
to look into Anderfon's Hiftory of Commerce, or to turn
up a page of Rymer's Federa, without meeting with them.
To thefe authors, therefore, I beg leave here to refer. I
iliall only at prefent obferve, that among thefe petitioners
are to be found merchants, priefts, cardinals, popes, and
kings, too numerous to be particularly named. One of
thefe petitions only, from the fingularity of circumftances
refpefting it, I fhall mention. It is from Don Duarte
King of Portugal, and brother-in-law to the King of
Caftile, with whom he lived in the ftri^left friend-
iliip and brotherly love. Yet this King of Portugal found
it neceflary to apply <' to King Henry VI. of England in
<* the^year 1437, for liberty to t,y.-^ort Jixt-^ fachs of Cotfwold
" wool, by means of which he was to procure certain cloths

of

* Hift. of Com. muio. ij,^^.

APPENDIX, No. IV. 37

of gold from Florence for his own ufe *." Such was the
cftimation in which Englifh wool was held in Italy at this
time, as to be pi-eferred to any commodity, even to gold
itfelf, and fo great the demand for it, as to require the in-
tervention of crowned heads to obtain it for the merchants.
Neither ought it to pafs unobferved, that it was Englijh^ and
not SpainJJj wool thefe merchants coveted, which the fame
King could probably have obtained of his brother-in-law
with little trouble.

During the long period above fpecified, I have not been
able to meet with a fingle fa£l that tends to fhow that Spa-
nijh wool was, in any cafe, reckoned equally fine with Eng-
lifii wool. Lewis Guicclardln^ a native of Italy, who wrote
thehiftory of the Low Countries about the year 1470, when
the Flemifh States were in their higheft glory, takes notice,
on feveral occalions, of the great fupplies of wool which
thefe States obtained from Spa'm^ as well as England. And
though he no where, that I can find, draws an exprefs com-
parifon between them, yet, on every occafion where he men-
tions them incidentally together, he gives thej^r/? place to
that of England, as deferving to be preferred to the other.
In one cafe, he calls Englifh wool " lane finijfime" and Spa-
nifh wool he calls " lane honijfime f , by which it would feem
that finenefs was the diftinguilhing peculiarity of Engliflx
wool at that time, when compared with that of Spain. In
another place, however, he incidentally draws a fort of pa-
rallel between them, in which the fuperiority of Englifli
wool is ftill more clearly exprefTed. His words are : " Le
** lane del paefe fono groflete, et non ha che fare di bonta
" con quella di Spagna, et maneo con quelle d' Inghilierra^J'
That is, the wool of the country . is coarfe, and cannot be
compared with that of Spain, and far lefs with that of Eng-
land. Here the fuperior finenefs of Englifh wool is very

diftlnftly
* Hift. of Com. vol. 1. p. 463.

t Cnicc. di.fcr. dc Psefe bsffi. Annverfa 1577, p. laa. § lb. p. 10

38 A P P E N D I X, No. IV.

iliftinclly marked, though the precife difference in this re-
lpe<n: is not afcertained.

This deficiency in Guicciardin and other hiflorians may
be in feme meafure fupplLed by the following fadl that in-
cidentally fell in my way. In the year 1470 a Spanifhvef-
fel bound for the Netherlands, having been taken by an
Englifli privateer, the owners of that veffel lodged a claim of
damages, and in the account prefented for that purpofe, the
wool is ftated as being worth, in the Netherlandsy L.4 per
fack, weighing one quintal Spanifli *, which is equal to
L.p, I2s. per fack Englifh of 364 pounds. About that
time the beft EngliHi wool, as may be gathered fromSmith's
Memoirs of Wool, (vol. l.pnjjim)^ fold in Flanders for not
lefs than L.18 cr L.20 per fack. Rapin, in one cafe, ex-
prefsly mentions that Englifh wool, anno 1337J fold in
Flanders at the exorbitant rate of L.40 per fack ; ten thou-
fand fades having brought in Brabant no \^Sz than four
hundred thoufand pounds \. This fuperiority in price ne-
ceflarily fuppofes a great fuperiority in the quality of Eng-
lifli wool at that time.

This fuperiority in the quality of Englifh wool over all
others then generally known in the commercial world, con-
tinued down to the days of Elizabeth. In the days of that
great Princefs, attempts were made to recover fome of the
branches of the woollen manufadlure that feem to have been
Toll: during the troubles occafioned by the contefls between the
York and Lancaftrian parties for the crown, particularly
refpedling the art of dying, and perhaps dreiUng cloth. —
For, though the exports of cloth from England in the days
of Elizabeth were very great, amounting on an average of
years to about two millionr, Sterling :}:, yet a great part of
thefe clotiis were exported without having been dyed, which

gave

* Hift. cf Ccm. snno 1470. f Rapin's Ada Rcgia, p. 151.

\ Smith's Mem. cf W'ool, cap. xx.— xxvi.

APPENDIX, No. IV. 39

gave room for complaints, and occafioned inconveniencies
that we muft not take time here to fpecify.

To remedy thefe evils, a project was fet on foot in the
year "I57i?> to fend out one Mr Morgan Hiihhlethorney dyer,
into Perfia, with a view to perfect himfelf in fome particu-
lar branches of the art of dying, which were wanted ; and
Mr Richard Hackliiytty of Oxford, a man of great know-
ledge in thofe days, having been appointed to draw up a fet
of in{lru6i:ions for that occafion, thus exprelTes himfelf
refpe£ling Englifli wool, in the preface to thefe inftruc-
tions.

" For that England hath the beft luocl and cloth in the
<« world *," &c.

And in another fet of inftruftions for a principal Englifli
fatflor at Conftantinople, are the following remarkable par-
ticulars on this head.

« Firft, You cannot denie that this realme yeeldeth the
" mojl fine wooll, the mo^fofty the moft ilrong wooll, the
" moft durable cloth, and moft apt of nature of all other
" to receive die ; and no ifland, or any other kingdome io
" fmall, doeth yeeld fo great abundance of the fame, &c.

" Spaine now aboundeth with woolls, and the fame are
" clothed (i.e. draped, or made into cloth). Turkic hath
" woolls, and fo have divers provinces of Chriftendome anJ
^^ Heathenefle, and cloth is madeof tliem in divers places.

" I ft, But if England have the moft fine and the moft
« excellent woolls of the world in all refpeds (as it can-
<< not be denied but it hath)-, 2d, If there may bee added
*< to the fame excellent artificiall, and true making, and ex-
" cellent dying ; 3d, Then no doubt but we fliall have
*♦ vent for our clothes, although the world did abound
*' much more with woolls than it doeth f," &c.

INIr Arthur Edwards, agent for the Rufllan Company
ajino 156S, gives the following particulars refpecling the

trade
* Hackluytt's Collections, vol. II. p. 161. f lb, p. 163.

4a APPENDIX, No. IV.

trade to Venice in wool and woollen fluffs from England at
that time, viz. " That the Venetian merchants in London
** fent to Venice, and thence to Turkie by Haleppo, and
** Tripoli in Syria, and thence into Perfia, great abundance
*' of fine kerfies, of broad cloths of all forts and colours,
•* as fcarlets, violets, and other of the Jine/? cloths of all the
" nvorld. Alfo that the Venetians brought out of Eng-
** land, not only fuch cloths ready made, but furthermore,
" great plenty of fitie luooll to mingle with their woolls, of
*' which they could not otherwife make fine cloths ; afErm-
** ing, that there went out of England that waies above
<f two hundred thoufand kerfies, and as many broad cloths,
" befides Jine ivooll and other merchandize j befide alfo
" great abundance of the like cloths, the which were car-
" ried into Spaine, Barbaric, and divers other countries *."
The following pafTages from a poem, whofe verfification
appears to us not a little uncouth on account of the language
in which it is written, being now obfelete, that feems to have
been compofed during the indolent reign of Henry VI. con-
cur with the foregoing and every other account preferved
concerning thefe ancient times, in reprefenting Englifli wool
S_s indifputably the beft in the known v,'orid at that time.

" For the woolle of England

*' Siifteineth the common Flcemings I underlland ;

*' Then if England would her woolle reftraine

" From Flanders, this followeth in certaine,

" Flanders of nede [a) muft with us have peace,

*' Or els [b) fhce is dellroyed without lees (f).

** Alfo if Flanders thus deftroj'cd bee,

** Some merchandy of Spaine will never ythee {d) ;

*^' For dellroyed It is, and as in cheefe,

*' The woolle of Spaine it cometh not to preefe (f),

But

• Hack, vol. I. p. 392.

(^} Need. (/;) Elfe. {c) Releafe, recovery. {d) Find vent.

(c) Does not (land lh£. tcfc, or proof.

APPENDIX,' No. IV. 4t

«• But if it be cofted and menged (a) well

** Amongtl the Englifh vvoollc the greater delle (3).

** For Spanifh woolle in Flaunders draped is,

*• And ever hath bee (r ) that men have minde of this 5

** And yet woolle is one of the cheefe merchandy [d)

*' That longetts to Spaine : who fo will efpie,

*' It is of little value, truft unto mee,

" With Englifh woolle but if it menged (e) bee.'*

•' Our goodly ivoolle, which is fo general!,

*' Needful to them of Spaine, and Scotland als (/),

*• And other coftcs (j) this fentenfe is not fals (/.»). *

On thefe two laft quotations I fhall beg leave to make a
few remarks, as the fubjeft is of very great importance, and
cither has not been adverted to, or wilfully mifreprefented
in all the publications I have feen on this fubjedl.

1. I prefume thefe authorities put It beyond a doubt, that
at and before the year 1579, Englilh wool was fuperior in
quality to Spanilh wool, and fold in a fair market at a high-
er price.

2. That England then manufa^ured cloth of the fineft
quality that was to be found in any part of the wOrld, and
as fuch it was coveted by the moft luxurious nations in the
fouth of Europe, and in Afia and Africa.

3. That thefe fine cloths were made entirely of Engllfh
wool, without the fmalleft admixture of Spanifh wool at all.
Mr Hackluytt's words on that head are clear and exprefs,
fo as to admit of no doubt, and they are at the fame time
fo announced as to fhow that he had not at that time an idea
that ever the people in England would think of employing

F Spanifh

(a) Mixed, (i) The greater deal, part, (c) Been. (<f) Merchandize,
(ir) Mixed be. (/) Scotland alfo. (^) Other coafts, countri'^s. (A) Is not
fulfe.

* Plackluytl's Colic A vol. I. x- I??, "

4% APPENDIX, No. IV.

Spanlfh wool in the fabrication of their fine cloths, far lelV
that they had already done fo. From the bufinefs in whicli
he was employed he mud alfo have been particularly well
informed of things of this nature, by the manufacturers on
"whofe account he v/as engaged j fo that his authority alone
is worth a thoufand vague afTertions.

4. That Englifh ivool was coveted abroad as a commodity
of great value, to be mixed with other wool for perfecting
their fi'nefi: manufactures. On this laft head, I beg leave to
remark, that this facl, which was real and undoubted, at
that thne^ has been aiTerted thoufands of times fince then,
after circumftances were fadly changed ; and thefe aflertions
have been greedily believed without proof or examination,
as this opinion flatters the national vanity j and it has been
employed for very deftruclive purpofes.

5. That the wool fo much coveted then, was fhort cloth-
ing wool, and not long combing wool, which is the only
kind now coveted abroad. That it was clothing wool, ap-
pears evident from two circumftances, viz. i. The places
where it vras chiefly coveted, viz. Fiorciice, Genx)a, and Ve-
nice } as it is welt known that the fine woollen manufacture?
of thefe places were cloths^ and xiotjliiffs^ in virhich combed
wool could be ufeful ; and, 2d, From the kind of Englifli
"TTOol ufually fpecified in the petitions, viz. Coffwold woo],
which was always of the ihort carding fort.

Let us now contrajfi: thefe well authenticated- fatfls, with
the following facSls, that are equally undeniable, with regard
to the prefent fituation of the wool and Woollen manufac-
ture of England- — and then draw fome neceflary inferences.

1. Engliih clothing wool is now much inferior in quality
to that of Spain, and fells at a price greatly below it in every
free market where they can be brought together.

2. That England flill manufaclures fine cloths of a very
good quality j but that fine cloths are made in France and o-
ther countries, which arc generally preferred to them in the

markets

APPENDIX, No. IV. 43

markets in the Levant, and many other fouthern countries,
to which we can ncfw export few or no dcths at all.

3. That not one ounce of Englijh luool can be employed ia
the fabrication of out fnej} cloths^ either for our own wear,
or for foreign fale.

4. That though it be ftill often afTerted in the moft bare-
faced manner, in contradiction to thefe undeniable fafts, and
in defiance of common fenfe, that Engli£h clothing wool is
coveted abroad, for the purpofe of perfe<Sting their cloths,
and that other nations, particularly the French, never can
make fine cloths without the aid of Englifh wool to mix ia
their manufadlures, yet fuch affertions are falfe, ground-
lefs, and abfurd. Can any thing be more ridiculous, than
to hear perfons ferioufly maintain that Enghfli wool is ne-
cefTary in France for- perfecting a manufaClure, in which the
people of England dare not venture to employ an ounce of
that wool v^ithout debafing it ? or that the French cannot
make^;;^ cloth for want of materials^ when they have eafier
accefs than ourfelves to buy the very fame materials of which
we ourfelves are compelled to make our beft cloths ? They
have even finer wool of their own growth, fit for that pur-
pofe, than could be had in England.

5. It is a certain faft, that the only kind of wool in Eng-
land, which can now lay claim to any kind of fuperiority
over that of other nations, is not the fliort carding wool
which was of old fo highly prized, and fo much fought af-
ter by foreign nations, but a kind of wool of a longer ftaple,
fit for being combed, and which can be only employed, not
in the manufacture of cloth, but of other lighter fabrics of
various denominations.

From thefe faCts thus accurately compared, we ave led
to fee that the following inferences are undeniable.

I. Since it is clear that Britain did aCtually pofTefs very
fine clothing wool in great abundance in and before the
reign of Elijabethj which evidently does not now exifl in

th^

44 A P P E N D I X, No, IV.

the ifland, its difappearance mufl: be owing to fome caufe,
either phyficaly or morale and it imports the nation much to
know what has been the real caufe of a phenomenon of fuch
great national importance. And,

2. Though it be certain that we now do poflefs combing
wool of a very good quality ; yet, as we have already loft
the fine carding wool, which was of a quality ftill more fuper-
eminently excellent than our combing wool can boaft, there
is great reafon to fear, that, unlefs we difcover the caufe of
the deterioration of our clothing wool, and obviate it, that;
through the operation of the fame malign influence, if not
guarded againft, we may gradually fufFer the combing wool
to be debafed, till it alfo fhall become inferior to that of
fome of our neighbours.

That this change has proceeded from natural caufes, no
perfon can fuppofe. The climate and the paftures are fo
little altered fince that time, as to be altogether inadequate
to the producing this effedl. Indeed the probability is, that,
were it not for other caufes, the changes produced in refpeft
of paflure muft have been favourable to the growth of wool,
inftead of the reverfe.

This change muft therefore have been effe(5led by moral
caufes ; and among thefe, no one, unlefs it be fome radical
change in the laws, feems to be capable of producing an ef-
fe6l that would have been fufEcient to controul the com-
mercial fpirit, whofe influence on human affairs is un-
bounded and indefinite.

In revifing the fyftem of legiflation that has prevailed in
Britain refpecTiing this article, before and after the period
here in oueftion, we do accordingly find that a fyftem of
legiflation, refpetfting the commerce of wool, was adopted
foon after the days of James I. extremely difl'erent fron^
that which had been followed before that time in this coun-
try, which gives reafon to fea- the deplorable change th^t

ba$

A P P E N D I X, No. IV. 45

has taken place, in this refpefl, may have been owing t©
that caufe.

Before the days of Charles II. the exportation of wool
from Britain, though ilibje(fl at all times to a high duty,
and liable to temporary interruptions on monopolizing prin-
ciples, was ftill however permitted, in one way or other.
Since that time, it has been totally prohibited, under the
fevered penalties. This matter has been much mifrepre*^
fented, as might be eafily proved, were it here proper.

On examining what ought: naturally to be the effect of
fuch a prohibition, in a country that had been accuftomed
to carry on a confiderable foreign trade in wool, it is evi-
dent that the jirjl effedl of it muft have been greatly to
lower the price oijlne wool.

Before the prohibition took place, the difference between
the price of fine and of coarfe wool muft have been very
great ; becaufe, as the duty on the exportation of wool was
the fame in all cafes, it was only that which was very fincy
and which of courfe bore a very high price in foreign mar-
kets, that could find its way thither. The coarfe wool,
which fold at a price in foreign markets not much higher
than the duty (which was fometimes L.5 per fack), toge-
ther with freight and charges, could never go thither ;
great exertions, therefore, would be then made by the wool
growers to obtain j^//<? wool fit for the foreign market. No
fooner, however, was tliis outlet flopped up than the im-
menfe glut of that kind of wool in the home market would
lower the price of that fine wool, fo very much as to make
it no longer worth the wool growers while to rear it *. — •
Regardlefs, therefore, of the quality of his wool any longer,
his attention muft now be turned chiefly towards the im-
proving

* For a particular enumeration of the evils that a^ually were experienced
from this caufe, fee a treatife of Roger Coke, entitled, The equal Danger
of Church, Trade, and State of England, 4/0, printed anno i6oc— and Smith's
Menioirs of Wool, fajfun, and 'other pamphlets there referred t.o.

Ji6 A P P E N D I X, No. IV.

proving the carcal'e of his flieep ; and therefore a breed of
coarfc vVool'd fheep might become more profitable to him
than the fine wool'd fort, which ufed to return the beft
profit. Thefe coarfe wool'd fheep muft of courfe be uni-
verfally preferred — and, in thefe circumftances, nothing can
jbe more natural than the change we have had occafion to
remark — nor, if the fame fyflem of legiflation be perfilled
in, will it be in the leaft furprifing if the fine combing wool,
that now furniflies the fubje<SL of fo many vain panegyrics,
ihould in its turn difappear. I think there are evident
fymptoms of its degenerating.

The mamifaBurers have been accufed of obtaining this
law, with a view to their own emolunaent-, but, if it be fo,
"it will be eafy to (how that the effects have been very dif-
ferent, in regard to their bufinefs, from what they have
hoped it would be. At \\~itjirj}y there was no doubt fomC
flight advantage derived from it by individuals among them j
but the confequences of it to that manufacture now are
highly prejudicial.

In former times, and as long as the exportation of Bri-
tifli wool, under a duty, was permitted, it muft either have
been of a quality, equal at leaft to that of Spain, to bring
the fame price in a free market abroad, or finer, if it brought
2. higher price than the Spanifh wool abroad, though it muft
have fold at a lower price at home. Say then that the
duty, freight, eommijQion, and expences was L.5 per fack ;
this wool muft either be fold in a foreign market, at the
fame price with Spanifh wool of the fame quality, or it
could not be fold at all. — Admitting then it was equally
fine with the Spaniffi wool, it will follow that the Englifh
manufafturer might buy it at leaft L.5 per i^ek cheaper
than either it or Spanifh wool of the fame quality could
have been bought for by foreign manufacHiurers. — If there-
fore rival manufadlurers found it necefTary to buy this wool,
they muft pay for it at leaft L.5 per fack more than the

Pritilh

APPENDIX, No. IV. 47

Brkifh manufafturer could have had it for at his door — ■
and this premium ought to have operated greatly in en-
abling him to underfeli them in foreign markets. Such
would have ftill been the condition of the Englifli cloathier,
had the exportation of wool continued to be permitted as
in the days of Elizabeth. What is it now ? At prefent no
'BritiJIj wool fit for vnzkxne^ fupcrjifie clotli is to be found. \i
he muft make^«f cloths, therefore, for foreign markets, he
muft buy Spanifti wool at the fame price at leaft with his
rival competitors, and thus he is entirely deprived of the
whole of the premium he would have had, if Britifli wool
had continued to be exported as formerly. Thus is the na-
tion at large deprived of a beneficial branch of commerce
it might ; eafily have enjoyed, and the King of Britain has
loft a confiderable revenue, which would have had this lin-
gular advantage over moft fources of revenue, that it wouM
have operated at the fame time as a bounty to the farmer %
and as a premium to the manufacturer, to enable him to
extend his foreign confumption of Britifti manufactures far
beyond what ever can take place under the miferable fyftem
of pohcy that has prevailed for fome time, which has been
adopted through ignorance, and can be continued only
through imbecillity of mind.

This digreffion has led me much farther than was expeCl-
ed — ^but it is hoped the importance of the fubjeCl difcufled,
and its Intimate connexion with the obje£l of the prefent
enquiry, will be a fuflicient excufe.

The fame legiflative regulations that banlflied fine wool
from England, have operated in a fimilar manner in Scot-
land— And though It be true that the woollen manufatfturc
in Scotland never had rifen to the fame perfection as in
England — and though we have had no Madox nor Rymer
. to collect together the fcattered facts that ferve to Indicate

the

* This muft only be confidered as a bounty to the farmer relati-vely, when
compared «rith the prefent fyftem of Icgiflation— not ahjohtdy.

48 APPENDIX, No. IV.

the progrefs of the arts here, yet there are ftill to be found
a few, though indeed a very few hints, that fufficiently
ferve to fliow that there were woollen manufa^ures here of
fome note, and that wool was to be found in that country
alfo of a very fuperior degree of finenefs.

Guicciardin, in his hiftory of the Low Countries, takes
notice feveral times of the wool of Scotland as an article oT
trade to that country. And,

As early as the year 1393, Thomas Dunbar, Earl of Mo-
ray, granted to the town of Elgin " the liberty of exporting
** all the "wool, cloth, and other things that go by fliip out of
<* his harbour of Spey, duty free" *. Thus, it appears that
ivool and c/oth muft have then been deemed the moll prin-
cipal exports from thence, as they alone have been thought
worthy of being mentioned by name. But when fubjedls
had thus a right of exafting national duties, it is not to be
expedted that any dlftindl account can be now obtained, ei-
ther of their nature or their amount. It is alfo ordained,
by the 40th adl of the third Parliament of James I. of Scot-
land, anno 1425, *^ That of ilk pound's worth of woollen
** claith had out of the realme, the King fall have of the
** out-haver for cuftome twa Ihillings." Cloth was there-
fore an article of export from Scotland In thofe days.—
How different at prefent ? Cloth and falmon are the only ar-
ticles of export mentioned in that law.

He<Slor Boethius, who wrote about the year 1460, takes
notice of the finenefs of the wool produced in various parts
of Scotland ; but, in general, he mentions not any crite-
rion by which that finenefs can be afcertalned — only, in
fpeaking of the fheep in the vale of Eik, in the Ihire of
Angus, he ufes the following words, as tranflated by Hol-
lingfhed : " Whofe flieep have fuch white, fine, and ex-
■** cellent wool, as the like of it is hardly to he found again
« within the whole if and*. '^ Here it is parallelled with that

of

* Hift. of Moray, p, 193. f Hcllingfhed's Chron, p. IJ^

APPENDIX, No. IV. 45)

^f England, which was without doubt at that time the
finefl in Europe.

Sebaftian Munfler, in his Cofmographice Univerfalisi
printed in the year 1550 at Bafii, has the following fhort
notice concerning the fubject of our prefent inquiries : — .
*'''Pafcua in utroque regno (Jcil. Scotia et Anglia — he is
*' treating of Scotland at the time) funt optima, unde et
*' millibi melior et tenerior lana *." This once more
puts the Scotch and Englifh wool in the fame clafs, and
in the firft rank for finenefs.

PetruGcio Ubaldiai, who wrote a defcription of Scot-
land in the Italian language, imprinted at Anverfa 1588,
mentions the wool of this country in terms of greater ap-
probation, and takes notice of fome other peculiarities of
our manufa6lure, owing to the finenefs of the wool.

His words are, —

*' Ma che diremo noi della lana (it is of Scotland he
" is fpeaking), la quale aprelTo di tutte le genti e in pregio
" grandiflimo ?" i.e. " But what ftiall I fay of the wool,
which bears a very high price among all nations ?" And
immediately he adds : " Ma quelle che non bene e noto
** ad ogniuno, non piccola parte di quella delicata et
" gentile, della quale li fanno i panni fcarlatti, et di co-
** lor di porpora, et di altri colori finiffimi di contellura
*' eccellentiffime, et calze, et camicevole, et guanti,
" commodita et ornamento d'illuftri, et gran madonne,
" non era da taceref." " But what is not well known to
every one, and what ought not to be concealed, there is
no fmall quantity of that fine delicate fort, of which is
made fcarlet cloths of an excellent quality, and purple,
and other fine colours, and floekings, and waiftcoats, and

G gloves,

* Cofm. Univ. p. 49.

f Defer, del reguo de Scotia de Petntccio Ubaldini Cittadin Fiorentlo,

APPEND IX, No. IV.

gloves, convenient and ornamental, for dlftinguifiied per-
fons, and ladies of high rank." Signior Ubaldini, during
his refidence in Antwerp, probably had an opportu-
nity of feeing fome of thefe kinds of goods brought to
market ; and the defcription applies fo -well to that kind
of delicate wool ftill found in fome parts of Shetland, as
gives reafon to believe he had been very well informed as
to thefe particulars.

Thefe fine-wooUed iheep, however, though they cer-
tainly did exill in Scotland at the time Ubaldini wrote
his book, and long afterwards, have now, like the fme-
woolled fheep in England, difappeared on the main land,
though they poffibly may be recovered fi'om fome remote
and negle£led corner among the diftant ifles. But when
they Ihall be found, it will be difficxdt to increafe the
breed : For though, in confcquence of the prohibition to
export wool from Britain, fine wool has become here fo
fcarce, as to oblige us to have recourfe to Spain for a fup-
ply, and by confequence has raifed the price of fine wool
here much higher than it would have been, and thus it
may be thought holds out a ftrong temptation to the wool
grower in Britain, to try to rear fine wool once more ;
yet fo long as the market continues limited, as it muft
be while the prefent laws fubfill, and the reflraints thefe
laws produce continue to hamper the wool grower, no vi-
gorous effort to regain that lofl obje6l of commerce, can be
expecled to be made ; and if it were made, there are dif-
ficulties occur in this attempt, which, unlefs in particular
circumllances, muil for ever render fuch attempts abor-
tive. Fortunately for Britain, fome parts of Scotland pof-
fefs fuch peculiar advantages in this refpeft, as no other
rival nation can boafl of : fo that there, and there ojily^
an effort to improve the breed of fine-woolled Iheep can
be attended with a reafonable profpeft of fuccefs.

Experiments

APPENDIX, No. IV. 51

Experiments have clearly proved, that the permanetit
qualities of any breed of flieep can only be afFefted by a
change in the parent flock * ; and that of courfe, if a new
breed be introduced into any country, it will infallibly be
foon debafed by intermixing with the native breed of the
country, unlefs an entire feclufion of them fliall be made at
the rutting feafon. At the rutting feafon, however, it is
well known, that no fences a farmer can rear are fuffici-
ent to keep them feparate. They therefore intermix and
degenerate, in fpite of every effort that can be made to
prevent it. Though it be not therefore a phyfical im-
poilibility, to keep a few fheep of a particular breed, for
any length of time, entirely free from degenerating, in a
country where other fheep abound, yet it has been ever
found to be morally imprafticable f . Nature, however,
has provided a fet of fences perfedlly capable of anfwer-
ing this purpofe, at 710 expence to the owner, along the
coafts of Scotland, by having fcattered there innumerable
iflands of various fizes, on which any particular breed of
fheep may be kept, without trouble or expence, entirely
feciuded from all others, if it be required ; fo that if ever
fo few of the parent Hock were originally obtained, they
can be there kept till they fhall increafe to any number
wanted, without a pofnbility of being debafed in the

G 2 fmalleft

* Obfervatlons on the means of exciting a fpirit of national induftry,
Let. vii.

f The patriotic efforts of Mr. D'Aubenton in Francej fliew the utmoft
that man can do in this refpedl ; and his fuccefs in improving the wool of
France has been what might be expelled, under the management of a per-
fon infpired with fuch an ardent zeal for promoting national improvements,
as that gentleman pofTefles : But were his guardian arm withdrawn, and
an attempt made to fpread the improvements in general among the flieep
owners of tliat country,- it requires no fpirit of prophecy to foretel the
event. The fame may be faid of Mr. Le Blanc's experiments, mentioned
^pp. No. I,

5* APPENDIX, No. IV.

fmalleft degree. Here then, accurate experiments could
be made, to afcertain the value of any particular breed of
Iheep that might be fufpeded to polTefs particular excel-
lencies, fo as to enable thofe who ai'e concerned, to fpeak
with, certainty of the particular value of each, and the
circumftances in which one kind could be kept with
greater profit than another ; a kind of knowledge which
cannot fo well be attained in any other fituation.

Thefe iflands are alfo peculiarly well adapted for the
rearing of fine-wooUed flieep, on account of the climate
they enjoy. There, little variation of heat and cold is
experienced at different feafons of the year, in comparifon
of continental countries ; and fince it has been proved by
repeated experiments, that the thicknefs of every part of
each filament of wool is in proportion to the heat the ani-
mal was fubje£ted to at the tirne that part of the filament
was protruded from the Ikin *, it follows, that if the heat
of fummer where the iheep paftures be great, that part
of the wool which grows at that feafbn mull be very
coarfe ; and if the cold of the winter where the fame
Iheep lives be intenfe, that part of the wool which grows
during that feafon will indeed be very fine ; but as it
conflitutes one part of the fame filament with the coarfe
■wool that grew in fummer, it will be impollible ever to
feparate the fine from the coarfe by forting ; fc that very
^ne wool, upon the whole, cannot there be obtained.

On the weflern iflands of Scotland, however, as the
fummers are always cool, the wool that grows during
that feafon from the fame breed of fheep is much finer
than if it had been kept in a warmer climate j and as the
cold during winter is alfo extremely moderate, all the
parts of each filament of wool are more nearly of the
fame quality, in refpeft to finenefs, than in ulmoft any

other

* See Obfervations on tlic means of exciting a fyirit of s^ion^l i^.
i^lftry, Letter vi, and poftfcript to <iitto.

[Edinbueob, August 1790.I

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and of the Academy of Arts, Sciences and Belles Lettres, Dijon ; Author of several Performances *,

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TO THE PUBLIC.

Tii« editor of this work has frrqiiently hii occafion to remark, in the
courfe of reading, that numerouil faifts, and important obfcrvaiions, have
been publiftied many years, without having ever come to the knowledge
cf thofe clalTes of men who are engaged in the adive purfuits of hufini/ls,
though it is, for the mod part, by fuch men only, that prai;lical improve-
ments can be applied to ufeful purpofcs in life. From this caufe it hap-
pens, that the dilcoveries made by literary men, too often ferve rather to
anuiie the fpecuJative than to awaken the ingenuity of men oi-bufmefs, or to
ftimulate the induftry of the operative part of the community, who have
no opportunity of ever hearing of the numerous volumes in which thole
fcattered fa<9s are recorded.

He has likewife obfcrved, that among thofe who are engaged in arts,
agriculture, manuf litures, and commerce, there are many individuii's of
ereat ingenuity and confpicuous talents, who, from experience and oh-
iervatior, have made important dilcoveries in their refpeAive employments ;
but that thefe m-'n being at preli:nt in a great meafure excluded from
the circle of literary intelligence, have neither an oppoituni^y, nor any
inducement to communicate their difcoverics to others. 'I'hus is ufeful
knowledge confined to a few individuals only, at whofe deith it is iiTe-
toverably loA, indcad of being univerfaily diffufed, as it of right ought
to be, among all men, at Icaft of their own profeHion ; and the pfbgreis
i)f the nation towards perfctSlion in ufeful attainments is much ret:irdcd.

He has alfo often remarked, with extreme regret, that clergymen*,
and others in remote parts of the country, whofe minds in their early youth
have been delighted with the charms of fcientific purfuits, mull in the
prefent ftate of things, unlefs they be pofleffed of affluence, re'u(5lantly fore-
go the pleafurcs that refult from a familiar intercoiirfe with the rtpulilic of
letters, and fuffer themfelves to fink into a fort of mental annihilation.
To fuch men the poet may be fuppofcd aptly to allude in tliefc beautiful
iines :

*' Full many a gem of purefl ray ferenc

" The dark unfathnm'd" caves of ocean hear;
" And many a rofe is born to blufli unfeen,

" And wafte ifs fwectnefs on the defert air."

GRAr.

Alike unknown indeed, and ufelefs to the world, are the menlo! treafurcs
which thus are buried in ohfcurity, as the inanimate objcifts here de-
fcribed ; but not alike are the effetfts of negleifl on the animate and the
iiianimats obje<5ls themfelves. I'he gem lofes none of its valuable quali-
ties, though it riould remain for ages hid in the bofom of the dark abyfs ;
the burfting rofe bud alfo, covered with the dews of heaven, unfolds its
opening charms with equal beauty in the tangled glade, and diffufes its
balmy fragrance with the fame profufion in the lonely defert, as in the
polilhed garden, where it minifiers to the delight of admiring princes.
Not fo the man. His foul, formed with a relifh for the fuperior enjoy-
ments of fociety, if fiiffered to pine in neglefled obfcurity, lofes its vivifj'ing
jjrinciple : its ardent brilliancy fades; and it is fjon deprived of all thofe
\aluable qualities which might render it either agreeable or beneficial to
mankind. Whatever, therefore, (hall have a tendency to remove this
evil, and to open a ready intercourfc between thefe valuable charafters
and congenial minds, will confer a very important blefling on man-
kind.

.Such was the general train of rcafoning that fuggefted the idea of the
prefent work :■ Nor does the editor fcruple to own, that the pleafure he
has felt In anticipating the happinefs he may thus eventually be the
means of procuring to many deferving perfons who are now loft in
cbfcurity, and in contemplating the benefits that will probably refult
to the community at large from the revivification of fo much ge-
nius, which now lies dormant and ufelefs, have tended greatly to )i.cite
him to attempt the prefent arduous undertaking ; and have influenced him
in adopting the particular form of this work, \he mode of its publication,
and the price at which it is offered to the public, as being better adapted
than any other he could think of, for removing the inconveniences point-
ed out, and for diffufing knowledge very univerfaily among thofe claffes
nf men who are at prefent excluded from the literary circle. Its/nr;/; is
fuch as will eafily admit of its being kept clean and entire till it can be
beuiid up for prcfervation : The time that will intervene between the pub-
lication of each number will be fo fhort.asnot to allow the fubjeiSs treated
m one to be loft fight of before another appears : anfwers to queries may
be quickly obtained ; and conteftcd difcufficrs will thus acquire an intcreft
and a vivacity that cannot be felt in publications that are longer delayed :
Nor will thofe even in the buficft fcenes of life find any difficulty in glanc-
ing over the whole at leifure hours ; and the price is fo exceedingly mode-
rate as to bring it within the reach of even the moft economical members
of the community. Thus, he hojics that this performance will become an
ipterefting recreation and an ufeful inftruflor to the man of bufinefs, and
an agreeable amufement during a vacant hour to thofe of higher rank.

Nor does the editor confine his views to Britain alone. The world
tt larg, he conOders as the proper theatre for literary improvements, and
•> Tiliis obfervation chicBy applies to dcrgymsn in ScoiUod.

the whole human ncc. as ecnftiLUtirg but one great fociety, whofe general
advancement in knowledge mult tend to augment the profperity of all
its parts. He wifhcs, therefore, to break down thofe little dilliijilions
which accident has produced to let nations at vaiiaiice, and which igno-
rance has laid hold of to difuiiile and to render ht.llile to each other fuch
a large proportion of the human y:icc. ('tmtna-ce hath naturally paved the
way to an atlenipt, which literature alone could not perhaps ha\e hof cd
to acltieve. Britifti traders are now to be found in all nati«>ns on the
globe ; and the Fnglifh language begins to be ftudied as highly ufeful
in every countty. By means of the univerfal intercourfc which that tiade
occafions, and the general utility of-this language, he linpcs to he able to
cflabllfh a mutual intercbaiige of knowledge, and to efied a iViindly li-
terary intercouife anicng ail nations ; by which n^.an Ihall come gradually
to know, to eftceni, to aid, and to benefit his fellow creatures wdieicvcr
he finds them. The human hcr.rt is nearly the fame at all times ; and
it is perhaps alike fi.fccptible of piety, beneficence and generofity among
all jieople, if errors that too cften pervert the underftanding were era-
dicated. The proper bufinefs of philofo[)hy is to eradicate thofe errors
which eftrauge mankind from each other, and to extend the fpliere ot
bencficeiici! among men wider and wider ftill, till it Ihall comprehend
every individual of the human race. .Sboidd the editor of this work be
enabled to eflahliih the foundation of this fyftem of univerfal civiliza-
tion, he would reckon himftif fiiif ularly fortunate indeed, and think that
he had accompliflied one of tJie moft glorious achievements that can fall'
to the lot of man to perform. Animated with this hope, his exertions
have been great; and he tnifts they will not in future be unworthy,
of the cbjedl he has in view. He is happy in being able to fay, that
he has been more fortunate in forming coniitc^ions with men of eminence
in the literary world than he had any reafun to cxpe(?l ; and were he
here to mention tJie names of thofe who are to honour him with their
correfpondence, it is hard to fay whether it would moft expofe him to
be cenfured as vain, or bring his veracity in queftion. Suflice it there-
fore at prefent only to fay, that there is fcarcely a civilized nation on the
globe in which he has not a reafonable affurance of having fome confiden-
tial correfpondents, on whofe knowledge and zeal in the caufe of I'cience
he can fully rely. It is indeed to that ardour for knowledge among them
that he is folely indebted fur the favourable countenance he has obtained.
Into all nations, therefore, where the Engliih language is in any way
known, this work will probably find its way ; and of courfe it may be expect-
ed that the ufeful difcoveries, or literary clfays of ingenious men, will have
a better chance of being generally read, and the writers of them made known
among men of letters, if inferred in it, than perhaps in any other publica-
tion. To give this work, therefore, the full value of which it is fufceptible,
the editor w.armly folicits communications from ingenious men of all na-
tions. Brevity and originality in fcientifc difquifitions, utility with refpetfl:
to art!, accuracy and the moft fcrupulous fidelity in regard to cxjierime/^ts,
nature and truth in the delineation of real life, and elegance in polite litera-
t'lre and the bcltt! Ifttr.-s, are what he chiefly wifhes to obtain. Though
utility (hall ever be his chief aim, he is well aware, that to be able to ac-
compli(h this aim, it is neceffary that the work fhould be as agreeable as,
poffible. Dry and intricate details, therefore, it fhall be his ftudy to avoid.
To poUlh the manners and to humanize the heart, he believes to be the firft
fteps required in an attempt to infpire a tafte f®r literary excellence, and
to excite exertions for attaining the higheft perfeiftlon in arts. This he hopes
to be able to effedt, by a careful felet^^ion of elegant dilTertation^, charatler-
iftical anecdotes, entertaining talcs, and lively fallies of wit and humimr,
that (hall be naturally calculated to awaken the attention of youth, and to
afford a dcfirable entertainment to thofe of more enlarged underftanding
and cultivated tafte.

It is not, however, on account of the dllfemlnation of Unoir/cif^e alone
that the editor calls the attention of the public to this work ; but becaufe
it is equally adapted to the extirpation of error. Fa6ls, efpecially when
they refpedl diftant objetfts, are often imperfeClly known, or much mif-
reprefented by thofe who communicate them to the public. When this
happens, in the ordinary modes of publication, fuch mifreprefentations can-
not be eafily difcovered. It may be long before fuch publications fall m
the way of thofe who know the faifls with precifion : and when this at laii
does happen, it requires fo great an exertion, in thefe circumftances, to put
matters to rights, that few perfons find themfelves difpofed to undertake
the taflc. Even when this diihculty is overcome, the ta(k is bulf imperfect-
ly accomplifhed. Thoufands may have been mifled by the fuppofeU faft,
who may never have an opportuifity of meeting with its refutation. "I'hefe, ■
in their turn, may reafon upon the IdA, and publifli it in c^hcr works.
Error may thus be propagated among millions who never (hall have an
opportunity of getting thefe falfe notions corrcdled. This could liot happen,
fhould the intended mifcellany meet with as general a circulation as jt is
naturally fufceptible of. In that cafe, the publication would fqon fall into
the hands of fome one who would know with precifion tlie fails- that oc-
curred in it, even with refpeiSl to very diitant objecfts : ."^nd as eri'jts of
this fort might be reiSlfied, in many cafes, by a few lines, which would
coil little trouble to write, asd be attended with no expence, nor bs acj

/*

( 3 3

«i»nr»iiieiJ wit>i oWcquy nor any other diragrtcablc cffecl to the writer,
there fccms to be no room to doubt, that the native love of truth, which
ii c</.'! 'enial to the liumaii mind, would prompt fuch perfoni cheerfully to
point out errors wherever they occurred i and as thefe correc'lions would
cumc in fucccflion to be read by the very perfuns who had been at (irft
iniflcd, the cvii would be quickly redified, and this great inlet to error
be ftopj.ed up nearly at its fource. Doubtful I'aclj alio, that oceun-cd in
other writings, might thus be afcertaincd; and error be at lad fo thorongh-
I; fcrrettcd out from all it« intricate retreats, as to make tkutu to reiKii
triumphant over all the regions of fcience. Such, then, being the great
obicAs aimed at in this apparently humble work, it will not be wondered
at that the editor not only docs not with to conceal his name from the pub-
lic but is even proud to have given birth to fuch an undertaking. If his
former writings poffcfs any merit at all, they owe it entirely to an unre-
niitting defire in him to promote the general good of mankind ; and he
juulls, that his effoits to render as pcrfeOl as he can, this much gre.iter and
liiore ufeful performance, may entitle him to hope for a continuance, and an
extenfion even, of that favour, which he ha«, on all former nccafions, fn li-
berally experienced from an ever indulgent public. Should he fail in thii
arttmpt, he (hall i egret it as a misfortune, and aicribe it to the wcakncfs of
his powers, that have not been fuflicient to roufe the public attention to a
f ,'>ic<5l of fuch univerfJ moment; and to the accidental waywardnefs ot
.;.-.: ir,l,„™..v^r hr m,,.t wirli the rncn..r.-urpn„...» .l.a, ,!,» K„M„«f.

104 Anderson (Jas.) The Bee, or Literary Weekly Intelligence, 18 vols, in 14,
8vo. numerous portraits, and some imodcuts hij Bewick, half calf neat

Edinburgh, 1791-3
Complete sets of this Scottish literary periodical are of rare occurronee.

niunications from abroad will be valuable alike for their authenticity, va-
riety and importance. It is not, however, on the comMiunicatioji'^ fiom a-
broad that he places his cliief reliance, nor on the voluntary afliftancc of
private literary friends ; he hopes for communications on intcrefting fub-
jefls, as they occafionally occur, from literary characters in Britain who arc
entire ftrangers to him, and will be at all times ready to make fuch returns
as the writers of fuch eflay* Ihall be willing to accejit, in proportion to the
merit of their performances. He lliall only add, that cop.ciltnefs and com-
prehcnfive brevity will ever be to him great recommendations.

The editor caimot pretend to announce this work to his readers as a newf-
paper. It may fervc, however, as a concife regiiler of important <iccurrences,
that admits of tiling conveniently bound up, to he confulted occafionally, and
thus to picfervc the recolledion of evcntslongafier thofe papers that announc-
ed them more fully at the time, ftiall have been fuffered to pcriih. Though
this performance cannot therefore boaft the merit of announcing news, it
may ferve very comidetely the purpofe of an ufeful remembrancer to thofe
%vho wi(h to prefcrve a dillincft recoUcdion of the fucccflion of paft events.

In one particular department, he propofes to adoj^t a method that his
friends make him hope will give general fati5fa<5lion. In all the newf-
papers, mention is made of the fevcral bills that are introduced into parlia-
ment ; but unlefs it be from the debates that occur on the pafling ol thefe
bills, the public are no farther informed of their contents than the name by
which they are announced fuggefts. Many perfons, therefore, have ex-
frcffedan earned wilh, that a diftintft and authentic account could be given
of the charatSeriftic peculiarities of each of thefe bills, in fome performance
that can eafily be obtained by the public at large. This the editor intends

to attempt in tlie prcfent work. Inftcad of jiving « 4iirf ef the »ranf-
adions of parliament, as in a newfpapcr, he propofes to give a feparate
hiftory of the rife and pro^rrcfs of each particular bill, announcing always at
the beginning the particular objcfls of the bill, and tracing tlie amend-
ments it received in each ftcp of its progrcfs through the houfc ; and thus-
explaining the Itate in which it is kit when paOed into a hw, or finally
rejcflcd ; adding himfclf fuch occafional remarks as the fubjeft natural-
'y f"Sge!ls. By this mode of procedure, the account of parhamentary
prijceedings muft indeed be delayed till towards the end of each fel-
fion of parliament, as it is propofed never to lofc fight of one bill till it
be finally pafl'ed into a law, or rejefled. But as the daily proceedings in
paiiiament can be found in every newfpapcr, this delay can be attended
with little incoiu-enicncc to the reader; and it is hoped he will receive a
fatisfaaion, in feting the fame fubjcft difcuffed foon alter, and placed in a
light fomewhat new; and which, from the manner of treating it, if the
execution be lolciablc, ihould be more clear and futisfaflory than the ordi-
nary accounts of parliamentary proceedings. Huw far he Ihall fucctcd in this
department, the public will decide : but it is extremely obvious, that few
things arc fo much wanted in this country, as a mo.e general ].ublicatiou
than at prcfent tali.es place of the laws that affca individuals ; and he hopes
that this attempt, in a work fo much within the reach of all ranks of peo-
ple, will be received with indulgent candour.

lis work is offered to the

c the more cjtenfive,wi;h

jrmation.jccembletorhe

10 0 f '"=3* '^^>^ ■" f-''"'^" 'he

his attempt ; ftir it is by

. ittention can be fo much
engaged, as to eiieCl all the purpofes this publication is naturally fitted to
acconiplifh. His utmoft Eeal, however, can prompt lum to go no farther,,
than to be anxious that thofe who wifh well to the undertaking may have
an opportunity of once feeing the work, and, of judging for tliemlelvcs of
its merit ; and if upon trial they fllall find it. unworthy of their patronage,,
it is but jull and proper thej ihould then give it up. Had private emolu-
ment been the chief objeift with the editor, he is well aware that he would-
havc better fucceeded by affixing a much higher price to it ; The more ge
neral extenfion of knowledge, however, is certainly a_much greater object
to aim.at.

Still farther to ftiinulate the attention of the public, and to call forth the
latent fparks of genius that may he hid from public view ; it is the wifh
of the editor to give a let of premiums, annually, rather honorary than lu-
crative, for the beft differtations on literary fubjedls. The extent of thefe
premiums, and the variety of fubjedls fclefled for them.muft ultimately de-
|iend upon the encouragement the public Ihall give to this undertaking.
As a beginning however, the following incitements are humbly offered ts
fuch ingenious youths as are willing to engage in the honourable conteft for
literary glory. It is necdlcfs to add, that it is the honour of the victory,
rather than the value of the premium, that muft conltitute the principal
reward.

To conclude, the editor will thankfully avail himfelf of every hint, tend-
ing to render his work more perfeiS in any refpeift ; nor does he defpair of
being able to furnifh a mifcellany, that fliall he entitled to fome ihare olr
the public attention.

*,* A particular time cannot he fixed for beginning this publication ; as many neceffary arrangements muft firft be made, which may require
a longer time than is at prcfent expe(5led. The editor is indeed too anxious to have the work wxU done", to think of commencing it prema-
turely. Thofe at a diftance, however, who incline to encourage it, fliould lofe no time in forwarding their orders, as it is probable it may be begun
ly the time that a return from them can be obtained. It will be advertifed m the newfpapers before it commences.

f.j.l' Subfcriptions for this paper will be taken in by all bookrellcrs, or others cntciiiled with cupii;s of the profpeelus, in every part of Great Britain. Or
orders and literary communications may be tranfmitted, poll paid, to the Editor, at the printing houfe of Mundell and Son, Edinburgh, where they
will be gratefully received and puniSlually acknowledged.

'i-' In order to prevent miftakes, it is requefted that fubfcribers will pleafe to write their name and addrtfs in veiy diflimSl charaflers ; and mention
the place, or the poll town, where their copies are to be left. Let thefe direiSions be as diftinift and precife as poflilile.

•^^* It is alfo requefted that fuch fubfcribers as refide in the country, will be pleafed to appoint fome perfon in a poft town to pay this paper for
them' when it falls due; and to mark that perfon's name, £5*2. as well as their own when they give their order fur it. .From thofe very remote parts of
the country, efpecially, lying beyond Invernefs, Fort William and Inveraray, where little commercial intercourfe takes place, no orders can be aafwered,— '
unlefs this requifite be complied with.

I't If no particulars are niarked,it will be undcrftood that the tomrron paper is intended, and it will be forwarded accordingly. Thofe, therefore, who
wilh to be fuiniihed either with the coarfc, or with the^nc paper, will pleafe to meaiion it in their order. ^

0- In thefrji, or fimt carl; Tiumter of thU ivorl, li'lll h gl-orr
refpe£1<d preceptor and m;icb ejlcemed patron and friend of the editor,
fojjihk, oftiiat truly great and worthy man. At few copies ivill be thrO'
■will pleafe to fend their order i foon.

end authentic anecdotet of the Lite ingenkm DoChr William Cullen, tit

ipanieJ ■uilh a portrait, ■uhitb no paint fiall kc fpared to render at exaCi a liienefi at

off at any time mon than are fulfribcj for, thofe ivho ivifb to he poJTffed ff this tverir.

^*, Oh account of the mode offuilieatlin, and other eircumjlaniet, it icecmci mpoffible fit iookfellcrs to circulate this worl, in the ufual -way.

nkind ; and he

trulh, thit his cffcts to render as pcrfcd as he can, this mucli grc.itcr and
more ufcful performance, m.>y cniitic him t" hope for a contmwaiicc, and an
extenfion even, of that favour, which he has, on aU former occafions, fo h-

berally expe'ieiiccd from an ever indulgent public. Should he fail in this

• - •• • - misfortune, and aicribe it to tlie wcaknefs of

,fe the public attention to a

■ Is of

:)r of this work be , lirccOOCUll

i £2I0.„ AV? tU

runs the iHlc.^^

attempt, he fhall regret it

his powers, that have not been fufficient to roule the \
fa'.,iea of fuch uiliverfal n.omct ; and to the acciJc
-Ve times. If, however, he meet with the encouragement that the bolJncls
t the attempt, and probable utility of the work, icem to merit, no exertion
flol nel M.CPOOCf'''' , q 1 j^^^ , ^^„ ,,„ wanting. Of his own o/>{.li:.Uhn at Ic.il while health

.POi ", i,T„„pmlre '^^ In be continued, Tie can fpcak with a reafonable degree of cettanty ; on

t liberal afliftance of his literary friends in Britain, he can with a well
.«ounded confidence rely ; and he has every reafon to expefl (hat his com-
niuiiications from abroad will be valuable alike for thcU- authentieit:)-, va-
riety and importance. It is not, however, on the communicatiou-. fiom a-
broad that he places his cliief reliance, nor on the voluntary aniftance of
private literary friends ; he hopes for communications oil interefling lub-
iefls, as they occafionally occur, from literary charaaers in Britain who are
entire ftraagers to him, and will be at all times ready to make fuch returns
as the wTiters of fuch efliys ihall be willing to accept, in proportion to the
merit of their performances. He fliall only add, that conciler.efs and com-
urehenfivc brevity will ever be to him great recommendations.

The editor cannot pretend to announce this work to his readers as a newf-
paper. It may ferve, however, as a concife regifter of important occurrences,
that admits of being conveniently bound up, to be confulted occafionally, and
thus to preferve the recollection of evtntslongafter thofe papers that announc-
ed them more fully at the time, (hall have been fuffered to pcrilh. Though
this performance cannot therefore boaa the merit of announcuig news, a
may ferve very completely the purpofe of an ufeful remembrancer to thofe
who wilh to preferve a diftinit recolUclion of the fuccenion of paft events.
In one particular department, he propofcs to adopt a method that his
friends make him hope will give general fati-.faaion. In all the licvyf-
papers, mention is made of the feveral bilk that are introduced mto parlia-
ment ; but unlcfs it be from the debates that occur on the paffing of thcfe
bills the public are no farther informed of their contents than the name by
which they are announced fuggefls. Many perfons, therefore, have cx-
preffedan earnefl wi!h, that a diflimjl and authentic account could be given
of the charafteriftic peculiarities of each of thcfe bills, in fome performance
that can eafily be obtained by the public at large. This the editor intends

light fomewhat new ; anij
execution be toleralile, ih(
nary accounts of parliame
department, the public wi
things are fo much want
than at prefent takes place
that this attempt, in a wi
pie, will be received with

Tlic uncommon lowiii
public, ha^ been adopted, tj
a view to render this, and
great body of the people
attenti'jn and patronage c
an exteiifivc circulation ;
engaged, as to etieil all
aceoniplllh. His ut.-noft
than to be anxious that tl
an opportunity of once fe
its merit ; and if upon tri
it is but juft and proper
ment been the chief objei
have better fucceeded bj^
ncral extenfion of knowie
to aim.at.

Stil! farther to ftlmulat
latent fparks of genius tl
of the editor to give a fe
crative, for the bell dilTei
premiums, and the variet;
pond upon die encourage
As a beginning however,
fueh ingenious youths as :
literary glory. It is need
rather than the value a
reward.

To conclude, the editoi
ing to render his work m
being able to furiuih a or:
the public attention.

/*

•^* A particular time cannot be fixed for beginning this publication ; as many neceflary orrang
a longer time than is at prefent expedled. The editor is indeed too anxious to have the worl
turely. Thofe at a diftance, however, who incline to encourage it, fliould lofe no time in forward!
by the time that a return from them can be obtained. It will be adveitifed m the newfpapers before

f4|- Subfcriptions for this paper will be taken in by all bookfellers, or others entrijiied with copiijs of
orders and literary communications may be tranfmitted, poll paid, to the Editor, as the printing hi
will be gratefully received and puniJliially acknowledged.

•4.* In order to prevent miftakes, it is requefted that fubfcribers will pleafe to write their name ar
the place, or the poft town, where their copies are to be left. Let thcfe dlredions be as diftinel and

•|)* It is alfo requefted that fuch fubfcribers as refide in the country, will be pleafed to appoint f
them when it falls due; and to mark that perfon's name, ts":. as well as their own when they give th
the country, efpecially, lying beyond Invctnefe, Fort William and Inveraray, where little commercial i
unlcfs this requifitc be complied with.

i'i If no particulars are marked.it will be underflood that the tomimm paper is iniended, and it will
wilh to be futnilhed either with the tmr/i, or with the>« paper, will pleafe to meiBon it in their ord^

gj" la thrjirjl, or fame curly tiumbrr of thit tmri, ivllt h givtn, original rrcmolrj, *irf authentic anecJ.
refftaed frcctftcr and mvch cjiccmcd patron and friind of Iht editor, accompanied ivilh a portrait, ■which no
foffhU, of that truly great and -Mr thy man. As few copiei -will tc thrown of at any lime more than an J.
■will pltafc to fend their orders foon.

»*, 0/1 accoimt of the made of publication, and other lircumjlances, it hccomci impojjibte fit ioohfdkn to circul

( 4 )

PREMIUMS PROPOSED FOR LITERARY ESSAYS, &c,

Fl R ST. For lie Itft -wnHen, and lie mijl claraaerijlk Jhttci if tit lift rf any of lit grtat mm cr fbilc/hfitrs lial follow ; viz. Galllln; Columtui ; Don HtnrJ
of Porttigi'l ; Tycbo Brabt : Friar Bacon; Alfred; Charlemagne; Crfmo, or Loren-zo de Medicis ; Cardinal Ximenti ; Giifavui Vafa ; The Csar Peter tit
Great ; Bann Lord rerulam,; The Bifbc/> of Chiapa ; TLt ylUe de Suinl Pierre ; cr any other great JIalefman or fhihfofher -who appeared in Europe hel-wem
tic revival of letltri, and tie teginning of the prefent cenlvry ; A COLD MEDAL, — or FIVE GUINEAS.

In thefe JletcLei, Jlriiitig charaaerijlical trait:, expreffiiie of the peculiar gtniui and cajl of mind of the perfon, contrajled -with the prevailing manners of the people
tnd model of thinking at the time, ■will ie chiefly valued. Brevity and force ■will be high recommendations ; but pompom panegyric -will be viewed in a very differetH
Jighl. Let fads jpeab for themfelves : For it is fa^s, -when fairly reprefented, that conjiitute the chief, and indeed the only excellence of the tied of painting here aimed at,
Tiefrm bo'dncfs and accuracy of the touches, not the allurements of gaudy colouring, are here ivanlcd.

Second. For the irfl and moj! Jlriiing charallerijlical ftetcb of any eminent flatefman, pbilofopber, cr artlfl now living,or ivho has died tuitbin lie prefent century;
A GOLD MEDAL, Or FIVE GUINEAS.

In thcfe Jietcbes, originality and firength of thought, and an exaB Inoviledge of the human mind, imll be principally fought for : Brevity and elegance in the
file and manner ■will be greatly efliemed ; but ■rvithout candour and impartiality, they cannot be admitted. The cenfure and the praife of party -writert tend alike to defaet
a'.t truly charaHcri/lical traits, and to difguife in/lead of elucidating tbefuhjia. This mujl be here avoided.

Third. For the iefl original mifcellaneous efiy,flory, apologue, or tale, illuflralive of life and manners ; crejfufion or dlfquifiticn on any fubjea that tends to intere/l tbt
heart, and amufe the Imagination, in prife ; A GOLD MEDAL, — or FIVE GUINEAS.

An original turn of thought; a correflnefs and purity of language; eafe anjelegance of arrangement, and fprightlinefs ofjlile, -when devoid of affeaatlon ; ■will ieacccuntei
frlncipal excellencies. Subjeils that are cheerful and fportlve ■will be preferred to tbnfe that are gra'M andfalemn. But let not affeaatlon be mif.akenfor eafe, nor pertnefi
for ■wit and humour : Neither fhouldfelemnity ie coilfounded -with pathos ; for the truly pathetic can never fail to pteafe.

He begs leave to repeat, that in thefe Jhetcbes or ejfays, comprehenfive brevity Is principally required. It is not by quantity that the editor of this mifcellany means to
efimate the value of the performances offered to him ; but much the reverft. Tbofe ejfays ■which comprebend much in fmall bounds ■will therefore be al-ways deemed the mofi
^Hlluable. He can never be at a lof, for materials to fill his pages ; ai:il therefore is anxious that the ejfays offered to him fbould be nmpreffed into as fmall a fpace as it
aiijijient ■with elegance and ferfpictiily.

Fourth. For the bejl original effay, in verfe ; ode, tale, eplJile,fonnet, or ftort-^cetlc effufion of any kind ; A SILVER MEDAly— or Two GOIKEAS.

Fifth. For the mojl fpirlSed tranjlaticn, cr elegant imitation of any feled poem in foreign languages, ■whether ancient cr modern ; A silver medal,— or TWO

GUINEAS.

The editor, ■when he offers thefe t^wo Irjl premiums, dees it not -.vithout far andbefilatlon. All the fine arts are pteafmg and attraUlve ; but ncne of them, be believes, Is ft
irneralh fedualvc to youthful mliuls, as the allurements of poetry. IVljlle Imagination is ■warm, and before a faculty of chferving things accurately, has formed a Jifl
■tafie for imitative beauties, a facility in mating verfes Is often mljlaken for a poetic talent ; and the feduSions cffrlflove keep up the illuffion. To thefe caufes, be Isfenfible,
ive vwe tbofe numerous unlnteref.ing verfes that are perpetually iffulng from the prefs, ■whlcbferve to difguj! the man of tajle,and makehim turn from tbefight of v«fe,
though he ivould be enraptured toith genuine \^c\Xf , fbould It fall In his ■way. Should thefe fmall allurements call forth a number of trifles of this fort, the editor ■would
Jiel be had placed himfelf in very difagreeable circumfanca ; for if it be unpleaftng even to read fuch things, it ivould become in this cafe extremely dlflrrffing,f,om the
unavoidable recoltefflon, that pain mifl be given by rejeding them. The picafure, ba-aiever, be -would feel at calling forth, -were It but a/ingle line of genuine poetry
that modef merit might have cther^wlfe fapprejfed. Induced him to fropofe thefe fmall premiums. The effeS they produce •will determine ■whether in future they fiail
be continued or ivithdraiun.

It may not be improficr alfo to hint, that it ivlll ie requljite that iranjlations and imitations from the poets in foreign or dead languages, be made chiefly from fucb paf-
faaes as have not already appeared In Engllfh, A repetition of ■what has already been done cannot be admitted, unlefs it poffefs very fuperlor excellence. There is afpirlt,
and fire, and heroic ardour, conjpicuous in " The Songs of a Prijfian Grenadier" by Glelm ; and a yet higher degree of artUfs energy In " The Songs of an Amascon"
h l^'ijpt '*"' "'«"''' *' highly captivating to mojl readers, -were they knotun ; and among the Lyric pieces of Metafafo, there Is a brevity, afimpliclty, an elegance and
f.ithos, that lai leenfcldom Imitated in the Engllfh language. It has perhaps been thought the genius of the language did net admit of It. Neither ■was It thought that a
ionnct could be ■written in Engllfh, that could poffefs thofe fedudive charms that bad been admired for t-wo hundred years in the ■writings of Petrarch, tilt a lady, well
.inoivn in the annals of polite literature, very lately fbe^wed, that for this fpecies of poetry, no language -was more happy than our ontn. Under the plajlc power of genius,
language becomes an Injlrument capable of every thing : kVhere genius is ■wanting, it is a tool of very clrcumfcrlbcd po'wcrs.

,*, Ejfays intended for this competition, nvrltten in the Engllfh langiiage, ■will be received any time before the ijl of January \'J<)\,addreffed, pof. paid, to the Editor
at Cue printing houfe of Mundell and Son, Edinburgh. To each effay muJI be prefixed a fe-w -.vcrds at a motto ; the fame motto, in the fame hand ivriting, being in-
fcrlbed upon a kiled paper inclofd in it, containing the name and adjrefs of the competitor, or fuch name and addrefs as he pleafes to put in itsjlead. If be ■wifhes to re-
main unkno-.i'n. The fealed paper belonging lo each of tbofe ejjays to ■which the premiums fhall be adjudged, -will be opened ■when the premiums are a-uardej, and the effa^j_
be publljbed In this mifcellany. The other effays 'will be returned if defired or they ■will be feverally publlfhed. If approved by the judge* to toiom this matter fbatl be
referred, and If agreeable to tie nuriter. At any rale, botftver, none eflbe fated papers, unlefs it be tijcfe belonging lo the effayt lo lobicb premiums are adjudged, fiall be
Opened; but ivlll be returned, if defired, to any ferfin isbo fhall call for ibem : Or, If not called for within fix months after the premiums fhall ie adjudged, they will
then be burnt, in the prefence of refpeSable witnejfes, whojhall atteji that tie feats mere unopened. TheJIrlHeff honour in this refpea may be depended on.

*i* Orders or communication smay he occafionally addrtffcd to the editor, under cover, to Sir John Sinclair, Baronet, M. P. Edinburgh. ' I

M. B. Whoever fhall procure twelve fuhfcrlhers for this work, and rmit the price, at the end of each volume, to the editor, will be furnifhed with a copy fer
tls.i,jelvei regularly as publified, S'^in; and fo In proportion for any greaternumber.

)SED FOR LITERARY ESSAYS, &c.

Ce of any cf the great men or philofophers thatfolloiv; viz. GalUlee; Columhus ; Don Henry
no, or Lorenzo de Medicis ; Cardinal Ximenes ; GaJIavus Vafa ; The Czar Peter the

int Flerre ; or any ether great Jlatejman or philcfopher "uiho appeared in Europe bet-ween.

EDAL, or FIVE GUINEAS.

>■ genius and cajl of mind of the pcrfon, contrafled ivith the prevailing manners of the people

"will be high recommendations ; but pompous panegyric 'will be "vieived in a 'very different
itedy that conjlitute the chief, and indeed the only excellence of the kipd cf painting here aimed at,
:olouring, are here ivantcd.

ninent fatefman, philofopher, or artift nonv living, or ivho has died ivithin the prefent century •

lotuledge of the human mind, ivill be principally fought for : Brevity and elegance in the
iality, they cannot be admitted. The cenfure and the praife of party -writers tend alike to deface
?. This mufi be here avoided.

illufrative of life and manners ; or effifion or difqaifition on any fubjeSl that tends to inter efl the

JINEAS.

d elegance of arrangement, and fprightUnefs of file, -ivhen devoid of affeSlation ; -ivill be accounted
ed to thofe that are grave and folemn. But let not affeSiation be mifaken for ecfe, nor pertnefs
''or the truly pathetic can never fail to pleafe.

•ity is principally required. It is not by quantity that the editor cf this mifcellany means to
Thofe ejfays ivhich comprehend much in f mull bounds ivill therefore be alivays deemed the moll
lefore is anxious that the ejfays offered to him Jhould be compreffed into as fmall a fpace as it

rjrflort poetic effufion of any kind ; A SILVER MEDAL, — or two GUINEAS.

'e£i poem in foreign languages, ithether ancient or modern ; A SILVER MEDAL, — or TWO

andhefitaiion. All the fne arts are pleafing and attraclive ; but none of them, he believes, is ft
imagination is 'wartn, and before a faculty of ohferving things accurately, has formed a jiifi
poetic talent ; and the feduBions of f elf love keep up the illuffion. To thefe caufes, he is fenfible.
11 the prefs, ivhich ferve to difguf the man of tafe, and make him turn from the fight of vtrfe,
ly. Should thefe fmall allurements call forth a number of trifcs cf this fort, the editor 'would
unpleafng even to read fnch things, it ivould become in this cafe extremely diPrejJing, fr om the
cfure, hoivever, he ivould feel at calling forth, ivere it but afmgle line of genuine poetry
hefe fmall premiums. The effeii they produce 'will determine ivhether in future they Jhall

IS and imitations from the poets in foreign or dead languages, be made chief y from fuch paf-
ready been done cannot be admitted, unlefs it pofffs very fuperior excellence. There is afpirit,
ier" by Gleim ; and a yet higher degree of artlefs energy in " The Songs cf an Amazon,"
! ; and among the Lyric pieces of Metafafo, there is a brevity, afimplicity, an elegance and
•s been thought the genius of the language did not admit of it. Kcither ivas it thought that "
'hat had been admired for tivo hundred years in the ivritings of Petrarch, till a lady, -well
ies cf poetry, no language -was more happy than our oivn. Under the plajiic po'wer of genius i
'■'ling, it is a tool of very c'lrcumfcr'ibcd pcwers.

ivill he received any time before the I/? of January l'j()J,addreffed, pojl paid, to the Editor^
: prefixed a fe-w ivords as a motto ; the fame motto, in the fame hand ivriting, being in-
he competitor, or fuch name and addrefs as he pleafes to put ht its fead, if be -wifkes to re
e premiums fhall be adjudged, -will be opened ivhen the premiums arc aivarded, and the effa^s
or they 'will be feverally publifbed, if approved Ly the judgei iojiuhom^this mailer Poall be \

•Vllry, Lettef vT. and poilTcjIpt to (iittoi

APPENDIX, No. IV. 5s

other country. The wool, therefore, which is there pro-
duced, will not only be fine upon the whole, but of a
more uniform texture and Ilrength throughout than other
wool *.

The

* What is here Lid, does not cxacflly coincide with the opinion of
Mr. Le Blanc, as exprefled in Appendix, No. I. It is eafy, however, to
account for this feeming difcrepancy, in a way that, it is hoped, will prove
fatisfacftory to the reader.

The facfls here flated have been afcertained in the mofl undeniaLiIe man-
ner, by repeated experiments, which are particularly detailed in the per-
formance quoted above, but which it is judged unnccelTary here to re-
peat.

But Mr. Le Blanc having never, in all probability, heard of thefe ex-
periments, and having obferved the flriking effedls produced on his flock,
by the introdudlion of another breed of fheep among them, though no
' change on the climate had taken place, ver^' naturally inferred that the
climate was not to be regarded in any attempt to improve the quality of
the wool.

The writer of this article has alfo, from his own experience, found,
that the climate has no efFecfl whatever in altering the /ii'/waw«; finenefs
of the wool of fheep ; and that this can only be effected by an alteration
in the parent ftock. But his experiments are, at the fame time, clear and
decifive In proving that any confidera'ole alteration in the climate, with
refpedl to heat and cold, has a great and irrefiflablc temporary cffcdl: in al-
tering the fincnefs of the wool, as is flated above ; and thefe experiments,
when thev Ihall be repeated by Mr. Le Blanc or others, he is confident,
will not fail to operate convidion.

That his meaning here may be clearly underflood, he begs leave to ob-
ferve, that by a permanent change is here meant, fuch an alteration, as that
when this new progeny Ihall be ^\?iCcA in the fame circumjlances vfiththz
parent ftock, it will always produce wool of a quahty different from that
parent flock ; and by a temporary change, muft be underftood an alteration
produced on the quality of the wool of the fame animal in particular «»-
cumjiances only, and which is of fuch a nature, that when the animal is
placed again in the fame circumftances as before, the wool produced then
will be of the fame quality as formerly. For example ; when Englifh
fheep are carried to the Weft Indies, their clofe pile of wool is changed into a
_thin fort of coarfe hair; but if the fame fheep, or their progeny, (if they
Jiave pot been adulterated by foreign intermixtiire), be brought back to

Enc^land^

^ A P P E N D I X, No. IV.

The mllclners of the winters there are produdlive of
another advantage in regard to the rearing of wool, which
ought to be highly prized in a nianufa£luiing country.
For, in confequence of that mildnefs, fnow feldom lies

there i

jKngland, thefe /keep again produce a clofe fleece of wool of the fame quality
as before they went away,

I call this fort of change temporary, for the want of a word to exprefs
it more properly. For it will readily occur to the reader, that wool thus
altered will continue to be of the fame quality for ever, if the heat of the
elimate in -which the fheep are placed continues invariably the fame. In this fenfc,
therefore, it might be faid to be permanent ; and as the finenefs of
all wool may be altered by a Cmilar change of aircumftances, the altera-
tion produced by a change of breed, cannot perhaps in this fenfe be faid
to be invariable ; and therefore it cannot be called, in ftridl mathematical
accuracy, permanent : But being thus explained, it is hoped that nofambigu-
ity can aiife from the ufe of thefe terms.

Mr. Le Blanc, upon the authority of feme foreign (with refpeifb to
Spain) writers, who have treated flightly upon the fubjeft of Spanifh fneep
and wool, and who, probably influenced by the general outcry againft the
intolerable privileges belonging to the Mefla (fo the perigrinsting flieep in
Spain are called), has adopted the opinion that the fixed fheep (eflantes) In
Spain produce wool equally fine with that of the migrating Iheep. This opi-
nion, when thus vaguely expreffed, may or may not be true, as tlie read-
er will perceive from what has been already faid. For if the fixed flocks,
to which he alludes, do remain all the year round in the mountains of
Leon and Afturias, or in any other cold place, there can be no doubt
but that the wool <5f fuch fheep will be as fine, and in fome refpe<5ls finer
in the pile than that of the fame breed of Iheep, if it defcends during the
winter, as is ufual, into the warmer plains of Andalufia. But reverfe the
cafe, and fay that thefe fheep remain fixed all the year in Andalufia, or
fimilar warm parts of the country, and the cafe would be widely diiFerent ;
for the wool of thefe fheep would neceffarily be much coarfer in pile than
that of the fame breed which had paftured all fummer on the cool moun-
tains of Leon and Afturias, or which had travelled to thefe mountains
only during the fummer feafon. This concluilon the writer of this ar-
ticle would have relied on as certain, had he even had no other authority
for it but his own experiments. But when thefe experiments are corro-
iorated by the exprefs authority of Ufaritz, the befb informed of all the
g]iani{h writers on this fubjecft, who aflerts that the Iheep which remain

in

APPENDIX, No. IV. S5'

there ; and abundance of food for the fheep Is to be found
at all feafons, without trouble or charge to the farmer ;
whereas, in countries where fevere cold takes place, and
fnow for a long time covers the ground, the Iheep are apt

to

in Andalufia during the whole year, carry coarfe fleeces, rather refembling
hair than wool, there cannot remain a doubt but that Mr. Le Blanc has
been impofed upon by fome equivocal expreflion concerning the fixed iheep ia
Spain, to believe that the perambulations of the fheep there were of no ufe in
preferving the wool. Thele peranabulations, however, as he fuppofes, were
probably not adopted at firft with a view to the improvement of the wool,
but merely as a necefiary meafure for the prefer vation of the fheep. For the
mountains during winter are fo long covered with fnow, that it would be
very difficult to preferve large flocks of (heep alive there during that fea-
fon of the year, while the plains are covered with verdure ; and in fum-
nicr, the hills produce abundance of rich pafture, while the grafs in tize
plains is fo entirely fcorched as to afford no fufficient fuflenance to nume-
rous flocks; fo that thefe perambulations became in fome meafure ne-
ceffary, and extremely convenient for the prefervation of the fheep ; and
the improvement of the wool, in confequence of that management, has
been an uncxpedlcd and. accidental improvement : But the improvement
is not the lefs real becaufe it was accidental.

Mr. Le Blanc's opinion, that the quality of the wool depends upon the
*nalf rather than the female, is equally problematical. Mr. D' Aubenton, from
whom this notion has probably been borrowed, goes yet a little farther,
and maintains, that the quality of the wool in flieep,and the hair of other
animals, always takes its peculiarities from the male only, while the form of
the carcafe itfdf depends on the female. The faiSt, however, is, that among
iheep as well as other animals, the quality of the wool, as well as the fhapc
and make of the body, are nearly alike influenced by the male and by
the female ; though particular inflances fometimes occur, where the pro-
geny in general participate more of the nature of the parent of one fex
than of the other : But this happens not to be fo general in any one way
as to give room for any rule to be eflablifhed concerning it.

This circumflance is neceffary to be here adverted to ; becaufe the con-
clufion drawn from it by Mr. Le Blanc, -jiz. that the nature of the ewe,
in attempting to improve the breed of fine-wooled (heep, is of little or no
confequence, might, if adopted, be attended with very bad confequences.
I enlarge not, however, on the proofs of what is here aflerted, as the ex-
perience

S6 APPENDIX, No. IV.

to be flinted for food ; and, if ever that happens, the
wool produced at that time is found to be of a dry and
brittle quality, that can never be made to wear well in
any fabric of cloth whatever. The wool of thefe regions,
therefore, Ihould not only be fine, but foft, tough, and

elaflic,

perience of every man who has ever bred flock of any kind will be fuffi-
cieut, if he be not prejudiced, to convince him of the truth of what is faid*

Should a ram only of a fine breed be introduced, the improvement
produced on the luholc would doubtlefs be much greater than if a ewe only
had been obtained ; for there may be from 50 to 80 iambs produced in one
feafon from one ram, though only one or two, or, at the mofl:, three
lambs could be afforded by one ewe. But by means of a i-am only, the
breed could never be improved to equal the parent flock, as the following
reafoning- will full)' fhew.

Let us fuppofe that the quality of the fine breed was as one, and that of
the coarfe as tivo ; and that, on an average, the crofs breed fliould equally
participate of the nature of both parents.

Thefirll crofsbrced produced by the ram, (which would be produced when
he was two years old), when compared to the fine flock, would be as one
and a half to one.

The fecond crofs, (which, allowing the ewe to be two years old, would
be produced when the ram was four), would be, when compared to the fine
flock, as I ^ to r.

The third crofs. If the ram lived till he was fix years old, would be as
l| to I.

Suppofing this ram then to die, and no frefti importation of the parent
ftock, it is plain, that this breed could never be finer than 1^, even if it
fhould be kept from Intermixing with the coarfe flock. But if a breed of
I^ fine were to mix with the original breed at a, the crofs would be
only the finenefs of if^: and fo on, by every frefli intermixture, the fine-
wooUcd breed would gradually be debafed; and by approaching nearer to
the original flock in the country. It would at lad totally difappear.

But if along with the ram one or more ewes of the fame breed were
introduced, and kept entirely apart from other rams, the breed would be
preferved in its original purity, the ewes of that breed would increafe in
number, and pure rams could be fent off from it in abundance, always
to go on Improving the quality of the crofs breed, till they fliould at laft
become, in many generations, fo much the faiac with tlic other as no'
to be diilingulfiiabk from it.

APPENDIX, No. IV, 57

elaillc, to a greater degree than that reared in climates of
9.n oppofite quality.

Thefe obfervations apply nearly as vecll to the weft
coafts of Scotland as to the ifiands. In one other refpeft
does the weft coaft of Scotland polfefs a peculiarity of cli-
mate highly favourable to the rearing of fiieep, that has
cither not been hitherto adverted to at all, or, if it has
been taken notice of, it has been rather confidered as un-
favourable than otherwife. Thefe countries, when com-
pared with thofe on the eaft coaft, are in general thought
to have a much more rainy climate. The fact, however,
is, that the quantity of rain which falls upon the eaft
coaft, is nearly the fame with that which falls upon the
weft coaft, throughout the whole year ; but the rain falls
out at dilFerent feafons of the year in thefe tv/o places.
On the eaft coaft, the rain falls chiefly during the winter
and fpring months, in heavy dalhes ; and on the weft,
coafts, the rain is more abundant during the fummer, and
in autumn ; and it then falls in frequent gentle ftiowers :
and as men are much out of doors at that feafon of the year,
and are liable to be wetted by the continued fliowei's, it
has been much more taken notice of than that upon the
eaft coaft, where it falls chieHy at a time of the year when
men are, from neceffity, obliged to keep the houfc in a
great meafure.

o

The eiTeft of this diverftty upon the fticep, however^
ought to be fpecially adverted to. On the eaft coaft, the
rain falling in winter^ while the wool is long, drenches
the fleece, which becomes not only fo weighty as to prove:
extremely burdenfome to the animal ; but by being kept
long wet during that cold feafon, the flieep is chilled by
the cold, and rendered thereby unhearty and difeafed.
The earth alfo, being drenched with water, becomes
a puddle ; and food being then fcanty, thefe multiplied
calamities taken together, tend much to injure the health j

H and

58 APPENDIX, No. IV.

and to dlminifli the flrcngth of this delicate creature*
Thus weakened by the winter rains, it is ill prepared to
encounter the hardftiips that the fprlng rains produce
when the wool, at its greatefi length, forms a burden when
wet, by which the animal is fo reduced, as the lambing
feafon approaches, as to be often no longer able to fub-
fift. under it, and dies.

The cafe is very difFivent upon the weft coaft. The
winter feafon being there generally dry, the fleece fervcs
to keep the animal warm, without overloading it, inftead
©f chilling and oppreffing it : the earth, too, being firm to
the tread, and the herbage dry, the fheep then continue
active and hearty : and, as fevere rains are rare in the
fpring, they are at that trying feafon in much better
health than the others can expeft to enjoy. V/hen fum-
iner comes on, the fleece is removed. The light fliowevs
therefore cannot then prove oppreflive by the weight"
cf the fleece, on account of its fliortnefs nor chilling to
the animal, becaufe of the genial warmth of the feafon.
The fun and the winds then alfo quickly dry thein. Thefe
fummer fhowers, therefore, though frequent, do not in
the lealt incommode the flreep itielf; and on the dry
hilly paflures, the rains only ferve to keep up a conftant
fupply of frefli herbage, which 'other wife would have been
much lefs abimdant. From thefe confiderations, it plain-
ly appears that the climate on the wtffc is much more
favourable for breeding fheep than tliat on the eall coaft
of Scotland. Indeed experience proves, fmce it has been
tried, that they thrive better there than elfewhere.

When ail thefe circumfLnnces are duly adverted to, it
"will, I trull, appear undeniable, i/?, That the climate of
Britain, efpecially the wea coafts of Scotland, is pecu-
liarly favourable for the rearing of fine wool : id, That
Britain once did poflefs a breed of fheep that carried wool
isiadoubtedly finer than any other Vv'col produced at that

time

APPENDIX, No. IV. i9

time in Europe : 3^, That at prefent Spanifli wool, though
probably no iiner than it was at the time Vv-hen it was infe-
rior to tliat of Britain, is now of a much finer quality thau
anj wool that can at prefent be bought in Britain in quan-
tities fufficicnt for the purpofes of n-anufactures * : /Sfth,
That Britain fiiil, however, poffefll-s feme remains of
iheep that carry very fine wool, as well of the fhort carding

H 2 as

* The circumftance here mentioned, that has been hinted at in feveral
other parts of this eflay, deferves to be particularly noticed, and the con-
fequences of it as to the meafure here propofcd, fpccialiy adverted to.
There is not any rcafon to believe that Spanifli wool is now in the fmalloll
<legree finer than it was at former periods, when it was of an inferior
■quality to that of Britain ; and if it be now the fined of the two, it is ow-
'ng to the debafeuient of our wool, and not to the melioration of theirs.
This leads us to obferve, that the words fine and coarfe are merely rela-
tive terms, that denote no definite and precife ftandard of quality. The
wool, therefore, which in one age acquires the name oi Jinevfoo], may per-
haps be of a much coarfer quality than that which obtained the fame name
at another period. A neccffary confequcnce, hovv'-cver, of a change in this
refpedl will be, that Jrne clothp, which at a period when the •vcryjincjl wool
could be obtained in the market, will poffcfs a delicacy and foftnefs of tex-
ture, when compared with other kinds of goods that may be employed as
clothing, which they will not poffcfs at thofe times when the wool that
obtains the name of thi^fitiiJI, is of a coarfer pile and harder texture. This
ciixumflance will necefTarily tend to render woollen goods more in vogue
at the one period than at the other ; though this circumfi:ance will not be
in general adverted to. This is probably one reafon why woollen goods
have been in Icfs repute during the prefent century than at fomc former
periods.

Another inference to be drawn from this circumftance, which it im-
ports us here more particularly to advert to, is, that though a parti-
cular kind of wool may have, for a time, occupied the liigheft place in tiic
market, and been deemed the finefl in the univerfe, it may, neverthelefs,
be indeed of fuch an inferior quality to fome other kinds of wool that
have been negleded, that when thcfe kinds of finer wools fhall come to
be reared by the attention of fome patriotic community, in fuch quantity
as to admit of furnifliing materials for extenfive manufadlures, they may
fo far excel the v/ool that was formerly fincft, as to banifh it from the
market, or make it hold only the fecond or third place in the fcale of
finenefs.

EvcR

6o APPENDIX, Nc. IV.

as the combing fort, both of which are degenerating and
jnay foon be entirely loft, if not at prefent retrieved : (^tL,
That it would be an eafy matter to felecl the beft of each
of thefe breeds at the prefent time, to be fet apart for the
fake of experiment : 6th, That Britain poffefles peculiar
advantages in regard to the carrying on this clafs of ex-
periments, that no other rival nation can boaft of, by means
of which it is perfeclly eafy to have the intrinfic value of
any particular breed afcertained v/ith the moft perfect ac-
curacy, though in other parts of the world this be mo-
rally imprafticable : "jth, That if our own Iheep lliould
not be fcTund to carry wool fuited to every purpofe want-
ed, it is ftill in our power, by felecling other valuable
breeds of fheep from foreign countries, to obtain thofe
peculiarities that fliall be wanted ; and thus, by perfever-

in^

Even though no wool in the world ihould be found of a fupcrjor degree
of linenefsto that which bore the higlieft vogue at the time, it is not at
all inipoflible, from the above fiated fads, that a finer hind may ftill be
produced by attention and care, in proper circumftances ; for, if a kind of
fheep fhall be found in a luarm climate that yields wool of a quality as
fine, tliough no finer, than that afforded by another breed of fheep that
live in a colder region, it is a matter of certainty, that if the beft of that
breed fliall be tranfpcrted from the warm climate to a colder, a Idnd of
wool would be thus produced, of a finer texture than ever before was
known en the globe.

Upon thefe principles, I think I r.ni well founded to conclude, that
Britain irtay once more regain a fupcriority over Spain in refpedl to
the fineuefs of wool. Nor is this all ; fince it is well known that there
are Ihecp in other parts of the world, that do at prefent yield wool of a
•jriality greatly fuperior to that of Spain ; and as fome of thefe fheep arc
found in regions that are probably warmer than Scotland, there is reafon
to believe, that if thefe fneep were tranfported hither, and carefully pre-
fcrved, Britain might in time acquire wool, not only finer than that of
Spain, but perhaps of a more delicate texture and finer quality than any
nvool that has ken hitherto produced on the globe. Were this the cafe, it is
hard to fay what migh: be the delicacy of the fabrics the ingenuity of our
manufadlurcrs might contrive to make of it, or the demand that might in
time be made from all nations for thofe delicate fabrics, which thus mighi;
\i% in a meai'ure cxclufively the proiaitijn of this nation.

APPENDIX, No. IV. 6i

ing in a fet of accurate experiments, we may, hj due at-
tention, be enabled in time to rear, not only finer wool
than is to be obtained from any other country, but may
alfo be able to conjoin with it every other valuable pe-
culiarity, fach as, clofenefs of fleece, a good mould of car-
cafe, hardinefs, a capability of being eafily fattened, largc-
nefs of fize, and every other valuable quality, adapted to
every peculia,rity of fituation in the iflands.

Such are the important objects that may be eiTe<^ed by
a continued attention to the fubjetl that now claims the
deliberations of the Gentlemen of this Society.

POSTSCRIPT.

As fome arguments of importance occurred in the
courfe of the deliberations of the Society on this fub-
jeft, it is proper they fhould be here mentioned, with the
anfwers.

It was juilly obferved, that profit is, and ever muil be
the objeft of the farmer's attention in choofing a kind of
flieep to breed from ; and that general experience is per-
haps a better proof of that profit than any other criterion
that could be adopted. But fince experience has proved
that the breed of coarfe-woolled fheep has been gradually
making encroachments on the fine-woolled fort, fo as at
lafl to banilh them entirel}' from the belt part of this
ifland ; this fcems to afford a clear and convincing
proof, that it has been found univerfally to be more pro-
fitable to rear the coarfe-woolled fheep than the others ;
and as this inconvenience inay be expected to be felt in
future as well as in times pait, it fecms to be a vain at-
tempt to endeavour to retrieve that fine-woolled breed.

To this it may be anfwered, that though the argu-
ment be fair and plaufible, the conclufion cannot, in this
cafe, be admitted as jufl. Ey the fame mode of reafon-

6a APPENDIX, No. IV.

ing, an oppofite conciufion might have been drawn on
this fubjeft, before the days of Elizabeth : For, during
thot time, it appears that the fine-woolled fort kept their
ground, and confequentlj were at lead equally proiitable
with the others, though that fine wool, at that time,
could not be fold at a foreign market, %vithout being
loaded with a high duty : and as it then fold in foreign
markets at a price equal at leaft to that of Spain, it mull
have been fold in England at a price much below what
Spanifh wool could have been afforded for there, had it
been brought to this market. But if it was profitable to
rear fine wool in this country, when it fold for a lower
price than Spanifh wool of the fame quality, it ought to be
more profitable to rear it now, when it could be fold at
a price equal or fuperior to that of Spain, if its quality
fliould be -qual or fuperior to Spainifh wool.

From this train of arguing, it feems natural to con-
clude, that were circumflances the fame in this nation
as formerly, and were the fine-woolled and coarfe-woolled
breeds of flieep equally eafy to be had, it ought to be
now much more profitable to rear the fine than the coarfe-
woolled fort: But neither would this conciufion be ftrict-
ly jufl.

We have already traced the caufes of the degeneration
of our wool ; but in confequence of that debafement of
its quality, it is a certain fa£l, that though the dedruc-
tive laws that produced this eifedl were repealed, and
things were put upon the fame legal footing as formerly,
it will require long and continued exertions, before things
could be put into the fame a£lual fituation with refpeft
to the farmer, and to enable him to derive the fame
profit from his fine-woolled fheep, that he then could
eafily have obtained.

Not only is it difficult for him now to procure the
befl breeds of iheep — not only is it difficult, and extremely

expenfive

APPENDIX, No. IV. 63

expendve for him to preferve that pure breed, in the
prefent iltuation of things, fi-om being contaminated, by
intermixing with others, as has been fullj proved above — •
both which circumflances mail greatly diminiili his pro-
fits, Ihould he attempt to profecute this improvement ; —
not only do thefe things Hand perpetually in his way, as a
powerful bar to his exertions ; but, were they even re-
inoved, and were he actually to become polTeiTed of wool
of a very fine quality, it will be long before he can have
it in his power to availhimfelf of that advantage, or to de-
rive a profit from that wool, proportioned to its intrinfic
value.

It has been already remarked, that very fine wool is
aftually at prefent produced in fome remote parts of
Scotland, and its ifles ; but that this wool, from the ig-
norance of the natives, is often applied to very inferior
ufes ; and a ftronger proof of that cannot be afforded,
than the experiment now under the eye of the Gentlemen
of this Society. Some pairs of Shetland hofe, that were
bought in Edinburgh at 5^ d. per pair, and which proba-
bly were fold at firfl hand at or below 3 d. v/eighing,
each pair, about half a pound, have been untwifted, fo as
to difcover the materials of which they were made.
This wool confills in part of a very coarfe fort indeed,
refembiing hair ; but a confiderable proportion of it 13
very fine wool, of an exceeding foft texture, which a
manufaclurer, who mull be a judge of that matter, de-
clared would be worth 4 s. the pound, were it en-
tirely freed from the coarfe wool with which it is inter-
mixed. Suppofing, then, one half of it to confift of that
fine wool, Vv^e would here have at leall i s. worth of fine
wool given away Jhr ?iothing j for undoubtedly ^the
workmaiafnip, and the remainder of the coarfe wool, is
worth more than the price for which the Itockings were
originally fold. When fuch is the way in which fine

wool

64 APPENDIX, No. lY.

wool is difpofed of, cvdi it be a wonder, if the flieep tliat
produce it, Ihould not,in thelecircumflances,be profitable,
though, in other circumilances, thej might be highly ad-
vantageous.

Fine wool, where it can be obtained at all, in confe-
quence of improving the breed, can only be obtained, at
firll, in fmall quantities : And in a remote country, where
this objedl has been long neglected, it is impoffible to find
a wool-forter who could put it into a ft ate fo fitted for
the market as to yield nearly the price it ought natu*'
rally to have given. If the farmer tries to fend it to
market, therefore, it mull to him be a lofing game,
though in other circumflances it might liave been high-
ly lucrative.

But can it be fuooofed that the farmer, in thefe cir-
cumftances, will ever be able to fend it to a proper mar-
ket ? Were it even forted to his hand, Xhe fmall quantity
he has to fpare, neither renders it an objedl of fufficient
importance to him, nor does he know to whom to
confign it, without danger of being impofed on ; nor can
it bear the expence of bonds, cockets, freight, and charges*.
Were it therefore of ever fo great value, he cannot reap profit
from it ; fo that, unlefs meafures fliali be adopted for re^
moving thefe difficulties, the attempting to introduce a
breed of fme-woolled fheep into a diitant part of the
country, can never be profitable to the individual who
begins it, however profitable it might be to individuals,

* The bonds, freight and charges for a few pounds of wool, as the
laws of Britain fland at prefent, if fent by fca, could not be under twenty
or thirty fhiOings, and might, in certain circumftanccs, be much more ;
bcfidesthe danger of fiibjedting the owner to high forfeitures in cafe cf
any accidental breach of forms required by law, which an uninformed
farmer, in a remote corner of the countiy, never can be acquainted with.
The dread of thofe evils muft therefore prevent him from ever tlunking ot
eiigagino; in fucli a dangerous enterprife.

APPENDIX, No. iV. $s

'fend to the public at large, after it had been fairly Intro-
duced. It is neceffiiry, therefore, that fome focietj, or
joint body of nlen, who can ad in concert, fhould pave
the way for a national improvement of this fort.

One other objedion may be mentioned before this long |
memoir be clofed : It is a prevailing opinion, that Iheep j
which carry fine wotil are always, and neceffarlly, of a (
more dimlnutivo lize and delicate conftitutlon, than thoie
which carry coarfe wool, and afford likewife a fmaller
quantity of wool ; therefore it has been fuppofed that
the large, as well as the hardy breeds of flieep, ought
to be extirpated, were the improvement of Britlfli wool
attempted. This, however. Is a great miflake ; for
largenefs of fize Is by no means neceiTarlly conneded el-,
ther with finenefs of wool, hardinefs of conftltutlon, or
weight of fleece. It is indeed true, that the fine-woolled
Highland breed is a fmall-bodied flieep ; but the coarfe-
WooUed flieep in Shetland are of as fmall a fize as thofe
of the kindly fort, and in every refped as tender ; and
every body Jknows, that the South Country breed of
Scotch flieep, which carry very coarfe wool, and are In
general eflieemed very hardy, though larger than the Shet-
land breed. Is much fmaller, and yield lighter fleeces, In ]
proportion to their fize, than feveral kinds of Englifli
flieep which carry wool of a very fine llaple. The fine-
woolled Spanlfli flieep, I am allured from the befl autho-
tity, is a large. Well bodied hardy flieep, much larger
than any breed commonly reared in Scotland ; and the
Thibet flieep, which carry the finefl wool In the world,
is flill of a larger iize ; being coniidcrably larger, by the
accounts I hive received, then the largeil fized Englifli
flieep. Fine wool, therefore, maj^ undoubtedly be ob-
tained without dimlnifliing the fize of the carcafe of the
flieep In tl.e fmallefl degree, and alfo without diminifli-
iug the weight of the fleece, or loling ajiy other peculia-
I rity

)

66 APPENDtX, No. IV.

rJtj that could render any particular breed peculiarly
deiirable *. This wpuld, no doubt, require pains and a
careful fele£lion of the beft breeds, wherever they could
be found, and an attentive and cautious procedure ; but
no one can eafily imagine how much can be done by at-
tention in this refpe£l. Mr. Bakewell's fuccefs has been
already taken notice of ; and though my own experi-
ments on fheep were continued only for three years, yet
even in that time, I had feme wool that meafured full
half a yard in length, which was equally fine as the
befl Spanifh wool I could find, and greatly fofter than it
to the touch. I liave feen no Engllfli combing wool
fo fine as this was. If fuch were the eflfedls of only
three j-ears attention, in a lituation that did not admit of
an accurate ftclufion of diiferent breeds at the rutting
feafon, what might be expecled from a courfe of experi-
ments conducted on a more enlarged principle than I
could afford to attempt, in a place where an entire feclu-
fion of breeds could be eafily effedied, continued for half
a centuvy? No one can pretend to fay to what perfe£lio:i
we might arrive : But there is every reafon to believe,
that not only finer wool would be obtained, of every dif-
ferent qualicy that can be wanted for the various kinds
of manutaftures, in greater perfeclion than can at pre-
fent be found in any part of the world, and that along
with it might be conjoined every other valuable peculiarity
of carcafe or otherwife, that can render any particular
breed at prefent defirable.

N- B. I have not taken any notice above of fome popular
flories commonly circulated concerning the breed of fine-
woolled Spanifli fliecp having been obtained from Eng-
land, or the breed of Engliili fheep having been obtain-
ed

* See EITa)'? relating to agriculture and rural affairs, vol. li. difqui-
fition xxxix. where this matter is more fully treated than the limits of thife
effay permitted.

APPENDIX, No. IV. ^7

cd from Spain ; both of which flories, though direftly
contradiftorj, are aflerted with equal confidence ; and for
aught I can learn, are entitled to equal credit ; as I have
not been able to find any authorities that confirm either"
report : and they are here mentioned only that the reader
may not think they have been inadvertently omitted.

A more probable account is given by Mr. Carlier of the
origin of the fine-woolled Iheep in Spain, though I am far
from thinking itindifputable. Columella fays that his uncle, \
Marcus Columella, introduced fome rams from Barbary, \
which helped greatly to improve the quality of the wool 1
of Spain. The fame experiment is faid to have been re- |
peated by Don Pedro IV. king of Callile, in which he i
was followed by the great Cardinal Ximines, who thus i
is faid to have fecured to his country the pre-eminence '
in that refpe<El:, for which they have been fince that time
fo jullly famous *. I have not, however, had an oppor-
tunity of invefligating this lafl part of the Spanifh hif-
tory with fuch attention as to enable me to fpeak of it
with certainty. Mr. Carlier aflerts it as faft without
hefitation ; and if it fhall be found to be true, it affords a
ilrong inducement for us to exert ourfelves to recover
our fine wool, by adopting a fimilar condudl, and try^
jng the Barbary and other breeds of fheep.

* Traitc des bftcs a laui.c, par M. Carlier, p. 13. ' ' — >.

I s No. V,

€9 APPENDIX, Nc. V,

No. V.

Direclions Jor feleciing Sheep i?t the Woi-thern and IVeJlern
IJlands of Scotland.

TO affifl; thofe who, from the foregoing coniiderations^
fhall be inclined to felecl a particular breed of fine-wool-
led fheep, for the fake of experiment, among the Northerr^
or Wellern Iflands, the following particulars are recom-
mended to their attention.

I/?, As the finenefs of the pile, and the foftnefs of
the texture of the wool are, in this cafe, the peculiari-
ties chieflj wanted, thefe are the circumflances that
ought to be adverted to, as of the moft effential import-
ance. No other particular, therefore, fliould counter-
balance a fupericr degree of finenefs of pile, in any cafe.

'id, But in cafe two fheep are found which are entirely
equal in thefe refpe(Ss, that one which has the feweft
hairs through the fleece ought certainly to be preferred ;
for although thefe hairs may be feparated, as the natives
of Shetland experience, by letting the wool rife entirely
from the Ikin, without being Ihorn ; yet in large flocks
that practice would become extremely inconvenient, and
the neceffity of having recourfe to it fhould be guarded
againft.

3<^, If finenefs and purity are equal, that fheep which
has the clofell pile, or thickeft fleece, fhould be pre-,
f erred.

4//3, If finenefs, purity, and clofenefs of pile, be equal,
prefer that which has the greatcft uniformity in the tex-
ture of the whole fleece.

5?Z', All the above named particulars being equal, the
general fhape and figure of the animal ought to influence
the choice : A round compact body, a full and deep

chefl.

APPENDIX, No. V. 6f

chefl:, flraight back, ftraight firm legs, neither very-
long nor too Ihort, and a ftrong hardy figure upon the
whole, with a lively mild looking eye, are the particu-
lars refpe£ling fhape that fhould be preferred ; but this
circumftance fhould be a fubordinate confideration to thofe
already enumerated.

6th, All other circumHances being equal, that Iheep
which is in the beft condition at the time, if their paflure
has been nearly equal, fnould always be preferred.

']th. Lajlly, If two fheep Ihall be found which are
equal in all the foregoing re^ei3:s, that which is of the
largeft fize of the two may be preferred : but it ought
ever to be adverted to, that for mountainous countries
of difficult accefs, and where a wide range of pallure is
neceffary, largenefs of fiz,e is not a quality that fhould be
much cQveted,

*^* In choofrng ewe3, the fame peculiarities fhould be
adverted to as in choofing the rams ; and in all cafes the
ewes fliould be chofen, as nearly as they can be found, of
the fame quality with the ram. It is only after the bell
breeds are once got, pure, that experiments fliould be tried,
to fee what will be the eifed of croffing with others.

f ^f In every cafe, the colour ought to be particularly
ajlverted to ; and thovigh there may be exceptions, it will
be found that a pure white breed is, upon the whole,
tlie bed colour for general ufe, as white wool admits of
being dyed of all colours with greater facility than any
Other.

X^X If, however, a breed of Iheep fhall be found of a
light brown, or fawn colour, of a pure filver grey, with a
fine filky glofs, which is not apt to change colour by wear,
or of a pure black ; and if any one inclines to try to

improve

70'

A ? " "^ N D T X, No. V.

improve the^e particular bieedh, it may he a very pro-
per fubjed fcr experiment. But in every cafe of this
I fort, the ram and the ewes fe1e3;ed ought to be exadlj
1 of the fame kind, and fliould be carefully put ap;irt by

ithemfelves, till fuch a quantity of this wool could be ob-
tained as might fei've to afcertain what were its peculiar
qualities, and its intrinfic value. In no cafe Ihould any
' jheep be felefted to breed from, that are fpotted in any
way ; for that peculiarity can never be beneficial to the
rearer.

y

f§ It is underftood that the wool of the Highland fheep
is in general of a fhort ilaple, and fitter for being carded
than for being combed ; but it is not impoflible but that
among the varieties of fheep that exift among thofe ne-
gledted and unknown regions, there may be fome breeds
found, that bear wool which might admit of being comb-
ed; and if fuch a thing could be found, of a finenefs
and foftnefs of texture equal to tlie other, it would prove
a very valuable difcovery. It is therefore recommended
to the gentlemen and others in thofe regions, to be atten-
tive to this particular ; and if a ram of this breed can be
found, to try, if polTible, to obtain fome ewes that have
the fame quality of wool, to be put apart for obtaining a
a breed of this kind. If I miftake not, this peculiarity
may at prefent be expefted to be found more readily
among thofe of a filver grey than the others. In choof-
ing Iheep to breed from of this colour, all thofe ihould
be rejected where the white filaments arc not of a very
pure lullre, and the black of a clear fhining glofiy tranf-
parency, and pure black.

f §f Thofe who have not adverted to the efFeftj pro-
duced by felefting proper breeds of fheep for breeding from,
but who have been accuftomed to let their ilieep run pro-

piifcuoufly,

APPENDIX, No. V. ft

Itiifcuoufly, and breed together without any feleclion,
pan have no idea of the furpriiing effect that an atten-
tion continued for a. few years would have on improving
the wool, the fhape, the temperament, and general
hardinefs of their whole flock, and will therefore be in-
clined to look upon thefe dlieclions as unnecefTary refine-
ments. The natives of the ifles, however, may reft af-
fured, that thefe obfervations are the refult of experience,
and not of fpeculative reafoning ; and that, if any of
them fhail make trial of feleiting a few Iheep, and of
fecluding them during the rutting leafon, from all others,
they will themfelves be aftoniflied at the effeds ; and
they would be very agreeably furprifed to find that they
might be able to obtain from three to live ihillings for
every pound of their wool, which they undoubtedly
might do, were it improved to the utmoft degree it is
fufceptible of. It deferves alfo to be here repeated, that
the Iheep which carry the fineft wool, if carefully feled:-
ed, are in general equally hardy, equally eafily fed, and
yield fleeces of equal weight, and may poffefs every
other valuable quality in an equal degree with other
fheep, that yield the coarfeft wool that can be found,

X\\t It is fui-ely unneceflary to add, that fheep which
are known to have any difeafe, efpecially if that difeafe be
likely to affect the progeny, Ihould on no account be
felefted to breed from.

N. B. It may be proper to obferve, that if fheep are
at any time intended to be tranfported to a diflance,
to compete for premiums or otherwife, it is of great im-
portance they flaould be tamed, and rendered as familiar
with men as poffible. This is eafily effedled, if they be
brought near to the habitations of any perfoA while they
are lambs, as they can then be eafily tamed, and may be

maxie

72 A P P E N D I X, No. V.

made as familiar as a dog, fo as to admit of being car-
ried to any diflance, without danger to themfelves, or
diiuculty to thofe who conduct them.

f [[f If males or females of a particular breed are to be
brought from a great diflance, it will always be necef-
idvy to fend two or more of each fort, to fupplj the
want, in cafe of death or accidents bj the way.

^ In cafe any flieep fliould be obtained from dillant pla-
ces, the following experiment is recommended, with a
view to mark the changes that fhall take place, in refpe£t
to the wool of the fame animal, in confequence of a change
of climate, or other circumilances.

Before the flieep be removed from its native country,
let a lock of wool be cut from the iheep, and put up with
a proper tally for prefervation, that it may be compared
with the wool of the fame flieep cut from the fame place,
at any future period.

And that the wool may alwaj^s be taken as nearly as
poflTxble from the fame part of the body of the animal, let
the following mode of afcertaining that particular be adopt-
ed. Take a fmall cord of a fuflicient length ; let one end of
it be applied exaclly to the joint at the knee of one of the
fore legs ; then lay the cord lightly acrofs the body in aa
ftraight a dire£lion as may be, till it reaches the other
fore knee : Mark the cord there, and then double it ; and
double that once more, fo as to mark the fourth part of
the whole length : put a pin into the cord at that mark,
and lay it once more acrofs the flieep as before ; and at
the place direftly under the pin on the right flioulder,
cut out the lock of wool wanted, and lay it up for pre-
fervation. Next year repeat the fame operation, and in
like manner cut out a lock of \Vool for comparifou j and

fo

APPENDIX, No. V. 73

fo on annually as long as the experiment is to be conti-
nued, always tallying each lock, fo as to mark diftinftly
the individual fheep from which it has been taken, and
the precife time and place when and where the lock was
cut.

It is plain, that as no fixed meafure is here alTumed,
but only a proportional length, any alteration that may
take place in the fize of the animal will occafion fuch a
fmall variation as to the jDlace where the wool is cut, as
to occafion no fenfible miftake. Were a lock of wool thus
cut from any number of fheep, at ever fuch a diflance
from each other, it would afford a good method of form-
ing a judgment of the comparative finenefs of the wool.

No. VI.

^lan of a Patriotic JJfociation for the Improvement of
BritiJIo Wool. By DoElor Anderfon,

IT is propofed to eftablilli a new Society, whofe fole
objeft fball be to adopt meafures for obtaining the befl
breeds of fine-woolled fheep, and of other domeflicated
animals, carrying fine fleeces or furs, vv'ith a view of af-
certaining, by adual experiments, how far each fpecies
is calculated for the climate of this country — the quali-
ties of their wool refpedlively — the ufes to which each
kind could be mofl profitably employed in ditTerent ma-
nufactures— and the comparative value of each fpecies, fo
far as the fame can be determined.

The name of the propofed Allbciation to be, Ihe So-
ciety for the Improvement of Britijh Wool.

The Society to confift of an indefinite number of mem-
bers. Each ordinary member to contribute One Guinea
li per

74

APPENDIX, No. VL

If

per anniim^ or Ten Guineas on being admitted, towards
effecting the objeds of the inftitution. Every member
to be at full liberty to withdraw his name, on giving no-
tice to the Secretary in writing, at leaft one month pre-
vious to the general meeting to be annually held for the
purpofe of choofmg new members, and of inquiring into
the progrefs made by the Society.

The money ariiing from the fubfcriptions of the mem-
bers to be paid into the hands of a Treafurer, and put
under the management of a Prefident, a Vice-prefident,
£ind fifteen Directors, to be chofen annually, by ballot,
at the general meeting. The Committee to have power
to tranfact all the ordinary bufiinefG of the Society, in con-
formity to fuch general principles as may be laid down
at the annual meeting. The Committee to be account-
able to the Society for their proceedings ; an account of
Vv^hich fnall be annually printed for the ufe of the mem-
bers of the Society, and for thg information of the pub-
lic.

Thofe who contribute Two Guineas per an?tum, o?
Twenty Guineas at their admiiTion, to be called Extraor-
dinary Members ; and, in the event of an eqiiality, tliQ
«-iember who was firfl admitted into the Society amongft
thefe members, to have a double vote, in all cafes where
any doubt as to the majority of votes occurs.

The above to be confidered as fundamental rules of the
Society : All other fubordinate regulations to be left un-
decided until the Society is conflituted, when thefe mat-
ters fliall be adjufted according to the opinio;i of the ma-
(ority of the members met to deliberate on the fubject.

It is propofed, that Sir John Sinclair, as Convener and
Chairman of the Committee on Wool, Ihall tranfmit the
report he has di'awn up for the ufe of the Highland So-
pictj, to fuch perfons, whether in Scotland or England,
•^s are the mcfl likely to encourage fo ufefal an under-

taking.

APPENDIX, No. VI. is

taking, and fhall take fucli other fteps as may tend to pro-i
mote the ellahiifliment of the pvopofed Society, without
delay ; and in particular Ihall rcquell Sir Jofeph Banks^
Pi-efident of the Royal Society, and other public-fplrited
individuals, who have already devoted their attention tc»
the melioi-ation of Britiili wool, to co-operate in forming
a plan that may prove of fuch general benefit to thefe king-
doms.

It is farther propofed, that the original members, or
founders of the Society, fhall concur in a refpecSlful ap-
plication to the King, as the father of his people^ and the
patron and fupport of every iifeful undertaking for the
benefit of his fubjecls, and v/hofe attention to this parti-
<^ular fubjecT: is fb well known, that his Majeily would:
be graciouily pleafed to take this infant Society under his
f roteclion, and would confer on it the name of 'T^e Roi'AL
Society for the Improvcrncnt of Britifo IVool ; and that
application fhould alfo be made to his Royal Highnefs
The Prince of Wales, and to the other Princes of the
Royal Fainily, for permiltion to inrol tlieir names among
the members of the faid Society.

By the exertions of fuch an Afibciatlori, the experi-
ments whi(th might be tried under its dire<Sion,-, and the
knowledge whicli it would rapidly diiTufe on this fubjetty
in every corner of the kingdom, it is probable that the
Taliie of the" wool of Great Britain, great as it may ap-
pear at prefent, might be do2ihIcd, and occupation found
for many tlioufands, who may not otherwife be able to
find the means of indullry and of employment.

N. B. It is hardly necelTary to remark, fince it cart
Jiave no influence with any perfon of real public fpirit,
that, in the courfe of a very ihort period, the fubfcriptiort
ef every member of the Affociation may probably be re-
paid, from the increafe and profit of the flaeep^ originally

K a jpuTchafe4

7(3 A P P E N D I X, No. VI.

purchafed bj the contributions of the Society, and mul«.
tiplied under its direction ; and thus merely by the tem-
porary advance of a fmall fum of money by each contri-
butor, a great public benefit will be infured, without al-
moll the rilk of lofs to any individual of the Affociation.

No. VII.

(fojervations on the Advantages that might be derived
from Snow Ploughs *, by the Sheep Fariners in the
Highlands, and on the Increafe of Sheep Farms in that
Part of the Kingdom*

IN Sweden, where particular attention is paid to the
public roads, and to the bed means of preferving then*
in repair, they have invented a very fimple machine for
clearing their roads of faow in the winter feafon, to
which they have given the name of the Snow Plough.

It

* Id Marfhall's Rural Economy of Norfolk, vol. i. p. 59. a fimilar ma-
chine is defcrbed among the other implements of hufbandry in that part of
the country, under the name of the Snoiv Sleifge. This beautifully fmiple
implement, he obferves, is ufed for uncovering turnips buried under a
tleep fnow. It is fimply three deals or other boards, from one to two
inches thick, ten or twelve inches deep, and from feven to nine feet long, fet
upon their ci'gcs in the form of an equilateral triangle, and flrongly united
with nails, or ftraps of iron at the angles, at one of which is faftened, by
means of a double flrap, a hook or an eye, to hang the horfes to. Thi5
being drawn over a piece of turnips covered with fnow, furrows up the
fnow into a ridge on each fidfe, while, between the ridges, a ftripe of tur-
nips is left bare, without having received any material injury from th5

APPENDIX, No. VII. ^7

It Is of triangulai* fhape, and though of a very flight con-
jlruction, fo that tv/o men can eafily carry it, anfwers
the purpofe efFeclually. At the point there is a block
about eighteen inches in height, through which there is
a ftrong timber pin for the purpofe of fallening the
horfes, and by which the machine is dragged in a man-
ner fimllar to the common harrow. There are two deals
of the fame height, nailed on each ilde of the block, of
from eight to ten feet in length, and of the fame width
or diftance from each other at the extremity. About
two feet fi-om the end of the deals, there is a crofs deal
to keep the other two firm and Heady. The defcription
I had drawn up of the machine being loft, it is only
from a very imperfe£l recollection of it that the preced-
ing account is given.

It is believed, that this machine may be of conlider-
able fervice in clearing the roads of fnow in many parts
of Great Britain. But its utility to the ftoremafter or
jfheep farmer, is a matter of ftlll greater importance.
At prefent, when the ground is covered with fnow, there
are no means to procure food for fuch multitudes of
fheep as are now kept in many parts of the Highlands,
but by teaching them to rake up the fnow with their
feet fo as to get at the top of the heather ; and when the
froft has alfo begun, the furface muft be broken by har-
rows, otherwife none but very experienced flieep will at-
tempt it. But with one or two of thefe machines, »nd
half a dozen of fmall horfes, many acres may be cleared
in a few hours, where the ground is not ftony, and the
fnow has only recently fallen. If the froft has begun to
harden the top, harrows muft previoufly be made ufe of.
By means of thefe machines, the fnow may be laid in.
ridges, with intervening fpaces of from 2.^ to 30 feet
perfectly clear of fnow ; and thus, at the fmalleft pof-
fibie expence, the farmer may always command abun-
dance

tl

78 APPENDIX, No. VIL

dance of pafture for his flock, even in the depth of Vvlti^
ter *.

There are doubtlefs many refpectable friends to the
profperitj of the Highlands, who, dhliking the increafe
of flieep farms, may not be inclined to relifh any idea
that can tend to render them lefs hazardous, and confe-
quently more prevalent. Nor .is it pofllble to form a
decided opinion on the propriety of extending fheep
farms in that part of the kingdom, without more ex-
perience than we have as yet acquired, and more facts
to judge from, than have as yet been collected. The
Highlands at prefent are in general peopled by a num-
ber of fmall farmers, who maintain themfelves by the
produce of the fmall fpots of arable land they cultivate,
and who pay the rent of the landlord, from the profit of
the cattle they poiTefs. The indolence in which they
can indulge themfelves, and the abundance of fuel they
enjoy (an important article in a cold climate), with thft
natural attachment which every individual muft feel
for his native foil and birth-place, make them attached
to that mode of living, and unwilling to quit it. In a
public view, alfo, a brave and hardy race of men, who,
without much detriment to agriculture, or to commercial
induftry, can at once be converted into foldiers, is an ob-i
ject of great importance ; and the want of which, were
it loft, the public might fenfibly feel, in very critical
emergencies f . At the fame time it is certain, that the

rent

* It Is fuppofed, that every flieep farmer will preferve the leaft ftony,
and moft fertile part of his farm, for the cxprefs purpofe of winter pafture,
to be cleaned of fuow by thefe machines. In that cafe, his flock can ne-
ver periih for want of food.

. f There is a ftriking alteration in the appearance of the people, where
flieep faniis have taken place in the Highlands. Being better clothed.

APPENDIX, No. VII. 75

^ent and value of Highland property might be doubled;
Rnd, in procefs of time, tripled, naj, quadrupled, hy
fheep farming *. By flieep alfo, the prefent heath-cover-
ed mountains of the Highlands would be rendered greea
and fertile, and greatly more productive than at prefent.
Whilft, by improving and extending the filheries, and
by eftablilhing towns and villages, in proper fituations for
the woollen and other manufactures, the aftual population
of the country might not be diminifhed, yet the general
face and appearance of it, and the value of its produce
tions, might be greatly improved f .

As this is a queftion of conliderable moment to thq
general interefis of the empire, it would well become
fo refpe£lablc a body of men as the Highland Society, to
have a fubjcd with which they are fo peculiarly connect-
ed, probed to the bottom. For that purpofe, it might
be proper to afcertain, i. What diflricls in the Highlands,
pow in a great meafure occupied as cattle farms, are cal-
culatedfor fheep. 2. What may be the rent of thefe diflri£ls
at prefent, and what would he their value under Iheep.
3. What is the population of thefe diflricls, and to what
would the population be reduced, if flieep farms uni-
verfally took place. Lajlly^ Could any meafures be
adopted, by encouraging fiiherics and eftablilhing manu-
fadlures, and by eretling towns and villages in the ifland,
as well as the maritime parts of the country, that would
efiedtualiy counteract the deflructive confequences of
ilieep farms, and prevent the depopulation of the country.

' The number of Iheep that might he maintained in the northern and
and wcftern iflands, and the vahie of their fleeces, were fiiie-woolled fheep
alone reared in that part of the kingdom, would far exceed the mod
fanguine calculations of thofe who have as yet iuvcftigated that fub-
jea.

f Some new articles of produce might alfo be introduced ; for inftance,
the Fromagc de Roquefort, a village in the province of Rouerque, near Lan-
gucdoc, where great quantities of ewe milk cheefe jj made, whicli fells al;
a. very high price, : nd is much in requcfl, ^

w

So A P P E N D I X, No. VIII.

No. VIII.

y^n Account of the Steps which have been already taken
for attaining the ObjeSts 7nentioned in the preceding Re-
port, from the heginnitig of Jiiney when the Inquiry was
originally fuggejied^ to the Middle of Augifl 1790.

DiR.£CTivNS were given for purchafing fome of the
finePc woolled flieeu, and fpecimens of the fineft wool that
couid be procured in Shetland, and for tranfporting the
fame to Leith by the fird opportunity.

Mr. Macdonfild of Clanronald, the proprietor of feveral
iflands upon the weftern coaft of Scotland, no fooner
heard of the deliberations of the Society upon this fub-
jefl, than he made an offer to appropriate fome of the
fmaller ifles belonging to him, for the purpofe of enabling
the Society to make fuch experiments for improving the
quality of wool, as they fhculd judge proper.

In the abfence of the Duke of Argyle, who had not
then returned from Italy, Mr. James Ferrier, his agent
at Edinburgh, made a limilar offer on the part of his
Grace ; as did Mr. Ifaac Grant, in the name of Mr. Camp-
bell of Shawfield, the proprietor of the extenlive ifland
of Iflay, and its dependencies.

Mr. Campbell having been informed of the poilibility
of getting fome of the bell breed of Shetland Iheep, by
the affiitance of the Gentlemen who were examined be-
fore the Committee, requefted Dr. Anderfon to endea-
vour to procure for him, by their means, fuch a num-
ber of the very bell fort of thefe fheep, as might be pro-
per for trying a fair experiment, how far they would
anfwer in the weilern iflands. A fcore of ewes, and five

APPENDIX, No. VIII. 81

the fame time, given diredions for fele£ling fome of the
fineft wooled fheep in the Hebrides, for the purpofe of
making a comparifon between the two breeds ; and in
order that the efFed of a crofs breed between them may
be tried *.

In confequence of the attention paid to this fubjeft by
the Highland Society, the different proprietors in the
northern and weflern iflands, who have had an opportu-
nity of communicating their fentiments to the Com-
mittee, have expreffed the greateft zeal and eagernefs for
promoting the meafures recommended in the Report.
It is certain, that they are more deeply interefled in
their fuccefs, than any other fet of men, as there are no
means by which the value of their property can be fo
rapidly increafed, fine wool being an article of much
furer fale, of much greater importance, and much more
eafily tranfported, than the droves of black cattle on which
they now principally depend. At the fame time it may be
remarked, that there is no individual v/ho ought not to
feel an interefl in thefe inquiries. It is only by bringing
to the greatefl pofTible behoof the natural advantages of
a country, that a nation can profper. A truly zealous
and public fpirited citizen, therefore, above narrow or
local prejudices, will feel as ardent d delire to promote
the improvement of the moil diftant part of the king-
dom, as of the dlflridls with which he is more immedi-
ately conne£led.

* Amongft other exertions, tending to the improvement of wool in
thefe kingdoms, though unconnedted with the meafures here propofed, it
deferves to be mentioned, that Colonel Fullarton of Fullarton has lately
imported into Britain fome of tlie Colchis breed of fheep, whofe golden
fu'eces are fo much famed in ancient ftory ; and that fome ihcep of the
Thibet breed, alfo, are likely foon to vifit Scotland.

FINIS,

SPECIAL COLL SF 377 .R450

1790
Report

TS/ bCd^' . Q-'l8(c/

r