The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-16 00:00:00

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS CATTLE MARKET.

Notwithstanding that the show of stork in the Baker-
street Bazaar, last week, was by no means equal to that of
1850, either as regards number or quality—the total de-
crease in the supply being upwards of Idle hundred head—
it was pretty generally understood that the arrivals of
beasts lit for Christmas consumption, up to our market
yesterday, would be on a very extensive scale. Entering the
market from the south side, we were met with about 8181 pure
Devons—wholly red, of course—of the most symmetrical
form, and of great weight. Near thy Hospital, we
next beheld a similar number of pure Ilerefordii, about
two hundred of which were derived from Buck-
inghamshire. Passing into the centre of this great supply,
we found ourselves surrounded with masses from Lincoln-
shire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire —in other

words, the well-known short horns. Continuing our in-
quiries, we presently reached the Dothan's, which, though
tew in number, elicited the marked approbation of 1110
visitors. The old-fashioned Sussex stock next claimed our
attention, and we felt a most decided conviction that this
breed has been suffered to decline from the wont of duo
support and attention in some quarter or other. Passing
to that portion of the market in which the Scots were ex-
hibited, we found those by far the best collection from the
"far north" ever beheld. The Aberdeenshire animals,
mostly brought by railway, were unrivalled. From Norfolk
and Suffolk the supply of Scots was large. As regards the
other breeds, they were mostly in first-rate condition. Ex-
clusive of the leading counties, arrivals took place from
Northumberland, Cumberland, Staffordshire, Shropshire,
ltutlandshire, and Yorkshire. Taking the collection as a
whole, number and general weight considered, the Here-
fords may be considered an the hest portion of it. The
short horns unquestionably took the second rank, and the
Devon% the third. We may further remark that, generally
speaking, the beasts showed greater signs of age, conse-
quently were riper and snore valuable to the butchers than
in the ordinary run of years. As might be expected, the
attendance of both town and country buyers was very nu-
merous, and large numbers of prime beasts were disposed
of for conveyance to distant parts of the country, viz.,
Hull, Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds,
Manchester, &c. The supply of sheep was small; big sheep
were not so much in request as on formeroccasions ; indeed,
the fancy for show things seemed is be on the decline.
Sizeable sheep were dearer. There were very few calves on
offer; there was nut much demand, but owing to the
shortness of supply they were dearer. From Gerniany and
Holland there were 344 beasts, 2,170 sheep, and 2t calves.
Scotland, 350 beasts. Norfolk and Suffolk, 400 beasts;
3,200 from Leicester, Northampton, and Lincoln; and '220
sheep wad 13 calves from France.
The following is a comparative statement of prices and
number of fat cattle and sheep, ole. at Smithfield market
on the " great day" for the present and five past years

Tits Day, December 15, ROL
Beef NI. 64. 3s. 6d. es. 4d Beasts
Mutton 3s. 4d. es. fkL es. 44 1 blimp
Ve et
Pork ..... ...... 3i. Od. ss. 84 i Pips 2A
Noaday, Desmober 18, lin.
Beef ... 2s. 6d. 3.. ed. 4. 2d I Dessts.—... ......
Kamm 3a. 00. 3s. 10d. 4 MI Sheep ...„. 26,600
Veal
Puck
blonde3',o Demmbeor 17, Iso. SOO
Beef... 3s. 6d. 40. Od. es 64 Beams ... .
Mattes is. ed. es. 04. 4,6 d Silvep .... HAW
Vast
Pick
Monday, December 11, 11111..
Beef . 3e. 6.1 ea. Od es. 64 I Beasts
.5,940
_ .

Mutton 1411 d. 4s. 6d. Y. .d Beeep - - SI:000
Veal ..... ...... Is. MI. 4s. el fish a........ l2O
Pork
Ileeday, laiseaster IS, 1141.
ed. Se 44 Beams
ed. tle. ed I Sheep 18,206
Od. Se. Od I °deo ....--..... ..... ...
ed. 44 6d I Pio. ............
bland. y, Detesber 14.1144.
Beef . el.lod. Y. 4d. 44 ad Beeela
214.ta15,4a. el M. Od. Se. ed Mee ......... ••••••—•—• Wee
Veal
Pork 34 ed. 4s. Id Pita

Beef .. M. 04 51.
Metros es. id se.
Veal
Pork

WILTS, SOMERSET, AND WEYMODTIL—AITange-
meats are in progress for the completion of the Wilts,
Somerset, and Weymouth line front Freese to Weymouth.
A new company in forming for this purpose, who will take
a lease from the Great Western Company of this line.
When completed express trams will come from London to
Weymouth in three hour*.
EXeSS S S

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