The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-15 00:00:00

THE GREAT CHRISTMAE CATTLE MARIBT

Notwithstanding that the consumption of food
ha. =questionably fallen off, owing to the late panic in the
commercial world, sod although the prices of fat stock have
ommequently shown a tendency to Five way, we arm re-
collect a penod during which so much general interest has
been shows, in reference to our fat stock shows, es was the
use in the Metropolitan Cattle Market yesterday (Monday)
morning. At an early hour the market was thronged With
visitor. from most parts of the United Kingdom, as well se
from the Continent, to inspect and admire, perhaps, the lark
collection of animals ever shown in this or any other market
in the world. A. the day advanced the number of visite=
tepidly increased, yet. from the enlarged space included in
the noirkee. area, there was ample room for close inspection,
without inconvenience.
The show of beast. was of the highest order of merit; fully
nine-tenths of them were considerably above average weight,
and otherwise in unusually fine condition. The increme, be
it understood, was not so much in the quantity of kit carried
by the collective breeds, but in their general symmetry.
When we consider the great disedvantagee, as to climate,
under which the Scotch grazier. are suffering, compared with
those residing in the south, great surprise may well be ex-
at the wonderful aninals;which were shown from the
preened
north. Those who witnessed the splendid collection of
Sets, the property of Mr. William M'Combie, of Tillyfour,
exhibited by Mr. Daniel Maidwell, will at once under-
stand the tearing of these remarks. Not s fault could be
found with them ; though, on the other hand, it is to be
regretted that they should have been reserved fur an open
market ; they added greatly to the show, and prove to
the world what Scotland really can produce. Mr. lit`Coen-
bin', on, exhibited in the Bazaar, was purchased by Messrs.
Banister and Bedborough, of Windsor, to supply the royal
table on Christmas day.
The collection of Ilereforda has seldom, or ever, been
equalled. Amongst it were very few what may be termed
lerp snimale—the 'apply being almost wholly composed of
• size admirably suited fur general consumption. As regards
the Devone, the excellence of their condition was fully equal
to the Herefords, and the men of the west mustmed in full
average strength. The shorthorne, too, were of mom than
average merit. There was everything to admire in them,
oven though the fat was not plastered upon them so much as
at some former exhibitions. From Sum= there was an in-
creased show of oxen, all in first rate order ; but the grazier.
ha that county can do even greater things by • man extended
cultivation of the turnip. They have now • wide field ones
to their enterprise and industry frees • separate clam having'
at length, been allotted to them in Baker-street. Then
were about 300 extraordinary primeWelch runts on sale, led
which elicited the marked enoomiums of the visitors.
As 'awards the sheep we must admit that the supply, takes
es
a whole, fell short of our expectations. Trite, than wan
some very fine and very large animals on offer, but the bulk
of the show was of • second-rate character; nod here is the
result of premature forcing, end of what is termed early
'maturity, whilst, no doubt, an unfortunate 'election of sleek
cro.sing purposes has led to • decreased siza and supply.
Prom Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Sussex, some fine sheep
tans to hand.
The following return shows the numbers of beasts shown,
Ind the highest end lowest prices obtained for them on the
gnat days, in the last 17 years :
Year. Beasts shown.

d. I. .
1840 .... 3,528 .... 4 4 to 6
1841 . 4,600 S 8 6
1842 .... 4,541 .... 3 4 4
1843 .... 4,510 .... 2 8 4
1844 .... 6,713 .... 4 0 4
1846 .... 6,326 .... 3 6 4
1846 .... 5,470 .... 4 0 6
1847 .... 4,282 .... 34 4
1848 .... 6,942 .• .. 3 4 4
1849 .... 6,766 .... 3 4 4
1850 .... 6,341 .... 3 0— 3 1
1851 .... 6,103 2 8— 4
1852 .... 6,271 .... 28 4
1863 7,037 .... 32 4 1
1854 .... 6,181 .... 3 6 5
1866 , 7.000 .... 3 8 5
1866 .• .. 6,748 •• .. 3 4 5
—IIIC. Weekly Mrsienger.

SUPPLEMENTARY VOCAL ABISOCIATION.—Under
this title • new society has bun fixated, mainly for the ad-
vantage of easistents gamed Is the business atablishinents
of the metropolis, for the cultivation ma publio performanos
avant raisin The Ent meating at the amociation wee
held on Thursday evening last in the Musk Hell, Store-street,
when Mr. J. Howell (apartner la the firm of Bills, Evering-
ton, and Co.) was la the chair. Sir J. S. Harington (viol
t of the emaciation), Mr. Norman, Mr. Lflwall, and
Cir7idaßlediet went ammegthe 'makers; and Mr. Lockyer, es
honorary secretary, nafolded the schema of the new society.
The sanest subscriptions are to be flied at 10.. 6d, for mem-
ber., and 21s. to subscribers (prhacipals of houses mad others)
who may wish to attend the public performances of the so-
ciety, which It h propoeed to hold In St. James's hall, now
tillia The general plan of Mr. Benedict's original vocal
will be followed, end Mr. Benedict himself will be
e musical conductor. The rehear& night will be Thurs-
day, and the hoar eight o'clock. Tbe further details of the
requisite arrangements wen entrusted by the meeting to a
committee consisting of Mr. E. Sherrill sad Mr. H. Taylor
(City), Mr. B. Jones end Mr. Hendee (Wilt-end).