The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-08-03 00:00:00

HOU.VSLOW WOOL-FAIR.

On Monday, about eleven o'clock, a huge con-
course of farmers and wool-buyers• ibakonbled in
the ancient market-house in Hounslow, and began
the opening and • inspecting of a' t 700 cods of
wools, of the South-Down; Wiltanire, and Dor-
set tweeds of sheep, which had been brought in
and pitched for sale by the fanners residing within
a circuit of six or seven miles round this town.--
Sir Joseph Banks, who is the patron of this use-
ful institution, and has usually taken the trouble of
corresponding with gentlemen resident in different
parts of England, in order to obtain information
of the sales and prices at the several woolvfairs,
lately held, being unfortunately, prevented from
attending by indisposition, communicated to the
fanners praseat.the result of his inquiries, through
the medium of Mr. Jonathan Passinglium, a neigli-
/souring farmer, purporting, as we understood, that
no wools hail le•en sold, at two or three of the
principal faire, owing to the prices previous!" fired
by the sabers being more tban the buyers would
give, cad that from the few vales which had been
made, sonic decline from the last year's prii,4 must
be expected. About half past one o'clock it was
announced that darner was ready at the George
Jim, to which place the company retired, and near
forty sat down together, Luting as Assay as the
principal room would hold. Mr. S. Bennet was in
the chair. Among the farmers present, we no-
ticed—

Messrs. J. Passingimm, D. %Wilshire, Thomas Wilshire,
T. Carter, Matt. Menages, James Batt:ug, Dan. Gurney,
Nfatt. Stone, Wm. Sheeny°, Chides Davis, John Crosier,
!sonnet Geeing, John Pain, T. Dentram, Win. Stone, Win.
bowman, J. Edwards, Itlor, C. Taylor, &c.
And ninong the Gentlemen connected with the
wool-trade we noticed—

Mews. T. Swayee, Charles Hill, E. Horne, W. Heelas
.--... Mann, Thomas Wykes, J. Haifa, W. D. Eagles,
Elkiagtse, ac. . . . .

- - .
Ar soon as the cloth was withdrawn, the Chain-
• Wan race—
The King.
The Queen and Royal Family.
Sir Joseph Ranks ; which last tout was drank with three
tinics three, accompanied by strong sod smierrsal emires-
slims or ',wet, at the reuse 01 b s •beellre tioni the Clair,
winch be has been used to Sit soon thew.
The Chairmen, after. calling the attention of the
corn,oany to the great decrease of Merino Sheep in
Spain, which the prevent contest nsest occasion, as
Lord Somerville remarked on a leteand si nailer occa-
sion to the present, begged to enforce the propriety
of extending that bretal of sheep here, without
'delay, for which nu opportunity will occur at
His Majesty's sele of these valuable sheep, expected'
to take place iu a few days ; and lie conclude by
giving—
' The Fleece.

The 'pais& Patriots, with three times Mize.
The Nary.
The Army.
The layers at this Sale.
Mr. PASSINtiIiAII, the Dspoty Chairman, rose,
and begged, before the cntiliginy returned again to
the market-hon,e, to uspr..ss his decided disappro-
bation of the conduct of those individuals, whose
mistaken policy, if longer persevered in, would de-
tail the objects ef, and destroy, tautij similar and
older institutions te the present, by the absurd
practice of the setters of wool, .flier rl' r, retir-
log from the buyers lute a private room, sad con-
certiti7, the exact price which every seller present
should demand for his wool ! For himself lie
would say, and he could answer for similar senti-
ments in many of his friends present, that if the
price, which their judgment, formed on the best in-
form-Anon they could obtain of the att!t!oly and de-
mand for the article, should lead them shortly to
set on their wools, should prove such as the buyers
could not come np to, they should endeavour to
come down to their offers, which always had here
been liberal, and, he trusted, always would be, to
farusers who breoug!‘t their wools to Hounslow Fair
with the determination to sell.

On returning to the place of sale, and after
examining the quality of several loads of wool,
which had come in since the morning, the selling
began, and sve have the pleasure to announce, that
every pound of wool was sold before our reporter
left the premises. The Downs from Sts. to 471. ;
the Wiltshire from 445. to 41s. ; and the Dorsets
4.45. to :Ns.. according to their respective finenesses,
and the care and neatness of sheep►owners in wash-
ing their flocks.
Among those who sold wool in the fair, and are
not noticed as present at the dinner, we observed
the names of

James Tyler, William sdtrardr, Morris, Ethanol
Adam, Matt., Herbert, Robert Bithcl, John Cruiser!, Jason
Wilshi►e, George Hawkins, John Hill, Rev. Mr. Blioroe,
Green, John Brooks, John Wittiugton, Fellows,
JueriM Allen, William Austin, John Pest se, William But-
ler, Ben, Asc. Re.

. _
The Fishmongers Company; on Monday, gave a
grand entertainment at their !lull to the Spanish
pull's and to a numerous assemblage of the Nobility
and other distinguished persons; among whom we
witnessed Earl St. Vincent, Lr•rd Erskine, Sir Ed-
mond fluailton, Sir George Hill, W. Smith, Esq.
M.P. &c.

The season, had commenced at Aherystwith, in
Wales, most auspiciously; the lodging-houses are
nearly occupied. and the daily arrival of genteel
lamilies so esti), w unprecedented; in short, this
place is more resorted to than usual hy the fashion-
able worid. Amongst many others who have rc.
tired from the crowd at Cbeitenham, ore :

The Bart of Lausabinruligle and big Runt, Lady Louisa
Butler ; also Coln's' and Mrs. Edwards, and Miss Davits;
Mr sod Mrs. Oakley ; Col. and Mrs. Bruce ; Mr. and Mrs.
Oswen, sod Mr Top, ; Mr. and Mist Tforgana, and Miss
Jones; two Miss Tows; Dr. Hughes and Mr. Ways; Mr.
Flitch and Mr Price; Mr Mn. and Shy, Jennings; Mrs.
Disney and tastily t Mr nod Mrs. knight, and Mina Hobbs ;
and Sir Thussas Liddell add tastily

Tunbridge Wells 14 crowded beyond all prece-
dent. Every house awl lodging in the vicinity iv
taken. Th, Earl and Countess of Hardwicke and
the Ladies Yorke are at Mount Pleasant ; Lord and
Lady Henley and family occupy one of the prin-
cipal mansions on Mount Ephraim ; the Hon. Mrs.
Cocawallis and the Misses To. nshend are well ac-
commodated on the Parade ; the Ouches. of Dor-
set and Lord Whitworth are at Slone Lands; Mr.
and Mrs. Maitiwaring take the lead on Mount
Sion ; Colonel . Roberts, M.P. and his Lady, are
sojourning on Mount Ephraim; so are Lord and
Lady Boyne, Mr. Cumberlairig (the author), Mr.
and Mrs. Wedderburne. said Sir George sad Lady
Bassin.