The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-17 00:00:00

ONDAY DECEMBER 17, 185

i#ThOPOLXTA (AVM Malt

The Great Christmas Show.—(This Day.

This was the day appointed for holding the Great
Christmas Show of fat stock ; and the advantages of
the removal of the trade of Smithfield to Copenhagen-
fields was never more apparent than on this occasion—
the only one, in point of fact, since such, removal in
which nearly the whole of the standings have been_fillcd,
arising from the large unoccupied space generally noticed
over and above the actual requirements of supply. This,
however, we look upon not as an evil, but a positive ad.
vantage, as was strikingly apparent this morning. As
regards excitement, compared with many corresponding
days in Smithfield, there was literally none, and the
greatest order was observed both in the arrival and de-
parture of the stock—indeed it would be impossible to
over-estimate the value of the market for an exhibition
of this kind.

From the past having been an unfavourable season for
the rearing of fat beasts—as the supply of natural food
has fallen considerably short of the demand, as prices
have, consequently, ruled unusually high, and as the
value of cakes and linseed has been from thirty to
forty per cent. above the ordinary run of years,
we fully expected to see a smaller number of
really fat animals than usual ; but a careful considera-
tion of the supply brought forward does not justify our
expectations. The wonders, and the names of the sales-
men to whom they were consigned, we have noticed
below ; but we may here refer to the beasts in classes.
The supply of short horns—both for number and quality
its the aggregate—certainly stood first. Norfolk forward-
ed, perhaps, the best stock in this respect. Lincolnshire
stood next ; but we had some very prime animals from
other counties. The Herefords may be placed in the
next category—and, possibly, if we compare the value
of meat to the butcher, this stock 'night well claim the
first class, because it had less superfluous fat upon it;
—indeed the exhibition of that breed was remarkably
good. As regards the Devons we have less scope for
comment than usual. Thoagh very good, they did
not come up to previous years. It is, however,
very probable that the high value of live stock in the
west of England has deterred many graziers from for-
warding their usual supplies. There were some re-
markably fine Welsh runts on sale ; and the show of
Scots, both from Scotland and different parts of Eng-
land, was seldom equalled.

We have now sketched out the general excellences of
the pare breeds. We have done so from the conviction
that they are deserving our first c6nsideration, because
upon them the stamina of fat stock must always depend.
It is, however, necessary that we should say a few words
respecting the crossings. With a few exceptions they
were deficient in weight and quality, consequently dear,
both to the butcher and consumer ; and such has been
the case for a long series of years, and no doubt it will
continue to be so. Still, we find that a contemporary
print has set forth the doctrine that the Smithfield Club
ought to give large prizes to cross-breeds, simply because
the latter are chiefly in the hands of a certain class of
graziers. We need scarcely point out to the practical
man the extreme absurdity of such a theory ; but we
deem it right to warn the consumes not to be led away
by such vapid nonsense, which has been evidently eon.
cocted to produce discontent where none ought to exist.
The amount of stock brought by the various railways
was very large, yet it arrived in excellent condition, and
it mist be satisfactory to learn that scarcely any traces
of disea,e were noticed amongst either the beasts or
sheep.

The annexed return shows the number of beasts
shown, and the prices obtained for them on the great
days in Smithfield in the last fifteen years :
Year. Beasts shown. Prices.
R. d. s. d.
IMO
1841
1842
1813
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1819
1850
1851
1852 - 2 8 to 4 0
1853
1851

Last week's imports of foreign stook into Loudon were
moderato the total supply amounting to 4,732 head. In
the corresponding week in 1854 we received 3,999; in 1553,
6,316 ; in 1852, 4,436 ; in 1851, 4,277 ; in 1850, 5,124 ; in
1849, 2,333 ; and in 1845, 3,656 head.

IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WSIIU.
From Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs.
Harlingen
itotturdarn 223 ... 501 ... ... 39 ...
Dordt 23 ... ... ••• •••
Ha.rnburgh 37 ...
Amsterdam B2 ... 1,709 ... ... •••
Antwerp

Total ... 859 3,555
~ 238
The yearly comparison of 'weekly imports is as follows :
Beasts. Sheep. 'samba. Calves. Pigs.
1854 1,130 2,593 269 7
1853 1,136 e,698 462 2V
1852 235 3,782 419
1851 607 3,155 363 ... 152
The show of foreign stock to•deay was small) and in
very middling conlition.

From eur own grazing districts we received the fol-
lowing cupplies of beasts :—West of England, 500 ;
Norfolk and Suffolk, 700 ; Lincolnehire, Leicestershire,
and Northamptonshire, 3,800 3,000 from the latter
counties being conveyed by the London and North.
Western Railway. From Ireland, 350 ; and from Scot-
land 850 beasts came to hand. Thus it will be seen that
the arrivals were very large ; and we may observe that,
taking into consideration their weight, the total supply
as a whole, has never been equalled. The greatness of
supply bad a depressing influence upon the demand ;
indeed the trade was heavy. A few very inferior beasts
sold at from ss. 2d. to, in some instances, 54. 4d. per
Sibs. ; but the general top figure for beef wav very little
over ss. per 81bs., and sales progressed slowly at those
quotations.

On the stand of Mr. Robert Morgan we noticed a
remarkably fine show of beasts, the property of Messrs.
Martin, Livingstone, Knowles, Cooper, Milne, Mitchell,
and Thompson, Scotch graziers— of Messrs. Cook,
Thomas, Cooper, liewson, Lincolnshire —of Messrs.
Feltowe, Leeds, Farrar, &c., Norfolk. Mr. Morgan had
also a flee collection from other counties.
Mr. Maid well had on offer a wonderful collection of
beasts forwarded by Mr. William WCombie, of Tilly-
four, Aberdeenshire. This eminent grazier has for many
years past furnished a foe collection of Scots for the
great market. The number here today was 40, and
certainly they were the admiration of all present.
Mr. Vorley had also a good show of beasts, chiefly
the property of Messrs. Alartin, Stoddard, and Philips,
of Scotland.

Other salesmen had fine collections, and we may state
that the beasts shown by
Messrs. Giblett and Gurrier,
belonging to Messrs. Milne, Stewart, and Shepherd, of
Scotland, were reatarkably fine.
There was a full average supply of sheep in the mar-
ket, and many of them were of great weight. The trade
was very inactive, and sales were with difficulty effected
at last week's prices. Some of the Leicesters, Glouces-
ter., &c., sold tolerably well ; but small breeds were ne-
glected. The highest quotation was 5s per Sibs. Messrs.
weall had on sale Several pens of very fine sheep, the
property of F. Wittingstall, Esq., of Langley-Bury,
Herts, and of Mr. Rowland, of Onslow. They
found buyers at high rates. Messrs. Giblett and
Gurrier exhibited some fine Downs belonging to Lord
Walsieghais, Lord Radnor, and Mr. Joseph Carwar-
(line, of Herefordshire—several prime Gloucester., the
property of Messrs. Garne, "ewer, Northleach), and
Mr. Craddock ; and 40 very fine wethers sent by J. H.
Langton, Esq. Mr. Eland showed a very good supply
of Lincoln&
We were very moderately supplied with calves. The
priruest sold as high as 6d. per 8 lbs.; but inferior quali-
ties were a slow sale.
The pork trade was dull, but we have no change to
notice on prices.
For Ms to sink the ofrala.
s. d. s. d•! s. d. s. d.
Inferior Beasts.... 3 Bto 3 10;PrimeSonthdown 4 8 5 0
Second quality.... 4 0 4 411.a!ge erne, calve, 410 5 4
Prime largo oxen 4 6 4 10ifirinie small do 5 6 6 0
Prime Soots, die. 5 0 5 ;Large hogs
310 4 4
luforiorSheep ...3 4 3 6(Stuall porkers 4 6 5 6
S'ecoud quality ...3 8 4 2.Suckling calves. 33 0 30 0
Prime erse,wlled.4 4 4 6,Quarter old pigs.:3 n 28 0
Torsi. SUPPLY. 1 F 08.41011 WPM.
Beasts •• •
..... 7.000 Beasts.. 90
••• ....25 500 Sheep ••• • 2
3heep •
.•• .• • ...... • "
•200 Ca1ve5,...... go
310
•—•••. •• •• •
A statement and comparison of the supplies and priees of fat
stock exhibited and said in Smithfield Cattle Market, on
Monday, Dee. ls, 1854, and in the Metropolitan Market
this day, Monday, Dec, 17, 1855.