The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-11 00:00:00

THE GREAT CIIDISTMAS

CATTLE MARKET.

This being the day appointed for holding the Great
Christmas Cattle Show, the usual bustle and excitement
invariably witnessed on this occasion were apparent at an
early hour. The great difficulties experienced during
nearly the whole of the present year in rearing adequate
supplies of what may be termed fat stock far this and
other markets, and the unusually bad condition in which
the beasts have come to hand during the past six months
—indeed, we may state that fully two-thirds exhibited
here since the latter end of June have been beneath the
middle quality—led many parties to conclude that there
would be a groat comparative deficiency in the supply for
Christmas consumption. Although there were some defi-
ciencies to which we shall presently allude, the show,
taken as a whole, was a very good one, and kept up its
long-established character. In bringing the leading breeds
under particular notice, we may observe that the changes
in the mode of exhibition in the show yard in Baker-street,
have been productive of a great amount of benefit, because
they are keeping pure blood amongst our stony, and thereby
enabling us to fall back upon a reserve—in the event of
cross- bred animals becoming deteriorated—the value
of which can scarcely be estimated. To-day's market
strongly illustrated these remarks. In former years,
we have been accustomed to witness a good
supply of beasts from the west ef England ; in other
words, the number ef Dovol2B has formed a heavy portion
of the arrivals. To-day, that breed reached us to an ex-
tent seldom before witnessed, and of weight and quality
which surprised the most experienced breeders. This we
look upon as one of the results arising from placing the
Devons as the first-class beasts in the show-yard. To
show the strength of the supply, we may observe that there
could not have been less than 1,609 pure Devons on sale
many of them weighing from 180 to 200 stones, and very
few under 150 stones of 8 lbs. The prices realised for this
particular breed were nearly on a par with those obtained
correspondingiHnetrheefords.i
Ts week in 1853. We now come to the
portion of the supply was, if anything,
far superior, taking weight, condition, and quality into
consideration, to most former seasons. Many of the beasts
were of enormous weight; indeed numbers of them were
superior to any shown in the second-class in the yard last
week. The high prices paid for this particular breed dur-
ing the whole of the present year, and the almost total ab-
sence of disease amongst it, have operated as a great pre-
ventive to the breeders, whose gains have greatly exceeded
almost any former season.
But we have yet to enlarge upon another portion ef this
great exhibition, viz., the shorthorns. From nearly all
parts of England, but more particularly from Lincoln-
shire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Norfolk—
noble, well-proportioned, and bulky animals reached us.
The value of this portion of the supply it would be inspos-
sible to estimate ; and we congratulate the feeders in
having forwarded so splendid an addition to the aggre-
gate numbers. This breed has certainly lost none of its
excellent points from being placed in the third class by
the Smithfield Club, and here we would remark that the
heavy breeds of beasts have this season failed to come up
to their accustomed weight front reasons already explained.
More than the usual number of wonderfully fine Scots
bred in England and Scotland were in the market. In our
*pinion they formed one of the most interesting features,
notwithstanding their colour, and, when we consider the
great value of this breed—indeed a more valuable one does
not exist—we are led to the practical conclusion that it
has never received fair play at the hands of the Smith-
field Club. If the committee can point out to us a supe-
rior class of beasts we will at once admit that we are
wrong, but not before.
As regards the various other breeds shown this morning
no may intimate that they did not exhibit any points
worthy of particular observation. However the show in
this respect was a good one. There was about an average
supply of foreign stock in the market, but its general con-
dition was very inferior. Ind it is a remarkable fact that
little or no improvement has taken place in it since the
passing of the present tariff laws, notwithstanding that we
have paid the Dutch graziers high prices for both beasts
and sheep.
Last week's imports of foreign stock into London were
5,831 head. In the corresponding week in 1853 we received
4,795; in 1852, 4,869 ; in 1851, 3,628 ; in 1850, 5,734 )
in 1849, 3,720 ; in 1848, 3,155; and in 1847, 1,913 head.

IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WEIL
Front Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs,
ffilmburgh.-.- 102 203 -.— ... --
Harlingen ...- 322' -. 1,462 -. 5
Rotterdam 562 -. 1,083 -.-. 256 -.
lsrieu Mop-- 42 -. 312 -.
Amsterdam 22 401 .-
Dm.dt 47 -.
Ostend

--- •••
10 ... -

.-- .. • -

Total ... 1,098 4,461 ... 274 ...
It is supposed that nearly five thousand of the beasts
were brought into London by the various railways.
Allowing nearly one hundred miles fur each beast to travel,
it would require nearly six hundred engines to draw this
immense bucolic supply to the Metropolis. The companies
generally made the most perfect arrangements to for-
ward the stock, and great credit is due to them for the
promptitude with ' which they met this heavy demand
upon their locomoti►e power. The City authorities
exerted themselves to provide space for the supply, yet a
large portion of the beasts was placed in some of the adja-
cent streets. The evil of the want of adequate accommo-
dation will no longer be felt, as the trade of this market
will be removed next month to'Copenhagen-fields.
The fellovring are the numbers of beasts exhibited, and
the prices obtained for them, on the great days during the
past fifteen years :

Beasts shown.
5,074
3,528
4,500
4,541
4,510
5,713
. 5,326
5,470
• 4,282
• 5,942
• 5,765
• 6,341.
• 6,103
• 6,271
7,037

Prices.
3s 4d to 5s Od
4s 4d 5s 8d
33243433:i, 48800641 4543454:8i °B4B6BBdadaaac
38 4d 4s 8d
38 4d 4s 6d
3s Od 3s 10d
28 81 48 24
2s 81 43 Od
3,2 d its 10d

Per Bibs to sink the offals.
s. d. s. d.)
Inferior Beasts.... 3 Gto 3 8'
Second quality.... 3 10 4 61
Prime large oxen 4 8 410
prime Scots, &e. 5 0 5 4
Inferior Sheep ...3 S 310
Second quality ...4 0 4 4
Prime crse.-wlled.4 6 410

TOTAL supp Lr.

BeiLats ..•• •• •• •• .• •• •• •• 4,181
Ca1va5;.•...... •• •• •••,.. 107
11,155 ***** •• • •• .••• ?40

Although we have described the beasts as of excellent
quality, it must be understood that the total number in
the market was not equal to the supply exhibited at the
same period in 1853, neither was the aggregate show to
prime in quality, arising from numerous low breeds, brought
forward. The present arrivals may be this referred to :
Mr. Robert Morgan exhibited some first-rate stock, the
property of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. The same
gentleman showed some wonderfully fine short horns be-
longing to Mr. Robert Cook, Mr. W. Themes, and Mr. W.
Goodall, Lincolnshire graziers ; Mr. Thomas Feltome,
R. Leeds, and Mr. Alday, residing in Norfolk ; and Scots
from Mr. Millie, Mr. Martin, Mr. Cooper, and other gra-
ziers in Scotland. Mr. D. Maidwell exhibited 40 extraor-
dinary Scots, bred by Mr. MacCombie, of Tilley, from
Aberdeenshire. These Scots were decidedly the best in the
market. Mr. D.Borley showed some good Scots, forwarded
by Mr. iltenborough, of Brabrook, Northamptoishire,
and from Mr. Marti* sad Mr. Knowles, of Aberdeenshire ;
also some prime short horns from Mr. Wright, of Tring,
Norfolk. Mr. Dixon brought forward some very fine short
horns, the property of the Marquis of Exeter ; short horns,
fed by Mr. Thomas, of Holbeach Marsh, Lincolnshire ;
Herefords, bred by Mr. Marshall, near Banbury; and short-
horns, the property of Mr. J. Little, of Whittlesea. Messrs.
Giblottand Gurrier showedso.very fine Scots, belonging to
Mr. W. Mile, of Aberdeenshire; also several lots, the pro-
perty of Messrs. Stuart, Sheppard, Martin, Knowles, and
others, together with 80 Spanish oxen.
As regards the beef trade, we may observe that, owing
to the probable state of the weather, and the large atten'
dance of country butchers, many of whom purchased ex'
tensively, it was decidedly firm, and prices were on the
advance. A few very superior Sects realised ss. Bd. per
8141., and the general top figure for beef was ss. 4d., at
which a good clearance was effected.
Notwithstanding that the supply of sheep was not to
say very superior, there were some remarkably fine
animals on sale. Messrs. Weal exhibited 70 prime Downs,
fed by his Boyal Highness Prince Albert; 56 Downs, the
property of E. F. Whittingstale, Esq., of Langley Bury,
Herta; and 100 Gloucester ewes, belonging to R. Rowland,
Esq., of Creslow. Messrs. Weal haa also primp sheep from
numerous graziers. Mr. Eland exhibited 50 superior
Lincolns, belonging to Mr. llernley and ethers. Mr. W.
Gurrier showed 20 heavy Cotswolds, the property of Mr.
W. Hewer, of Northleach. These animals realised from
41.105. to 6/. each. Also 15 Coltswolds forwarded frees
Wiltshire, and which ranged at 51. per head.
We had a good demand for all kinds of sheep, and, in
most instances, prices advanced 2d. per 8 lbs. A few
very superior Downs sold at ss. 4d., and the general top
figure was ss. 2d. per 8 lbs.
The show of calves was limited, and the veal trade
ruled steady at last Monday's prices. The highest figure
was ss. Gd. per 8 lbs.
Pigs were in fair average supply and moderate request,
at our quotations.
From Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, aid Northampton-
shire wo received 2,000 short-horns ; from Norfolk and
Suffolk, 800 Scots, Herefords, &c. ; from other parts of
England, 2,000 of various kinds; and from Scotland, 600
horned and polled Scots.

S. d. s d.
IPrimeSouthdowu 5 0 2
ILarge crso. calves 4, 0 410
Primo small d 0... 5 0 5 6
Large hogs 3 4 4 2
Small porkors 4 4 5 0
Suckliugealves ..22 0 29 0
'Quarter old pigs 21 0 28 0