The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-15 00:00:00

I This being the day appointed for holding the Grew
Christmas Market no little excitement was observed
here throughout the morning, and, indeed, up to quite
the close of business. From nearly all parts of the
United Kingdom, as well as from the Continent, nume-
rous visitors poured in to witness a sight which is with-
out equal in any part of the world, both as regards the
weight and quality of the stock brought together, in-
cluding, of course, their extraordinary number. In the
first place, let us do justice to those to whom the
arrangements were entrusted. The great additional
space in this market, compared with the area of Smith-
field, would appear highly favourable for an improved
allotment of the stock, in other words, that each sales-
man would have ample room afforded him to show his
beasts to advantage ; but their enormous bulk required
more than ordinary space ; and, although almost the en-
tire of the "alleys " were filled, no inconvenience was
experienced, and the authorities are entitled to great
credit for the scrupulous care with which they afforded
accommodation to all.
In minutely considering the general excellences of
the beasts shown here to-day, not a few important
points suggest themselves. We have had exhibited
animals of a first-class character : we have had Devons,
Herefords, shorthorns, Welsh, Sussex, and Pembroke
runts of enormous weight. Cross breeds, too, have been
numerous, whilst the Scots have been in profuse number.
Compared with some former shows, we have observed
very great improvements in the condition of the stock
not to be despised. Some parties have opposed fat
stock exhibitions, on the ground that too mcch 'incon-
sumable meat is produced by them, consequently that
there is a great waste of food. But if fat stock shows
were unprofitable to the graziers, we might venture to
assume that these exhibitions would speedily cease, and
that their opponents would ere long cry out for "more
fat" upon their sirloins. Tho character of great stock
shows are, in a general way, misunderstood by the public.
The feeders produce splendid animals frequently at a con-
siderable loss to themselves, but they hay 'ulterior ob-
jects in view. How frequently do we find their competing
in the exhibition in Baker-street, year after year, at an
enormous outlay of capital, and how many seasons have
they made their appearance there unsuccessfully ? But
success at length attends them, and, the moment
they have gained a prize position, they then look to a
certain pecuniary return, that is to say, their stock for
breeding and other purposes is sought after at a high
—certainly an enhanced—price, and thus the consumers
have every year had an important addition to the supply
of food. In confirmation of this v►ew, we might refer
to the high position gained, chiefly through the instru
mentality of the Smithfield and other stock shows—ol
the great breeders of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk,
Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Devonshire, &c. We

then, as these exhibitions are highly important in more
than one point of view, and as every effort should be
made to bring into play every breed of stock in the
country, it would appear surprising that any descrip•
tion should have ever received less favour at the hands
of the Smithfield Cub than any other; butevery one must

feel gratified in learning that very important chan2es have
been made in the rules of that club, that in future Scotch
cattle is to be classed separately, and that Sussex stock

is to have a similar position. These changes, whilst they
will no doubt increase the interest in the show in future

years, cannot fail to improve the number and quality of
our breeds, and thereby increase the amount of food for

general consumption.
The annexed return shows the number of beasts exhi-
bited on the great days, and the prices obtained for them,
in the last sixteen years :

Year. Beasts shown. Prices.
1840
1841
1842
1843 ..
1814 ..... .... 5,713 ....
1845
18 W
1;47
1848 .....„ ... 5,912
1849
1850
1851
1852 ......... 6,271
1853
1834
1855
Only limited supplies of foreign stock arrived in the
port of London last week—the total supply amounting
to 1,622 head. In the corresponding week in 1855 we

received 4,752 ; in 1854, 3,999 ; in 18E3, 6,316 ; in 1852
4,43 G; in 1851, 4,277 ; and in 1850, 5,124 head.

WORTS INTO LONDON LAIR WEIN.
From Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pig 3
Oporto
Rotterdam 92 ... 131 ... .
Hamburgh 3O ... 97 ...
Harlingen
Amsterdam
Antwerp -- „•
Schiedam

... 144 ... -

--- • .•
8 ...

'-''' •••

- ... - ... 52 ...

..--. •• • • --- •• .

T0ta1.... 499 919 204 ...
The yearly comparison of weekly Imports is as follows :
Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs
1855 859 3,555 238
1854 1,130 2,593 269 „. 7
1853 1,136 4,698 . ..„ 462 20
1852 235 3,782 419
1851 607 3,155 363 152
The latest advices from Spain and Portugal state tha
the value of live stock is still on the advance. In the
Dutch markets only limited purchases continue to be
made for France ; yet, compared with last year, price
continue high.

Even for a great market, we had a very large show of
beasts, and, taking their number and quality collectively,
we may affirm that it was never excelled, much less
equalled. From the west country we received 700
Devons ; from Scotland, 600 stots ; from Ireland, 200
oxen ; from Norfolk and Suffolk, 800 stots, short horns,
&c. ; and from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and North-
amptonshire, 3,000 short horns. The beef trade was by
no means brisk, and, compared with Monday last, very
little cbange took place in prices, with very few excep-
tions. The highest (potation for beef was ss. per 8 lbs
Amongst the wonders of the bullock show, we may
notice the following :—Mr. D. Maidwill had on sale 40
wonderfully prime stots, fed by Mr. M'Combie, of Til-
leyfour, N.B. Mr. Robert Morgan's stand exhibited a
remarkably fine number of beasts, fed by W. Thomas,
Esq , of Holbead ; R. Cook, Lq., of Portland ; L.
Bird, Esq., of Peterborough ; .T. A►iday, Esq., of Sole-
hill ; E. Farrer, Esq., of Spank ; Robert Gillett, Esq.,
Halongate, Norfolk ; Messrs. Martin, Knowles, Cooper,
Phillips, Mitchell, St Aldart, Kidd, and other large gra-
ziers in Scotland. Mr. Collins had a very fine show
of Herefords and other breeds. Mr. Vorley's stand was
filled with good stock, fed by Mr. Beatte, of Huntley,
Mr. Walker, of Westerfinray, and other graziers. Mr.
Fairbrother exhibited same fine Herefords, the property
of Mr. Rowland, of Creslow. The other portions of the
supply were very fine, including the stock sent by Prince
Albert.

We had a limited supply of sheep in the market,
hence the mutton trade ruled brisk, at an advance in
the quotations of 4d. per 8 lbs., the primest Downs
having sold at ss. 4d. per 81bs. There were no Irish
sheep in the market. Amongst the wonders were 10
Gloucesters, fed by Mr. Ewer, of Northleaoh ; 10 dittu,
by Mr. Barton, of Fyfield ; the same number, by Mr.
Slatter, of Stratton ; and 50 half breds, by Mr. Lang-
ston, of Oxford. These sheep were exhibited by Mr.
Gurrier. Mr. Weal had 123 Gloucesters from Mr.
Rowland, of Creslow, 23 Downs from Mr. Oakley, of
Luton, and other fine lots from various other graziers.
Mr. Eland showed some remarkably fine sheep, fed by
Mr. Henley, of Croft, Mr. Cbatterton, of Wigtoft, and
Messrs. Morley, of Donnington. Some of these sheep
weighed 26 stones each, and realised considerably above
51. each.
We had only a limited supply of calves in the market.
The primest veal sold briskly, at an advance of 4d. per
8 lbs. Otherwise the veal trade was in a sluggish state,
at last week's prices.
The show of pigs was very moderate. On the whole
the pork trade ruled firm, at very full prices.

_
Per Sibs to sink the caws.
s. d. e. d. , s. d. 4. <l.
Inferior 80ut5...3 4to 3 6,PrimeSouthdown 5 2 5 4
Second quality.... 3 8 4 Olorge crse. calves 310 4 8
Primo large oxen 4 2 4 8 Prime small do 410 5 6
Prime Scots, die. 410 5 o,Large hogs
Inferior Sheep ...3 1G 4 2 Small porkers
1
Second quality ...4 4 4 E Suckling calves 23 0 30 0
Primo crse.-wlled.4 10 5 I Quarter old pigs 22 0 29 0
TOTAL SUPPLT.

I FOREIGN SUPPLY.
2,010 ; 8ea5t5........._.........
6,748
....., .. 2,950 (Shoop ...
Sheep• ......... • .. ... 16,090
240 s Ca1ve5.................... 172
380 i Piga........... .....
...... 310
A statement and comparison of the supplies and prices of fat
stock exhibited and sold in the Great Metropolitan Cattle
Dec. 15 , 7 Ironday, Dec. 17, 18.55, and this day, Monday,
856.
Per Slbs, to sink the offals.

Dec. 17,1855.1 Dec. 15, '56.
B. d. a. d. le. d. s. d.
Coarse and inferior beasts 3 Bto 3 1013 4to 3 6
Second quality ditto ... ... 4 0 4 4,3 8 4 0
Prime large oxen 4 5
6 4 101: 2 4 8
Prime Scots, &c ••• 0 5 214 10 5 0
Coarse and inferior sheep ... 3 4 3 63 10 4 2
Second quality ditto ... ... 3 8 4 2 4 4 4 8
Prime coarse woolled ditto ... ... 4 4 4 64 10 5 0
Prime Southdown ditto ... 4 8 5 o's 2 5 4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Large coarse calves ... ... 410 5 43 10 4 8
Prime small ditto ... 6 6 6 04 10 5 6
Large hogs ... ... 310 4 4 3 8 4 4
seat small porkers ~. ... 4 6 5 0 4 6 5 2
Beasts_ 7,000 6,748
25,500 16,f 90
Calves... ... 200 172
Pigs ..„ ... 310 32U
SOITLIBS ON Sets, Dec. 18, 1854.—Beasts, 3,133; ghee;,
17,100; calves, 133; pigs, 305.
December2Bs 19, 1853.—Beasts, 3,580; 5heep,19,950; calves,
69 pigs, .