The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-17 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.

THE GREAT DAY.

The unusually high prices at which all kinds of
really prime stock have been selling during nearly
the whole of the present year induced the opinion
in more than one quarter that the show here to-day,
for Christmas consumption, would be au unusually

good one, and, as to number, considerably in excess
of some previous corresponding periods, the scarcity
of really good food in most parts of the country
notwithstanding. In some respects this impression
was well grounded ; but we confess that this has
not proved the best exhibition of its kind held in
the metropolis. In the first place we may remark
that there was an unusually large number of young
animals shown; and in the second, that the merits
of some of the older stock were not equal to last
year. High quotations for beef, the result of a great
increase in the consumption of food, have, of course,
stimulated production to an extent beyond which
it would seem scarcely safe for the general commu-
nity. True, it may b 3 more profitable to "force
rather than feed," so far as the graziers' interests
are concerned ; but the question yet to be solved is,
are we really progressing in the right direction ?
It would, of course, be unjust to condemn the sys-
tem of crossing, if not carried too far, because
crosses between the Scots and short-horns were
exhibited here this morning which. equalled in
weight, quality, and symmetry the purest Scots,
Devons, and Herefords; indeed, we may say, with-
out hesitation, that they were full of the
best butchers' points. Without, therefore, con-
demning the system, which no doubt has proved a
most profitable one to those who have carried it
out successfully, let us hope that eventually it will
not leave consumption dependent upon a mongrel
supply of stock. The crosses, then, brought forward
on this occasion formed no unimportant portion of
the show. Next in order to this particular descrip-
tion of stock we may place the short horns.
Amongst them we observed scarcely any inferior
animals; indeed, we may observe that in number
they were very large, and that their condition was,
if anything, superior to the supply on offer in 1859.
Perhaps, however, Lincolnshire has this season
suffered less from want of pasture food than in the
previous year. In considering the Herefords we
may observe that, though there was a fair number
of really useful beasts amongst them, we observed
a falling off in their general weight and condition.
This is to be regretted, because all must be aware
in this progressive age of the great importance of
keeping up the pure blood of the country. As
regards the Devons, nearly the same observations
may be applied to them. But how is it that Devon-
shire should of late years fall short of its usual
amount of supply ? Are higher prices realised at
home than in this market ? or do the graziers
think it more profitable to sell month by month
I rather than forward a large number of beasts to
London on one particular occasion? We cannot
presume otherwise than that there are now more
beasts disposed of in the county than in many years
past, hence the deficiency here to-day. We feel
gratified in being able to state that the show of
Sussex beasts—most of them being of noble pro-
portions, but perhaps rather too old for general
purposes, though they carried an immense supply
of good consumable food—was larger than during
the last five years. This, we may observe, is an
important point gained from the now distinctive
but not over liberal premiums offered by the Smith-
field Club. If we mistake not, Sussex will even-
tually, with a fair field before it, produce far
greater wonders than were shown on the pre-
sent occasion. On a close examination of the
Scots, whether Aberdeenshires or West High-
landers, we must admit that they were never
excelled. Those forwarded to Messrs. Maidwell
and Llayland-27 in number—and those to Mr.
John Lumsden-10 in number—by Mr. William
M‘Combie, of Tillyfour, Aberdeenshire, were some
of the best we have ever seen. But why did not
Mr. M‘Combie allow his noble animals to grace
the show-yard in Baker-street ? Their value might
not have been enhanced by the change in the place
of exhibition, but certainly we should have been
more pleased to have seen them there than
in the open market. The show of Scots and
crosses from Norfolk was an unusually good
one. It comprised stock of fine symmetry,
great weight, but of very moderate age.
There were very few polled beasts from that or
the adjoining county—Suffolk. The Welsh runts,
though few in number, were in unusually prime
condition, consequently realised high quotations.
As regards other breeds from various parts of Eng-
land, we may observe that they were, for the most
part, in middling condition. There was a full
average number of Irish beasts on offer via Liver-
pool. Some of them wore well made-up ; but, gene-
rally speaking, they did not come up to some
former shows. We observed amongst them several
crosses, evidently with the short horns.
The following return shows the number of beasts
exhibited, and the prices realised for them, on the
great days in the last 19 years :

Prices.

Beasts Shown.
. 4,509
. 4,541
. 4,510
. 5,713
5,326
. 4,570
. 4,282
. 5;912
. 5,765
. 6,341
. 6,103
6,271
. 7,037
• 6,181
. 7,000
• 6,748
. 6,856
. 6,424
. 7,560

s. d. s. d.
3 8 to 5 0
3 4 4 8
2 8 4 4
4 0 4 6
3 6 4 8
4 0 5 8
3 4 4 8
3 4 4 8
3 4 4 6
3 0 3 10
2 8 4 2
2 8 4 0
3 2 4 10
3 6 5 4
3 8 4 2
3 4 5 0
3 4 4 8
3 4 5 0
3 6 5 4

On Mr. Robert Morgan's stand we observed some
very fine beasts from Norfolk, the property of Mr.
Leeds, Mr. Felton, Mr. Freeman, and Fand ; from
Scotland, the property of Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Stod-
dart, Mr. Pidd, and Mr. Garden ; from the midland
counties, Mr. Morgan had likewise some very good
stock.

Messrs. Giblett and Sou had on offer about thirty
extraordinary fine Norfolk beasts belonging to
Messrs. Wortley ; also some fine Scotch beasts from
Messrs. Stewart, Martin, and Mennie, which,
although smaller than usual, were of very superior
quality.
Mr. George Dickson had an excellent stand of
Scotch-fed beasts from the counties of Aberdeen,
Banff, Kincardine, and Inverness. They were the
respective property of Messrs. Martin, Knowles,
Thompson, Kidd, Bruce, Longmore, Stodart,
Smart, Frost, Shand, Wishart, Mitchell, Thorn,
and other Scotch graziers.
Mr. William Collins had a very fine show of
beasts, forwarded by Mr. W. Shaw, Far Coton,
Northamptonshire; Mr. Wallis, of Overstone,
Northamptonshire ; Mr. James Attenborough ;
Mr. Overman, of Egmere ; Mr. John Hudson, of
Castle Acre. Mr. Collins had, likewise, some
remarkab!y good Devons, belonging to Mr. T. S.
Moore of Warham. Several other graziers had on
offer some superior stock ; but that on offer from
Sir Charles Knightley's land was not equal to
most former years. The show of sheep was by no
means a good one, either as respects number
or quality. Messrs. Weale had a good show of
sheep, belonging to Messrs. Oakley, White, Senior,
Rowland, &c. ; also several lots from Oxon and
Berks.

Messrs. Eland and Son, Mr. Hancock, and other
graziers had some fine specimens of the Lincoln-
shire long woolled breed.
Mr. Thomas Dodds exhibited some very good
Down and half bred sheep, belonging to Mr-
Franklin, of Wallingford ; Mr. Readings, of Evers-
ham ; and Mr. Dodd, of Chickendon, Oxon. Mr.
Collins exhibited some remarkably fine cross bred
sheep.

STATE OF THE TRADE.
The total imports of foreign stock into London last week
amounted to 4,525. In the correspondinr, week in 1859 we
received 4,364—in 1858, 5,734—in 1857,° 1,896—in 1856,
1,895—in 1855, 4,326—and in 1854, 2,828 head.
IMPORTS INTO LuNboN ~,t.s3 WEEK.
From. Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs.
Rotterdam
Harlingen
Hamburgh l4 302 .. •
Bremen
• •

Calais
Dordt ..
Amsterdam ...... 29 . •
Antwerp ... • —' •
80u10gne.......... • •
'forming .........
Medemblik ...... 28 • • 569
25 • • 772 •
Nieu Diep ..... • • •

..--- • • --. .
• -
-- • . --
• . 28

• •

499 3 702 ....._ 255
T0ta1........
The
arissonheocfp weeklyL na
imports is as follows
bs. Calves Pigs.
678 .. 3,424 .. 141 121
1859 ...... ~c
yearlßyecaos comparison
1358....., • • 4, ' • — 375 .. 48
18.57....., 318 • • 1,473 1
8
5
1856...... 485 .. 1,193 285 12
1855......1 783 • • 3,529 21 ..
1854 O7G •
.. 2,588 lao
9
The number of beasts hero to-day being unusually
large, the demand for most kinds was by no means
active. However, the primest breeds were in fair
request, at somewhat high currencies. A few very
superior Scots, &c., realised Ss 6d per 81bs, but the
.general top figure for beef was 53 4d per Sibs.
Prom Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex. and Cambridge-
shire, we received 3,200 Scots, &e., from Lin( oln-
shire, &c., 2,300 short horns. frotn Devonshire, 800
Devons; from other parts of England, 1,000 various
breeds; from Scotland, 700 Scots and crosses; and,
from Ireland, 350 oxen, &c.
There was a moderate show of sheep. The best
breeds moved off steadily, and, in some instances,