The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-16 00:00:00

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TILE GREAT CHRISTMAS
CATTLE MARKET.

Notwithstanding that the value of live stock has not
ruled so high during the greater portion of the present
year as in 1860, the exhibition of beasts here to-day, for
Christmas consumption, was unquestionably, taken as a
whole, the best on record. The great abundance of food in
most of our grazing districts, and the improved health of
the stock, compared with some previous years, has certainly
been in favour of a large show, both as respects number and
quality; but we believe that fewer second-rate and inferior
animals were brought forward this morning than at the
corresponding period since 1857. Owing, however, to the
immense number of young beasts, chiefly crosses, on
sale, some persons may be inclined to take exception
to these observations ; but it must be understood
that had it net been for a most extensive system of crossing
—so extensive, indeed, as almost to threaten the extinction
of some particular breeds—the consumptive demand of
the United Kingdom, even allowing a large margin for
importations from the continent, could not possibly have
been mdt by our graziers. Prices, therefore, would have
ruled very high—though stock would have been selling at
rates considerably above the views of cautious buyers—and
the result would have been highly prejudicial to the inte-
rests of a portion of the grazing community. We freely
admit that great caution is necessary how far the system of
crossing is further increased; nevertheless, it is evident
that thus far it has proved highly beneficial to the
country generally. It is, however, surprising to find
beasts, only 15 or 16 months old, weighing from
110 to 120 stones, and of a quality not to be sur-
passed, even by the best Scots—we hero allude more par-
ticularly to a portion of the supply from Scotland and Nor-
folk, but when we consider the high quotations realised for
them, we may congratulate the graziers upon the great
success of their efforts to meet the demand with a descrip-
tion of stock which has become highly valuable both to the
butchers and consumers. This success has naturally in-
duced breeders in nearly all parts of the kingdom to extend
their system of crossing; hence, to-day, almost every
breed exhibited less distinctive features than hither-
to, and we may safely venture to assert that'
there were fully 2,000 beasts on show, chiefly
crosses with short horns or Scots—possibly with Devons or
Herefords.

We may now offer a few observations in reference to the
pure breeds. In' number, the shorthorns certainly stood
first. The quality of this particular stock is too well known
to require any lengthened comment from us ; but we may
state that the supply in this particular was a wonderful one,
though, at the same time, it must be admitted that the
enormous weight of k omo of the animals was against
what we should consider a full average price. As
regards the Devons, they were in quite their usual
force, and scarcely any of them were beneath really
fine quality. Possibly some few of them were of a
heavier weight than the general character of the
stock seems to warrant. The 40 North Devon oxen, fed
by Mr. Senior, of Broughton House, near Aylesbury,
were certainly remarkable animals. Some of them weighed
200 stones, and the whole changed hands at high rates.
There was a superb show of Herefords, but the number was
not quite equal to some former seasons. The Sussex beasts
were in considerable strength, but most of theniwere of an
ago which told against their actual value. No doubt they
will die well, but butchers generally do not regard; six
and seven years' old bullocks with much favour in this age
of crossing. There were some very good Welsh runts in
the market, but long-horned stock was a very scarce
commodity. Quite the average number of Irish beasts
was brought forward, and in a comparative sense they were
mostly in prime condition. The arrivals from Scotland
were large, and of a quality seldom equalled ; indeed, our
impresssion is that the show of Scots was far superior to
last year. The finest portion of the supply comprised
the 36 Scots exhibited by Messrs. Maidwell and Hoyland,
and the six shown by Mr. John Lumsden, all the property
of Mr. John M'Combie, of Tillyfour. They were greatly
admired for their splendid symmetry, and the prices rea-
lised were very high.
The following return shows the number of beasts exhi-
bite.l, and the prices realised for them on the great days in
the last 20 years :
Years. Beasts shown. Prices.
1841 .. 4,503 .. 3s 8d to 5s Od
1842 .. 4,541 .. 3s 4d 4s 8d
1843 .. 4,510 .. 2s 8d 4s 4d
1844 .. 5,713 .. 4s. Od 4s 6d
1845 .. 5,326 .. 3s Gd 4s 8d
1846 .. 4,570 .. 4s Od 5s 8d
1847 .. 4,282 .. 3s 4d 48 8d
1848 .. 5,942 .. 3s 4d 4s Fid
1849 .. 5,765 .. 3s 4d 4s Gd
1850 .. 6,341 .. 3s Od 3s 10d
1851 .. 6,103 .. 2s 8d 4s 2d
1852 .. 6,271 .. 2s 8d 4s Od
1853 .. 7,037 .. 3s 2d 4s 10d
1854 .. 6,181 .. 3s 6d os 4d
1855 .. 7,000 .. 3s 8,1 4s 2d
1866 .. 6,748 .. 38- 4d 58 Od
1857 .. 6,&56 .. 3s 4d 4s 8d
1858 .. 6,424 .. 3s 4d 58 Od
1859 .. 7,560 .. 3s Gd 53 4d
1860 .. 7,860. 3s 4d 5s 4d

On Mr. Giblett's stand we noticed some very fine Nor-
folk cattle, fed by Mr. G. Wortley and Mr. Robert Wortley.
Mr. Giblott had likewise on sale a large number of Scotch
beasts, forwarded by Messrs. Stewart, Martin, and Knowles,
of Aberdeen, and Mr. Maurice of Huntly.
Messrs. Morgan and Allday had a very good show of
stock, comprising Soots from Mr. Robert Leeds, and from
Messrs. Ruddick and Stodart. There were, likewise, some
very good Herefords on the stand.
Mr. Vorley had an unusually prime supply of beasts.
The short-horns forwarded by Mr. Cartwright, of Kirkby,
near Sleaford ; the Scots belonging to Mr. North, of Small-
borough; tho 12 Scots forwarded by Air. Hutchinson; and
the five runts by Mr. Thompson, of Thorp, were greatly
admired.

Mr. Collins had a very fine shot of beasts, including
runts and Doyens, belonging to Mr. Coallis, of Coington
Grange; Herefords and Devons, the property of Mr. S.
Rogers, of Lashbury ; and Scots, from Mr. R. Overman,
Blyth, Bow, &c., of Norfolk, together with the latter breed
from Mr. Martin, of Newmarket, Aterdeen. Some of the
latter were seven years' old.

Mr. George Dickson's show of beasts was a very fine one.
It embraced, as usual, a large number of Scotch fed beasts
of , excellent quality, and many of them wore much ad-
mired for symmetry. They were forwarded by Messrs.
Knowles, Martin, Thomson, Murray, Kidd, Wisbart.
Bruce, Longmore, Stodart, Frost, Mitchell, and other
graziers. _ .

There was a full average number of sheep on offer in fair
condition. We noticed some very fine sheep on the stand
of Mr. B.Weall, from Oxon andßerks, including some for-
warded by Mr. W. Micklem, as well as by Messrs. Vidlers,
Walters, and other graziers. Mr. J. B. Wesll had, also, a
fine show of sheep, from Messrs. Rowland,White, &c. Mr.
Gurrier had, likewise, a good show. Amongst it were 10
prize Downs from Mr Paul, of the Isle of Wight, and 60
Gloucester's from Messrs. Hewers and Fletcher. The sheep
exhibited by Mr. Collins were in prime condition. Mr.
Lintoll's sheep were very prime. They were principally
Downs, chiefly from Surrey and Kent, forwarded by Mr.
Hofgen, near Chichester, Lord For tmore, Mr. Paul, &c.
Mr. Eland had 40 very fine Lincolns, sent by Mr. Heanley
of Croft, and 20 by Mr. Chatterton of Wigtoft. Mr. Dodd
exhibited 20 very fine west country Downs.