The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-14 00:00:00

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS CATTLE

MARKET.

Notwithstanding that the consumption of food has
unquestionably fallen off, owing to the late panic in the
commercial world; and, although the prices of fat stock
have, consequently, shown a tendency to give way, we
never recollect a period during which so much general
interest has been shown in reference to our fat stock
shows as was the case here this morning. At an early
hour the market was thronged with visitsrs from nearly
all parts of the United Kingdom, as well as from the
Continent, to inspect and admire perhaps the finest col-
lection of animals ever shown in this or any other market
in the world. As the day advanced, the number of
•isitors rapidly increaeed, yet, from the enlarged space
included in the market's area, there was ample room for
close inspection without inconvenience.
That the show of beasts was of the richest order of
merit will be understood when we observe that fully
nine-tenth■ of them were considerably above average
weight, and otherwise in unusually fine condition. The
increase, be it understood, was not so much in the
qaantity of fat carried by the collective lsreeds, but in
their general symmetry. At was the ca-e in Baker-
street, there were not so many obese marvels as in some
former years; but the absence of ex*.reme fatness inay
be noted as one of the great merits of the present show.
The fat being laid on evenly and well is the result of
well-shaped and well-bred animals being in more general
demand on the part of the butchers and coneamers.
Formerly, by dint of stuffing, fat was often deposited
everywhere save in the right places, and the result was
that the buyers of both beasts and sheep lost considerable
sums by the stock when slaughtered. We hail this
change in the system with much satisfaction, because
we are perfectly convinced that our breeders and feeders
have at length got into the high road to additional fame.
From the foregoing observations it will be seen that
the supply of beasts was one of no ordinary merit, and
we may now briefly glance at each of the leading classes,
the more fully to determine their positive excellence.
These classes we may call Scots, Herefords, Devons,
Short-horns, Sussex, and Welsh. When we consider
the great disadvantages, as to climate, under which the
Scotch graziers are suffering, compared with those re-
siding in the " sunny south," great surprise may well
he expressed at the wonderful animals which were
shown from the " far north." Whether wo carefully
consider the high value of their primer, consequently
most selling, parts to the butcher, or the supreme quality
of the inferior joints, it must be admitted that the word
"perfection" may be fairly applied to them. Those who
witnessed the splendid collection of Scots, the property
of Mr. William M'Combie, of Tilly four, exhibited by
Mr. Daniel Maidw.ll, will at once understand the bear-
ing of these remarks. Not a feult could be found with
there ; though, on the cairn hand, it is to be regretted
that they should have been reserved for an open market.
Still, they added greatly to the show, and proved to the
world what Scotland really can produce. Mr. M'Com-
bie'sox exhibited in the bazaar was purchased by Messrs.
Banister and Bidboraugh, of Windsor, to supply the
royal table on Christmas Day.
The collection of Herefords has seldom or never been
repelled. Amongst it were very few what may b
t
termed large animal-, the supply being almost wholly
composed of a raise admirably suited for general con-
sumption. As regards the Devons, the excellence of
their condition was fully equal to that of the Here-
fords, and the " men of the we-t inurt: red
in full average strength. The short horns, too,
were of more than average merit. Taere was
everything to admire in them, even though the fat was
not " plastered" upon them so much as at some former
e;hibitione. From Sussex there was au increased show
of oxen, all in first-rats order ; but the graz'ers in that
county can do even greater things by a more extended
cuttivation of the turnip. They have now a aide field
opened to their enterprise and industry, from a separate
class having at length been allotted to them in Baker-

street, There were about 300 extraorditary prime
Welsh runts on sale, an .I which elicited the marked
encomiums of the •isitors.

As regard the sheep here to-Jay, we must admit that
the supply, taken as a whole, fill short of our expecta-
tions. True, there were come very fine and very large
animals on offer; but the bulk of the show was of a
second-rate character. And here is the result of prema
ure forcing, and of what is termed "early maturity ; "
whilst, no doubt, an macaw:ate selection of stock for
crossing purposes has led to a decreased eizs and
sappy. Exceptions, however, should be noticed,
and we have no hesitation in referring to choice
specimens of the Lincolnshire long. s °oiled, bred
direct from that country. Tney were shown by ALt,,,srt•
El.,nd, Hancock, Wood card, and Smith ; and com-
priced 30 from the flock of Marshall 'leanly, Esq., of
Croft ; 10 from H. Seek, E,q , of Wai:•flett Ilall ; 29
from J. Byron, Egg., of Marblethorpe Hall ; 50 from
George Saul, E!q., of Wrangle ; 20 from Bealbry,
Beg., of Wigtoft ; and 20 from U. G. Chatterton, E q ;
of the latter place. There were also a few splendid
sheep of the same breed, the property of J. Cook, E,ci ,
of Norfolk. The whole of them possessed that pecul;ar
quality which the county of Linciln is noted fur pro-
ducing, via., a large proportion of meat, compared with
In this respect the breed must be considered
superior to what are termed the new Leicester'. From
Norfolk, Suffelt, Essex, Suss, x, some fine sheep came
to hand. _ .

iliZe.

The following return shows the numbers of beat-ti
shown, and the highest and lowest prices obtained for
them on the great dap, in the last seventeen years :
Year. Beasts shown. Prices.
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844 ...... ... 5,713
1845
1846 ...... ... 5,470
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1864
1855
1856

The total imports of foreign stock into London last week
were 1,773 head. In the corresponding week in 1856 we
received 1,622; in 1855, 4,752 ; in 1851, 3,993; in 1853,
6,316 ; in 1852, 4,436 ; in 1831, 4,277; and in 1850,
5,121 head.

IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WEEK.
From Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs
Rotterdam 64 ... f2B ... ... 106 ...
Harlingen 149 ... 833 ... ... 18
Schiedam
Antwerp —

--- ... - ... 2J ...

T0ta1.... 259 ... 1,361 ... 153
The yearly comparison of weekly imports is as follows :
Beasts. Sheen. Lambs. Calves. Pigs
1856 499 919 2 ...
1855..... 859 ... 3 555 238 ...

,854 1,139 2,593
1853 1,136 4,698 „„
L 852 235 „, 3,782 ~„
1851 607 „, 3,155 „,

... ... 269 ... 7
... 462 ... 20
... 419 ... -
- ... 3b3 ... 152

We may here observe that great dissatisfaction was
expressed, both by the salesmen and graziers, at the
large increase in the toll, for stook now levied by the City
authorities. The old and present charges we here sub-

oin

LIST OF MARKET CHARGES,
Old. Present.
Sheep (per score) £o 0 2 ... £0 0 4
Boasts (per head)
Calves „
Pigs (per score)
Whole pens for sheep,
calves, and pigs
Horses (each)
Donkeys „
This great increase will, if we mistake not, prodace a
material falling off in the supplies of stook in future ;
but why donkeys should be so highly favoured as to
have reduced toiler we leave others to imagine !
A portion of the unsold stock exhibited in Baker-street
was here to-day. A moogst it wo noticed a shorthorn,
the property of Thomas Whichoote, Bart , which took
the second prize of 101. In addition to the beasts from
Scotland already referred to, Mr. D. Mard well had on
show some wonderful shorthorns—over 219 stones—
forwarded by Menus. Wiseman, residing near Spalding,
as also some prime animals of the same breed, fed by
B.lberiegham, Es 1., of Oxford Abbey, Norfolk.
On the stand of Mr. Robert Morgan we observed one
of the most even lots of beasts ever sold by any one
salesman. They were forwarded by the following
breeders :—Wm. Thomas, Esq., of Holbead ; the exe-
cutors of Robert Cook, Esq., of Restland ; Fisher,
Esq., of Weston, near Spalding ;L. Bird, E-q., of
Ferret End ; Hewson, E,q., of Crowland ; Robert
Leeds, EQq., of West Sexham, Norfolk ; Edmund Fer-
rer, Esq., of Sporle ; Josh. Freeman, Esq., of Dersirg-
ham ; John Allday, Esq., of Solehill, near Bonningharn ;
and from Messrs. Martin, Cooper, Mitchell, Stoddart,
Milne, &c., residing in Scotland.
Messrs. Giblett and Gurrier exhibited some remart•
ably fine animals, fed by Messrs. Milne, Stewart,
Mennie, Martin, Garden, &c., residing in Scotland ;
besides some prime breeds from the home counties.
Mr. William Collins showed some wonderful beasth,
the property of Joho Hudson, Esq,, of Castleacre, Nor.