The Sun.
London, England, 1828-08-02 00:00:00

.IIIIIIVALS AT DIEPPE.

Marquis and Marchioness de Meroe, Lord - Lennox,
Lord W. Russell, Mr. Churchill, Mr. Brown and suite,
his Excellency the Minister of the United States, the Mar-
quis and Marchioness dc Bourbel and suite, his Excellency
Lord Stuart de Rothsay, Ambassador from England ; the
Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo and suite, Mrs. Mar-
tindale and suite, Mr. Deirs and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Young, Mr. Sharp, Sir T. Styles and family, Mr. Syche
and family, Esc.

WINDSOR, AUG. I.—The KING returned
to the Royal Lodge yesterday evening, shortly after eight
o'clock, from St. James's Palace, accompanied by the LORD
STE WARR and Lord STRATHAVEN. His MAJESTY, both
going to and returning from London, rode in an open
carriage,. and was repeatedly cheered while passing through
the towns and villages on the route. We have not for
many years known his Dial Lsry in the enjoyment of better
health than at present ; and, on his return yesterday,
although public business had engaged his MAJESTY'S atten-
tion two hours more than was anticipated, not the smallest
appearance of fatigue was perceptible. Prince GEORGE
Of CUMBERLAND, the Rev. Mr. JELY, Colonel THORN -
ToN, and the Lon') STEWARD, dined with his MA-
jEsTv shortly after his arrival. Prince GEORGE of
CUMBERLAND, Lady STRATSIAVEN, Lady FRANCES
CONMGRAM, Lady MARIA CONY NGIIA3i, the Rev. Mr.
JELF, and Colonel TuoityroN, took an airing, yesterday
hl an open carriage through the Great Park,
and
afternoon,
by
ti
bank of the Thames opposite I)atchet to Eton,
and returned to the Royal Lodge through the town of
Windsor. The Princess AuGusrA took au airing,
attractedr NobilityLa of
tle yester-
dv in
Waiting.nday, in the Great Park, in an open carriage, attended by
her:
thisne d
ig hbay ou
tr
ii,,,.
o
Windsor, by a sale of fancy articles, for the benefit of the
poorer classes. 111
The Hon. Miss
TOWNSEND, with hera Gentry'
havet beennu be
accustomed kindly feeling, superintended the arrangements,
and the repository derived a:Considerable advantage from
her beneficent exertions in its behalf. The proceeds of
the sale are, we understand, considerable.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE

IMPROVEMENT OF FINE WOOL.

It is impossible that any person can have even
glanced over the mass of evidence given before the
Committee of the House of Lords on the wool
question, without being forcibly struck with the
awful fact that this country, which once boasted of
its native wool as the staple commodity—clothing
with it not only its own population, but supplying
also other nations largely with cloth manufactured
from it, has now become nearly wholly dependant on a
foreign supply of wool for the manufacture of cloth.
In this volume of evidence it is asserted on the
one hand by the manufacturers, that British fine
wool is degenerated, which on the other hand is de-
nied by the growers of it; but as both agree in one
point, that from the introduction of the softer Ger-
man' wools, the taste and habits of consumers of cloth
both at home and abroad are changed, it therefore
obviously is expedient for this country to look dili-
gently to the improvement of its finer wools.
In offering the following observations on the sub-
ject, as I speak not from theory but long experience,
and shall state nothing which I cannot have fully
proved, I trust I may claim a patient attention ; and
I feel fully assured I shall be able to show that this
country is as capable as any other of producing fine

wool.
The first improvement in the German wools arse
from the introduction of Merino sheep from Spain,
and the spread of it was the more rapid, since as
there were no sheep in that country possessing other
valuable properties in an eminent degree, or in any
respect highly improved, the breeders were neither
influenced by former interests nor prejudices. Mutton
with them was a matter of minor importance, wool
therefore became the first object, and every en-
couragement was held out to promote the improve-
ment of it. As it advanced in quality it found a
ready sale in our market, as the quality of our own
from various causes remained nearly stationary.

Saxony in particular took the lead in improvement,
and produced wool of the most tender and delicate
quality, suited however rather to the purpose of
luxury than profitable use to consumers of cloth in
general. The Saxons, it is well known, have produced
this species of wool by confining the sheep in close
houses during winter, and feeding them on corn and
hay—thus doubly heating them. The result of this
practice has been that the sheep have degenerated
into a weak and puny race, and although the wool
has thus become delicate and tender, they produce
but half the quantity of that or mutton which the
parent Merino sheep from which they spring
yielded.
1 have no doubt but by such a course of practice
wool equally fine could be produced in this coun-
try, yet it could be by no means profitable or desir-
able, since the three valuable properties in sheep,
mutton, wool, and use in the fold for short wooled
sheep, are so essentially requisite with us; and cloth-
ing wool of a quality far more profitable to con-
sumers of cloth in general could be produced without
a sacrifice of any other valuable properties of the

sheep.
Nearly twenty years ago we also had a number of
Merino sheep imported from Spain derived from
flocks of various qualities, but some selected from
those of the highest blood, whilst the flocks re-
mained unmixed, by the effects of war were sent by
the Cortes as a present to the late King.
From the high improvements which the breeding
of sheep had in many respects reached in this coun-
try, the greatest expectations were formed of the
improvement which would be effected in these, but
strange as the assertion may seem perhaps this cir-
cumstance mainly tended to defeat the object. Lead-
ing breeders had a great stake in the stock which
they already possessed ; they had given and were ob-
taining extravagant prices for their respective breeds;
they were also accustomed to look to particular
points in their sheep as those deemed nearest to per-
fection ; the Merinos on their first introduction dif-

feted materially from those popular points, coarser
wool then bore a high remunerating price ; and it is
not to be wondered at that under such circumstances

the Merino sheep were decryed. They were said
to be unsuited to the climate, and unfit for the fold,
the mutton was pronounced to be worthless, and
it was declared that the wool would and did dege-
nerate.

Unfortunately, many of these sheep fell into the
hands of other than practical men, and by neglect
and mismanagement, a colour was given to the
clamour raised against them. The trials made with
them by leading breeders of other flocks, were %either
fully or zealously pursued, and the prejudices of
shepherds accustomed to feed a different kind of ani-
mal were strongly against them. They, therefore,
had but little chance of success. .1
From my own experience, however, of many years,
I can fully attest that these prejudices were ground-
less, and I will therefore proceed to state the result
of my experience. Soou after the King's flock were
imported, I purchased a considerable number from
them, and selected from those of the Negrette breed,
as being the largest sheep and bearing the softest
wool. These I have continued to keep strictly pure,
having no other sheep, and drawing rams from the
royal flock, only as long as that was kept up, after-
wards depending wholly on my own. By due at-
tention to breeding, the wool, so far from degenerat-
ing, has annually improved in softness and fineness, and
the fleeces have become far more uniformly even
throughout, so that at this time I obtain for the
whole a price beyond what any foreign wool in the
bulk unsorted brings, whilst the fleeces weigh full
double that of the Saxon sheep.
It is right, however, to remark, that the staple of
may flock- having attained a length beyond that of
other Merino wool, so as to render it fit for combing,
is ,a great cause of enhancing the price. The form
Of the sheep has also become highly improved, and
the mutton is of the first quality, so that I can
readily have for the fat wethers the best price that
any mutton brings in the London market. The
disadvantages under which these improvements have
arisen, are such as to speak highly in favour of these
sheep. I have no pasture land whatever. The
sheep do all the work of a South-down flock, by
folding off such cultivated crops as the season yields.
In winter they have no hay, except a little of secon-
dary quality to the CM es after lambing, whilst the
store sheep live on turnips and straw, which latter
they eat readily, and on such food keep up their
condition, and it is admitted by those who have the
care of them, that they eat such food as roost other
sheep would reject.
It may be said that these are broad assertions, but
where are the proofs ?
I will answer as to the wool, by highly intelligent
and independent men connected with the wool trade,
and to manufacturers of the like class who have again
and again used it, and applied it to the finest pur-
poses to which wool has ever been applied, and who
speak of it in unqualified terms.
For the quality of the. mutton I can refer to those
who have been accustomed to purchase the fat we-
thers, and who have given me a higher price for the
carcase alone than they have sold the mutton for,
throwing it in from the preference given to it, as a
luxury for the upper tables of their customers at the
west end of the town.
For evidence as to the food and treatment I must
refer to those who have had the care of them, but I
am further willing to put some wethers on a fair
trial with South-Town sheep, and I have no fear that
t
totkte iththewill grow full as much
ande
a resultsgo good acre,will
and one-third more
l i l
mutton prov;
wool (independent of the quality) than those sheep.
Let it not be supposed that I state this as inimical
to that breed of sheep which, in most respects, I
highly esteem, but rather to meet the prejudices of the
owners of such flocks; some, but for the existence of
such prejudices, and their consequent disinclination
to cross with Merino sheep of high blood, I am per-
suaded the wool of their sheep would now be in a
much higher state of improvement, without loss in
the other properties of the sheep.
I have been reluctant thus publicly to advocate
this matter, but seeing in the evidence in question

statements of a different caste, I deem it essential that
they should not remain recorded without the most
public refutation which can now be effected.
I regret that the limits of this address will not
admit of more detail, but if any one truly interested
will write to me postage free, I will readily answer
him.
July :31. J. K. TRIMMER.
Strand on the Green, Kew-bridge, Middlesex.

A YORKSHIRE HISTORY :