The Sun.
London, England, 1827-11-13 00:00:00

COUNTRY FAIRS.

The. great November fair at Mortimer, in Berkshire,
always held on the Gth of this month, was pretty numerously
attended on Tuesday last. Mortimer being a small village,
none but those who have witnessed it can have any thing
like a just idea of the business which was formerly—that is
in more money-making times—transacted at this.. mart.
Unusually large droves of cattle from Devon, Herefordshire,
and Wales, make their first appearance at Mortimer No-
vember fair, and then, if not sold, proceed to fairs still nearer
to London ; and very good samples, particularly Welch, are
to be seen of the various breeds. On . Tuesday last, any
thing likely to be soon turned into money readily found pur-
chasers, and so did in-calf cows and heifers ; but things
that required another summer to shine on their heads were
but little inquired after. Pigs, from the scarcity in the
country, the low price of inferior corn, and the present high
price of bacon, never sold much higher. Exclusive of
London dealers, and those residing in the vicinity of Loudon
agriculturists from all the neighbouring counties attend this
fair, where they are certain to have a choice of what they
are in search of.

At Appleshaw • great sheep fair on Monday last, the
number of sheep penned exceeded all precedent; and per-
haps a more heavy sale cannot be recollected by the
oldest person accustomed to attend this fair : 40,000 or
50,000, it is supposed, remained unsold : and some idea
may be gathered as to the prices, when we state that a
good pen of lambs which were exhibited at Devizes Green
Fair were driven to Appleshaw (a distance of between 20
and 30 miles), and there sold at 2s. a-head less than was
really offered, but refused; at Devizes. On the whole the
prices were from ls. 6d. to 2s. a-head under those ob-
tained either at Weyhill or :Wilton. Upwards of 1,000
were driven back to one parish in this 'neighbourhood, for
which scarcely an offer was made.—Devizes Paper.
At Stamford fair, on Wednesday, sheep sold remarkably
well, owing to the present quantity of keeping. Shear-
lings averaged about 31s. a head, and some very good ones
fetched as mncli as 425. ; lamb hogs sold in general at 18$.
to 20;.; some few as high as 225. The horse fair was
lamer than ever before noticed here : some very superior
heavy cattle were shOwn, and those which were sold were
principally purchased by London dealers, of whom several
attended the fair; but the general run of prices was com
plained of, and all descriptions of horses but the very best
-
which‘v e a
solddrug.
1
and up to 9s. 4d. per stone for the best Leicestershire.
at 6 The h6e
dr e. wasto sa.
pne er
rnssti da
ob
fl quantityt
two
-meal,
cheese,eal
Onions 2s. 6d. to 3s. per bushel.
At Worcester fair, on Monday, there was a good supply
of cattle and sheep ; the sale was brisk, and little remained
unsold. •

At Bridgnorth (three days) fair much business was done
the first day. The show of fat cattle was large. Stores
sold rather lower than at late fairs. Nearly all were dis-
posed of the second day. • Salt butter in tubs averaged
I le. 3d. per gawn of 121 b. ; lumps ditto, ,10s. 6d:. Best
cheese from 735. to 80s. per cwt. of 1201 b. ; second ditto
from 455. to 60.8. ; and all disposed of the third day .(Wed-
nesday).

Elstow fair (Beds) on Monday .last was well supplied
with cattle of all description, the whole of which, with a
few exceptions, met with a ready sale, and at a somewhat
advanced price. There used formerly to be a second day's
fair for the, sale of cheese, but of late years it has dwindled
away ahnoSt to -nothing. Some samples were offered, but
no business appeared to be done. •

At Swaffha-m fair, on Saturday, there was a good supply
of sheep,' and an attempt made to get higher prices, which,
however, could, not be effected. There was also a great
number of horses, and several colts, of the draught de-
scription, but little demand for either. The cattle princi-
pally consisted of the lean kind, which met; like .the
former, with a moderate saki,
•

•
TRALEF, Nov. I.—The fait hell here this day seems
to have disappointed public expectation, the prices of all
bescriptions of: cattle being In*. At the commencement
the fair was much thronged ; but from the paucity of de-
mand, and the wetness of the day, great numbers of cattle
were soon driven off unbought. , Pigs also bore high prices
which were generally considered low. 'Forward Mulch
Cows were in better demand than any other kind.