Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-05-13


The four lambs shewn by those highly
respectable gentlemen farmers, were ami
mails uncommon indeed in Virginia and
Maryland, and would do credit to any
country. as well for size and form, as
for the weight and quality Of the fleece.
The visitors selected from their own
number, asjudges of the day, Thomas
Digges, esq. Of Warburton, general
John Mason Of Analosean island, Viii.
liam Lee, esq of Burgundy farm, and
Jonathan Swift, esq. Of Alexandria:
colonel Deneale was appointed judge Of
the weights. They adjudged to John
Tayloe. esquire, for his lamb, as com.
binning most Of the desirable qualities,
the prize Cup.
Mrs. Deunison, Mrs Ball, aud Miss
Polly Fields, all Of. Fairfax county, Vir.
ginia, produced each a piece Of cotton
cloth of their own home manufacture,
and delightful specimens Of the ingenui-
ty, industry and good housewifery Of
our country they were, Ill having been
spun and woven in, their respective
houses, amidst the ordinary avocations
ofthe family. The gallautjudges plae.
ed the golden apple in the fair hands Of
Miss Fields.
General Mason exhibited q very CAPT.
tai specimen of domestic Aaxen manu-
facture, and also some very fine spun
cotton, which gave much satisfaction
and gained great applause. Dr.. Dick,
Mr.. Peter, and several other gentlemen,
exhibited specimens Of wool.
Besides the pleasure derived from the
competition Just described, the visitors
were highly grati6ed BY the exhibition
Of Mr.. Custis's own, stock, and at wit
Messing the success Of his experiment in
crossing and improving the different
breeds Of sheep, collected with much
care and Judgment by him. The Mount
Vernon Persian stock, the Smiths ls-
land u the Arlington long wooded, the
Merino, and several relative crosses,
we're SUCCESSFULLY shewn aud examined
with much appreciation.
In TIE afternoon the company partook
of the hospitality of the proprietor, in a
most abundant and elegant dinner,
served on the lawn under a spacious
marque. After dinner, Mr.. Gusts adj
dressed the company, aud congratulated
them on the already promising state Of
the instituttoh--he explained the mo-
tives by whiGRhe had been induced to
set it on loot-he depicted in . concise
aud very perspicuous manner, the adj
vantages which would certainly arise
from fostering manufactures of all kinds,
but in this part Of tn. country particular.
ly from encouraging the raising of wool,
and the making Of home. spun cloth he
took an extensive aud extremely inter.
esting view, of the present situation of
the United States as related to foreign
nations, and pointed out in the most for-
chile manner, the necessity of rendering
ourselves independent Of them, BY fur.
uishins our own supplies of. manutac.
tured articles. He adverted 10 a re.
served aud highly de eorous manner, to
his own efforts on these subject ; de.
clared his conviction Of the duty which
every member Of society owes to the
community to contribute by individual
exertion. aud BY example, ito the better
ing the condition ofhis fellow men, aud
to introduce and encourage such i'm
provements as are calculated to produce
so desirable an end. He disclaimed eve
ry thing like personal emolument from
the establishment asked the aid Of the
gentlemen present, aud Of the neighbour
ing country to carry into execution by
degrees, his system-ealculated for the
good Of the community, not Of himself.
He stated that he should in q short time
publish prospectus Of the whole, con.
tanning some valuable additions to the
present plan, and'eoneluded by soliciting
the annual attendance Of the gentlemen
present, and their friends. -. -
+ The address was received With great
satisfaction and applause. Mr~Digges
as soon as it was closed gave" The
Arkngton sheep shearing many PROSPER
Gus returns efthe day."