Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-04-04
Address of Mr.. Gusts,
TO TIE PEOPLE or TIE u. STATES.
TcoNTrSuED.

happieSt effects to my country, ana yleli TIC
most grateful sensations to myself. This Isl
land lies in the Atlantic ocean, Immediately
oil the eastern cape of Virginia, and contains
between three and four thousand acres Its
name is derived from Smith, the permanent
settler and improver Of the colony OF Virgil
MA the soil, though sandy, Is IN many parts
extremely rich and productive of succulent
herbaee, which supports the stock at ali sea-
sons. About one half ofthe island is III WOOL,
which is pierced wi glades, running parallel
WITH the sea, and of several miles III extent
These glades are generally wet, and being
completely sheltered by the wood on either
side, preserve their vegetation in great mea-
sure throughout the winter, and tnereby yield
support to the stock. Along the sea coast
are also abundant scopes OF pasturage, pro
eucing q Short grass in summer, which IS pc
culiatly grateful to the palate Of most animals,
and particularly sheep The Island Is very
lopg, being estimated at fourteen miles Whlsa
gives the variety and change OF pasture, Sc
necessary to the system ot:sneep tnming
Within the island, ars various shiuDs, and
plants, which tie animals appear to browse
|. on vita great reiisfJ, particularly the myrtle
bushes Wit waich the island a1ounds. iAe
access to sa.e, also forms 4 n0terll4 feature IN
tie many attributes which Smita's island pos
sesses, The Island is stocked with Elid cat
tie and sheep principally; hoss haze been
pyoal3ltetl,. from tlei' dG4.soymg the fent3s ;
and OF some horses Pul on e Bread many
years since, but rt4o OF three reaeyia.
The oFisia ot the Ssiijtf ISLAND 5haepcaa-
net De precisely entertained, bat are supposed
TO ne the original race OF the country, p4t
thereon about twchty years since, AMI lmPl.oy-
ed.5y the haad oinature. When we come 10
compare The Smiths Island wool WITH TIC a.
tive WOOL Of the country at large, we are lest
III astomshment at thls wonderful interposliol
of Providence III our benaif, which serve 10
shew what oeueiit re enjoy, ana now h,,e
we have estimated tae gift.
The Smiths island wool IS, without cues
ton, one OF the finest in the world, and has
excited the praise and ;isIoaisnnent OF all w@o
have seen it. Torecapituiate the va'ious cpl
mons given Of It's merit is unnecessary. 1t
only remains to be Judged n europe, whither
q speeimen has been sent, 10 determine its
value, when com pared with the famous tlcri-
no, hitherto the unriyalied material in the
WOODEN manufacture. The Sni:th's island i,
a great deal longer than the Spanish, being,
In full growth, from. five o nine inches in
length, and in some instances much more.
In quantity it IS also vastly superior, as tie
sheep yield at least twice as much, and in
some instances still lnore. And, lastly, the
size and figure OF the animal admits OF no
comparison, being entirely in favor Of the
SMITH 's.islana.
HE only question remaining is the texture
IF the Nlerino is tiaer,in grain---the Smiths
island IS 50 fine as to answer every purpose 10
wtIich the other Can be appropriated, and so
much large Ii quantity as TO yield better
profit 10 tue breeder. NO cloth which the
McrIa9 manufactures, viii be disgraced by
the iatrod,lttion Of the Smiths island; and
many fabrics manufactured by the one, at a
great price, can be forined-5, the other, at a
much less. Tue Smiths island istls white as
snoN,an3 perfectly silky and soft to the touch,
and of delicate grain.
It's to be renen15ercd that the specimens
which have been s}Iewn to the world were
SHARED from an eve promiscuously seized on
the island, and sent 10 Arlington /! suchsbe
the product Of an indscliminatc choice may
we not expect a mnch superior sample, Sc
lected by tue eye of Judgment and expert
ences
The sheep on Smiths island are perfectly
wild, and so unconscious Of tie Care OF man
as 20 Ely bis approach. they are taken twice
a year, in spring and fall by certain strata
gems, and SHARED at each time, after which
they arc again given 70 liberty and uhcontrol.
Tie growth of wool must cer5ainly be very
,Iap;d, since the per;oI Of few months pro
duces second harvest for the shears.
10 be coatiaued
ea--. - 80 ---se-- 1-As ss.ts...sr
INcolNlloN CoUAclI,
0larch 80, 1903.