Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-06-11
VOL. XII. NO. aO.--WHCLE NO. 2oso
RAMBOUILLET MERINOS.-MR. COL
I.INS' REPLY TO w. ].

hAMBOUlLLET MERINOS.-MR. COL
Inns REPLY TO w. J.
~ New York, April 9Th, 1916, d. c. Collins,
OF Hartford, Conn.,, hereby certify, that in the au.
tumn OF the year 1889 II think ia the month OF Oc-
tooerb personally visited the ancient Park of
kanDoulllet in France, and there examined the
celebrated Menno flock Of rams and ewes known
as the Royal Rdmbouitet breeding flock" the
blood OF winch was originally in the latter part of
the previous century imported from the choicest
1rashumanes, or travelling hocks of Old Spain, of
the sort known in Spain as Leonese. took per-
sonally from several of said ewes and rams, sam
Piles of their WOOL a memorandum of the numbers
or figures branded on the horns of the said rams,
so examined, sampled, and noted by me- was the
superb ram numbered and branded 349 being the
IDENTICAL ram subsequently, owned by me, and ex-
tensively known in the Uuited States by the name
Of Grabdee, the sire of the ram branded with fig
urc 3, sold by me with the flock to Rev. Luther
Bingham, of Willston, Chittenden County, Yer
mont In the spring Of the succeeding year, in the
month Of May, lSl0 purchased at the public sale
at Ranbouillet the said ram Grandee, No. $40 Il
now still have his head and horns preseryed); also,
at time and place, another very fine and beau
Itiu, but younger ram, and twenty Of the most
beautiful and desirable ewes which could be Sc
lected from said Rambouet flock. The business
part OF the transaction was done mainly with NJ.
Bourgeois, the superintendent Of the said Royal
flock, and, as | understand, son of the former
ing personal charge of said flock, and who is, I'M
derstand, still in charge there.
MY agent, ana temporary shepherd in bidding
or agreeing for price, and discussing my funds in
payment Of said sheep, at Rambouillet provision
ling and watching over said flock on the voyage of
importation from Europe to the United States, was
Monsieur G. p. Bordenave since and lately resi-
dent Of the city of New York, where he has been
favoraby known a teacher and translator of the
French language and las was informed) associa-
ted with Henry c. Deming Esq, at New York, in
the translation of several popular French publica-
ltions.
The flock was embarked from port Havre, in
France, in the autumn of the year 1910, on beard
the ship Illinois, Capt. Eveleig. Messrs Boyd g.
lincken, of this city, were part owners and agents
for said Ship and with whom made bargain and
arrangements for passage of said sheep before the
ship sailed from this country for Europe.
The flock was landed at New York in the au-
tumn OF that year (l6l0l think In the month of
October, without the loss of single sheep Young
Mr. Olmsed then lad of twelve or fifteen years J,
second son of John Olmstead Esq, of Hartford,
Conn.,, was passenger in the said ship Illinois, in
care Of M. Bordenave, with the said flock from
France, to the United States and can, if needed
by Mr. Bingham, verify the fact of said importa-
ton, as herein stated. Whether NJ. Bordenave is
still in the country or whether he has lately return
cd to France, am not aware. If he is still in the
the foregoing.
The said flock with the exception of some of the
young lambs, was never parted with, or sold by me,
TIL late last fall, when sold the entire remaining
flock, for valuable and satisfactory consideration,
to Rev. Luther &. Bingham, of Wiston Chittep-
den County, State of Vermont since which time /
have had no pecuniary interest whatever in those
sheep. The youngest imported buck together
with several of the young rams, and one or two of
the imported ewes were killed by dogs in my yard
at Hartford, in the winter of 1912. Most of the
original ewes imported by me were rather old, as
chose to select such in preference TO young ewes
of course most of the old ewes are now dead and
gone. Some of the said old ewes bred but once
or twice after reaching this country. That was the
case with the dam of Mr.. Bingham's present choice
stock buck, branded on the horn 3. | raised but
one ram lamb from her before she died. She was
one Of the best pure Merino ewes ever saw dis
tinguished for fneness and sottneSs, as well as
great closeness and freight of fleece very yolky but
not at all gummy. Superior judges of sheep and
wool expressed the opinion that in her prime in her
younger and best days, she must have cut fleece
of probably Sepen pounds of washed wool. She
was sheep with a large, thick looking, muflled
neck, with some considerable loose skin upon the
body, with decidedly SHORT legs tueH ,cooled all
over, legs included. Until sold the flock TO Mr.
Bingham last fall, never sold any ewes, old OF
young to any person, one or two old ones that
had long ceasea breeding, and went to the butch
er not known as being from my flock.
never took the trouble, nor did | deem it need
fu, to procure any certificate of consuls as to the
genuinemSs or authenticity of my imported Merino
flock. Such things are, Of course easily and cteap-
~ obtained by those who need, or feel the need of
them
There is no shadow of doubt as to the authen-
tclty or purity of the breeding OF the flock since
It arrived in this country from Europe, up to the
time when disposed of it, as herein stated to Mr..
Bingham Further this deponent saith not at pres.
emit though he has reasonable doubt that the pu-
ry Of the breeding Of said flock will hereafter be
carefully watched over by the present owner, whose
character and qualifications, believe, enttle him
to great confidence.
Mr.. Burnham, Melancthon IIudson's farmer, at
Oakland Tor Hockavum Bridget near Hartford, CT,
came TO New York, in my employment and took
the said imported Merino flock from the ship
Illinois, in the fall of 1910, and delivered the sheep
at my yard at Hartford. DAVID c.. COLLINS
HdaeSs, "A, LongsH
w. j. asserts in his article above that no part of
the flock Of the Duke del lnlantado ever came to
thus country-meaning the u. States. TO show
that he is entirely mistaken in this matter, we adj
dressed Mr.. Charles Henry Hall, Of Elarlem N. Y.
for confederation in writing OF what he had fire..
quenty told us in conversation. We subjon his
reply:--
The Duke del Infantado, it is true joined the
patriot cause and went ambassador to England
from the Cortes at the time Ferdinand was detain-
ed in France and returned TO Cadiz when that city
was IN u state of seige There | was introduced
to the Duke, by the United States ambassador, Mr..
Ewing. Ills tlocks he Informed ne, were in posi-
tons Of safety from the contonding armies in va
rous parts Of Spain-some OF them in Andalusa.
The result of my interview, was purchase from
the Duke, of flock Of 400 Sheep by myself and
associates, which were shipped to Virginia, con-
signed to Messrs Brown g. Rivcs, at Richmond.
Subsequently, there were obained from the DIXIE