Sir JOSEPH BANKS produced an authentic statement of the imports of English wool into France, taken from the Registers of the Office at Paris, instituted for examining the balance of their trade.

"Bureau général de la balance de commerce. Etat de Laines importées de l'Angleterre en France depuis 1782, jusqu'à et compris 1787 :-

"A LETTER TO ARTHUR YOUNG, Esquire, on the Bill "now depending in Parliament to prevent the Exporta"tion of Wool. By THOMAS DAY, Esquire."

Mr. DAY gives no statistical information, but states the general arguments on the injustice done to the wool growers by the restrictions imposed upon them by the wool laws.

MACPHERSON, in his "Annals of Commerce," speaking of that bill, says " A great clamour was raised by the woollen manufacturers, who alleged that no less than 13,000 packs of wool were clandestinely exported every year to the Continent, and loudly cried out for more rigorous laws against the smugglers of that important raw material. On the other hand, Sir Joseph Banks, the President of the Royal Society," and Mr. Arthur Young, well known for his extensive observations, and his writings on agricultural and rural affairs, appeared to prove, that the average exportations for five years back had been only 1,100 packs, and since the commercial treaty with France only 480 packs. The manufacturers prevailed, and all the existing laws respecting the exportation of wool were repealed, to make way for a new act, whereby the exportation of sheep (except wethers for sea stock, upon special license) was prohibited, under the penalty of forfeiture of the sheep, and the vessel carrying them, together with £3 for every sheep, and also three months' solitary imprisonment, to be inflicted on every person concerned, or assisting, for the first offence; and

*The property of Sir Joseph Banks was in Lincolnshire, where the farmers were most anxious to have the importation of wool allowed.

heavier fines and punishment for repeated transgressions. Any person concerned, directly or indirectly, in exporting wool, woolfells, merthings, shortlings, &c., &c., or tobaccopipe-clay, (except to the West Indies) is liable to a penalty of £3 for every pound exported, or £50 in the whole, which ever the prosecutor shall prefer, and also to solitary imprisonment for three months, for the first offence, and six months for the second, besides forfeiture of vessels, boats, waggons, carts, horses, &c. &c. The Act contains a multitude of restrictions upon the carriage of wool from one port to another, within the kingdom, and from place to place upon the lands. Nor can even the rural occupation of sheep shearing be carried on, if within five miles of the sea, without the superintendence of a revenue officer, nor sheep or wool be carried between the main land and the island of Scotland, or across any tide river, or inlet of the sea, without bond being given that they shall not be exported. The exportation of wool to Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Sark, was limited to 6,600 tods, (of 32 pounds each) to be shipped at Southampton, on board vessels belonging to the islands, and under the most vigilant precautions. The penalty on deceitful winding of wool was increased from sixpence to two shillings per piece.

"The duty of 5s. 6d. per piece, payable on the exportation of white cloth, was explained to be chargeable only on white cloth exported in an unfinished state."

"LETTERS TO THE LINCOLNSHIRE GRAZIERS, on the "Subject of the Wool Trade, in which are offered "certain Hints for the correction of Abuses which prevail therein. Printed at Stamford, 1790."

These letters made their first appearance in the Stamford Mercury in 1788, under the signature of INCOLA.

He begins by stating the rejoicings which had taken place in the manufacturing districts, on the passing of the bill placing greater restrictions on the exportation of wool.

"On Friday morning, on the arrival of the news that the bill for preventing the exportation of wool had passed the House of Lords, all the bells in Leeds and the surrounding villages were set a ringing, which continued at intervals the

whole day; at night there were bonfires, and other demonstrations of joy. Similar rejoicings took place at Norwich, on the above occasion. Now, what could possibly occasion. all this joy? It surely must have been the certain prospect which the manufacturer at present has of meeting always with a ready supply of wool, which the late smuggling of it denied him; but the factors inform their correspondents that the market is full of wool, that the sale of it is at a stand, and the current price 5s. per tod less than the preceding year."

The remainder of this pamphlet contains matter of local interest, and strongly describes the injury which wool growers sustain by restrictions on the exportation of wool.

CHAPTER V.

FROM 1790 To 1800.

Attention of Agriculturists to fine Wool-Report of the Highland Society-Sir John Sinclair-Dr. Anderson-Improvement of Wool in France-Anstie's Letters to the Bath Agricultural Society, with Observations on the Report of the Highland Society-On the Importation of Spanish Wool-Effect of Soil and Climate on Wool, by Sir J. Sinclair-Sir John Sinclair's Address to the Society for the Improvement of British Wool-Wool encouraged without Exportation, by Henry Wansey-History of the Wool TradeAbstract of the Laws relating to Wool, and the Woollen Manufacture-Observations on the different Breeds of Sheep in each County of England and Wales-Attention to improve Sheep and Wool-Spanish Sheep imported by George III.-The Royal Flock-Sir Joseph Banks-The Duke of Bedford-Sheep-shearing at Woburn-Sale of Sheep-Prices given for them— Mr. Coke's Improvement in Sheep-Mr. Western's Merinos-Eden's Letters on Trade and Commerce-Tables of Exports, &c.

THE breed of sheep, and the production of the finest wool at this time, excited the attention of agriculturists in all parts of Europe. Spanish wool was considered the finest in the world, and the exportation of sheep from Spain was made capital felony all foreign wools, on account of the character of Spanish wool, went under that denomination; but the ground work was already laid to make other countries rival Spain in this valuable raw material. In 1780 some Spanish sheep had, by the greatest possible interest, been obtained by the King of France, and the Elector of Saxony: the flocks of those countries were acquiring celebrity, and the merino sheep, from the very few obtained from Spain, were increasing rapidly. It has been already stated, that the King of England had, in 1786, succeeded in getting a few Spanish sheep.

In Great Britain the attention of agriculturists had been directed to their sheep, and the introduction and increase of turnip husbandry gave the means of increasing their flocks, and thus improving their land.

At the Bath Society, established for the encouragement of

agriculture, arts, and commerce, a number of sheep of various kinds were inspected by competent judges, with a view to ascertain what is the most profitable breed for general stock, in respect to carcase and wool; and on that occasion, and for that object, the small-boned Leicester, and the South Down breeds were declared to be best.

The attention of the Highland Society was, however, more especially directed to the recovery of that superior fine wool for which Great Britain had, it has been said, been formerly so celebrated.

"THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HIGHLAND "SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND, to whom the Subject of "Shetland Wool was referred, with an Appendix, containing Papers drawn up by SIR JOHN SINCLAIR and "DR. ANDERSON, in reference to the same Report. “1790.”

66

The report commences—

"It appears to your committee, from evidence, that the subject recommended to their inquiry is one of the most important that could possibly be brought under the consideration of the Highland Society. The number of sheep in Shetland, it is believed, cannot be less than 100,000, and are probably more; their fleeces, which at an average do not produce above one pound and a half each, are not worth at present above sixpence per lb., or £3,250 in all; whereas the finest wool might fetch at least five shillings per lb. If the same breed were reared in the Hebrides, and in the Orkney Islands (where they would thrive equally well) wool would be produced in those neglected parts of Great Britain, to the value of perhaps a million. In process of time also, the same species might be extended to other districts of Great Britain. Your committee, however, think it proper to remark, that attention to the fineness of the wool must always diminish in proportion as the carcase becomes valuable, and consequently, that fine woolled sheep are more likely to be preserved in their highest state of perfection in remote parts of the country, than in the neighbourhood of the metropolis; at the same time, were the Spanish breed of sheep introduced and multiplied in this country, and were the importation of