ABSTRACT
Though the exertions made by public men, and by the leading agriculturists of the kingdom, to introduce the Spanish merino sheep had been so great, they found it impossible to produce that quality of wool which was required by the manufacturers of superfine cloth ; and when they brought their wool to market, meeting the competition of Spanish wool, and of Saxony wool, the fineness of which now became known, they were greatly disappointed at the prices they were able to obtain, attributing them to what they considered the prejudices of the manufacturers, and they pressed upon Government their grand specific for all distresses, taxation on foreign wool, as their only protection against the evils of which they complained. The agriculturists of England were, however, divided into two parties,—those whose possessions were on the light soils, the downs and the heaths, with fine herbage, and those whose property consisted of rich, loamy, clay, and fen lands. The former were disappointed in the improvement they anticipated in their fleeces from the introduction of the merino sheep; and at their head were Lord Somerville, the Earl of Sheffield, Sir John Sinclair, Mr. Western, Mr. Burrell, Mr. Holme Sumner, &c. &c.; while those who encouraged the
new Leicester breed, and their cross with South Down sheep, were the Duke of Bedford, Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, and the leading agriculturists in the midland and northern counties, who, by their improved mode of farming, the extent of new inclosures, and turnip husbandry, increased the weight both of the carcase and the fleece, and with that their own profits. Inclosures were also extended to the high down lands. Encouraged by the high prices of corn, the plough was carried into districts which for ages had been sheep pastures, and by thus giving their sheep more succulent food, they increased the weight of the fleece, but deteriorated its quality ; and finding they could not get the price per lb. which they formerly received, the agriculturists endeavoured by legislative enactments to check or prohibit the importation of foreign wool, and force on the manufacturers their deteriorated article at a higher price. They therefore petitioned Parliament for the imposition of a tax on the importation of foreign wool, and succeeded in obtaining the appointment of a select committee of the House of Commons, u to examine into the policy of imposing an increased duty on the importation of foreign seeds, and to report their opinion thereon to the House; and they were also instructed to take into their consideration the laws relative to woollen goods, and the trade of wool, and also to consider the laws prohibiting the growth of tobacco in Great Britain, and were empowered to report from time to time to the House, together with the minutes of evidence taken before them."
