THE MERINOS OF GREAT BRITAIN, PAST AND PRESENT.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 20 September 1864, Page 3

THE MERINOS OF GREAT BRITAIN, PAST AND PRESENT.

Tho foUowing interesting particulars respecting Merino sheep, are taken from Youatt's weUknown work on sheep : — England was late in attempting to naturalise the Spanish sheep, or to improve her own breed by an intermixture with them. Tliere was some excuse for this — for she already possessed a clotoing wool * equal or superior to tliafc of any other • sheep except those of Spain ; and her maritime habits and fche extent of her commerce gave her easy access to the finer wools, far less necessary to the manufacturer at that period than fashion has now made them ; at the same time, her native combing wool was perfectly unrivalled. A few Merino sheep however, were introduced here and there ; but they had much prejudice to contend with, and their value was not didy appreciated. The Monarch who, at the close of the 18th century, swayed the sceptre of Great Britain, was an ardent agriculturist, and he determined to give this celebrated breed of sheep a fair trial 011 his own farms. In the year 1787, measures were taken for the collection and importation of a little flock of Merinos. These were coUected in Estremadura, on the borders of Portugal — a few from one flock, and a few from another. It was a kind of smuggling transaction ; and as they could nofc be shipped from any Spanish port without a license from the King of Spain, they were driven through Portugal and embarked at Lisbon, landed at Portsmouth, and thence conducted to the King's farm afc Dew. They did not please the royal adventurer. Hastily selected, or obtained as they could be from various proprietors and various districts, there was no uniformity about thorn ; they could not be said fairly to exhibit the true character of their breed, nor was it safe to make any experiment with them. It was then determined to make direct application to the Spanish monarch for permission to select some sheep from one of tbe best flocks. This was liberally and promptly granted ; ancl a little flock was draughted, of the Negrette breed, the most valuable of the m igratory flock?, and the exportation of which was expressly prohibited by law. They arrived in England in 1791, and were immediately transferred to Kew ; the sheep previously 'imported were destroyed, or otherwiso disposed oi, and the experiment of the naturalisation of the Merinos, and tne crossing of them with the British sheep, may be then said to have commenced. The management of these newly-imported flocks doe? not seem, at first, to havo been very skilfully conducted. They were placed on a moist and, perhaps, too luxuriant soil, and they became affected with the foot rot ; and in some situations, to a fearful extent, tlu-ir numbers were thinned by the fiver rot. This was, by these who were prejudiced against them, said to bo the fault of 1 the sheep ; but a little change in the pasture showed tbat it was alto ether attributable to the carelessness of the shepherd. The first winter had scarcely passed cro they were acknowledged by impartial observers to be perfectly naturalised. | They were as free from disease as the best of the I British (locks. Their wool was unaffected by the change of climate. The product of the second and third shearings was compared with the best samples ol the imported SpanLh wool, aid it yielded nofc to them in fineness or felting quality. Many a year afterwards the experiment was repeated, and with tho* same success. The subsequent progress of the new importation is thus sketched by the same writer : — It was thirteen years after the arrival of fche Negrette Hock ere they had been able to establish themselves in tho good opinion of a suflicient number of agriculturists to render it prudent to expose them for sale by public- auction. In ISOI-, the iirot sale took place. It was attended by the friends of tho Merinos, and by others, who, led thither by curiosity, were induced to become purchasers. One of the rams sold for 42 guineas, and two of tho ewes fin- 11 guineas each. The average price of the rams was £19 4s. ; and that of the ewes, £S 15s. 6d. each. At the second sale, in August, ISOS, seventeen rams and twenty-one ewes were sold for £1148 145., being at the average of rather more than £30 each. In 1818, the highest price given for a ram was £74 17s. The average price of rams was £33 10s. ; and thafc of ewes, £23 10s. Gd. The Merinos might now be considered as, to a certain degree, established in public favor. They, with common management, still retained their fleece as heavy and as fine as when first imported ; and, whatever breed they crossed, the uniform result was improvement, both in the weight and fineness of the wool, with some, but not proportionate, loss of carcase. Thoy were more and more eagerly sought after, and experimented with ; and in the sale of 1810, 33 rams sold for £1920 95., being on an average more than £58 each. One full mouthed Negrette ram was sold to Colonel Searle for 173 guineas ; one for 131 guineas to Sir Home Popham ; one for 116 guineas to Mr. Gale ; one for 105 guineas to Mr. Sumner ; and one for 101 guineas Mr. Wools. Of the ewes, a full-mouthed Negrette was sold to the last mentioned gentleman for 70 guineas, ancl two pair Paular ones for 61 guineas each, and a third for 65 guineas. One Paular was disposed of to Mr. Down for 92 guineas, ancl another to Mr. Willis for 60 guineas ; 70 of them were sold in the whole, and they fetched on an average £37 10s. per head. After some years the remnant of the royal flock feU into the hands of Messrs. Sturgeon, of j Gray's, Essex, who have ainee bred them puro with the greatest spirit and judgment. The folowing description of then* 3heep has been forwarded to us : — " A ' Sturgeon ' ram (1844) is of pure Negrette blood — larger than a German, and with features identical with the best ; face of a beautiful stamp, covered to the tip of the nose, and with legs wooled to the feet ; in fact the entire surface is covered. In constitution, robustness, and form, in right of his English breeding, ho is superior to his continental brother. Is in his fleece, now, as thick and fibre as fine as the best sorts of German, and thicker and finer than most weight about lOlbs. He is bred from pure ewes, the descendants of tha imported Negrettes of GS-eorge 111., robust, -weUconstitutioned, and developed by English climate and pasturage, on the one side, and on the other from a ram the best that could be found on twice looking the continent over, and which bore favorably a comparison with one sold at the international in 1862 for £400. The Messrs. Sturgeon are very well pleased to show their sheep."

Tho Paris petition against punishment by death, which is to be presented to the Senate, has alrcdy received 100,000 signatures. At. the late execution there wero somo cries of "Down with the giiil-' lotino ; no more executions." ■ s News received from Poland through Germany | gives a hideous picture ofthe severities practised in some districts by tho Russian authorities; .Mien,women, and children are described as being driven,* j literally half naked, to Siberia. j • WriEN'is a ship's sail most fit to be-sold in! oYI linen-draper's shop ? — -When 'tis torn- to ribbonsV j A 'R'lpb^K-^Before no'thmg'' fifty place, -then' j iclvahce''with^tl3e.half l 6f t tciiY ; Nowy witli the sixth ; of just four score, I'ih tho conqueror of mon: ' l '

MURDER IN A FIRST-CLASS CARRIAGE ON THE NORTH LONDON RAILWAY. One of the most atrocious crimes which has occurred for some time was perpetrated late on Saturday evening in a first-class carriage oh the North London Railway, when a Mr. Thos. Briggs, who was engaged in the banking establishment of Messrs. Robert Curtis & Co., of Lombard Street, was murderously assailed, plundered, and thrown out of- tlie train. The unfortunate man. resided afc No. 5. Clapton Square, near Hackney Church. The outrage was' hot discovered until. the train arrived afc Hackney, when , fche interiorof the apartment in wbich tlie unfortunate gentleman had travelled was found covored with blood. Not only the cushions, but the floors, sides, and windows were besmeared with blood. In somo places there was quite a pool. There wus also found inside fche carriage a gentleman's Jiat, a walking stick, and a new small leather bag. The guard at once took charge of the articles, and locked the door. Somo ladie», who were in the adjoining compartment, then called the notice of the gu&rd to the circumstance thafc some blood had spurted through the carriage window on to their dresses as the train came from Bow. Inquiries were made without any immediate result, but meanwhile, fche body of Mr. 'Briggs was found on the line by the driver and stoker of another train. Ou a surgical examination it was found that the unfortunate gentleman was frightfully woundedin the head, the skull in one place being beaten in. The money which Mr. Briggs had in his pocket had not been taken, but his watch was missing. The atrocious crime was committed between Bow and Hackney Wick. The train was clue five minutes after leaving Bow, so that the attack must have been male almost as the carriages were in motion. Mr. Briggs expired on Sunday night. The hat found in the Railway carriage turns out to be that of the murderer, he having taken Mr. Briggs' hat in mistake. This fearful crime has created intense excitement in the metropolis. The police, under the direction of Mr. Inspector Kerrissey, of the Bow station, aro making the most active exertions. The hat which was found in the compartment, aud is believed to have belonged to the murderer — who doubtless took tbe hat of deceased in mistake — i s rather a shabby one. It hears the maker's name living in Marylebone, and the shape of the hat is something like those worn by foreigners. Most minute inquiries have been made with a viow of ascertaining whether he was seen in the carriage, and the description of auy person or persons with him in the same compartment. The officers of the Fenehurch Street Station have been interrogated, and the ticket clerk recoUects the deceased passing up on to the platform. The watch of the deceased of which he was plundered was an oldfashioned gold chronometer, which he purchased 40 years ago of a Mr. Archer, in the neighbourhood of Hackney, and which he much prized. The deceased gentleman was in his 70th year ; he was a fine, taU, hale-looking old man, and scarcely appeared to be that age. The compartment in which the shocking attack was made had the ordinary padded arms, and ifc is thought thafc the deceased gentleman might have been dozing with his head resting against the upper part of the arm of division, when he was aroused by his murderous assailant plundering him of his watch, and in endeavouring to seize him, it is conjectured that the villain struck him tho fearful blow on the side of the head, near the left ear, fracturing the skuU. As before mentioned, Mr. Briggs was a powerful man, ancl it would seem that he had a fearful struggle with the thief, and it was only by repeated blows 'over the head that he was overcome, and forced out of the carriage door on to line. The train was travelling at the time at about 25 miles an hour, and it is a matter of surprise that he was not killed on the spot, as he fell in the six-foot way. He was found Iving almost in a lino with the* rails ; the permanent way was disturbed where he had come down, and under his head wa; fou id a pool of blood. The h senior r-han-e from the wounds was considerable. Tlie blow and fracture on the side of the head is thought to have been inflicted with a life-pre-server, or some such instrument. Th.c part of the North London line where the outrage took place is p. rlnps fiver from public view than any oiher portion of the railway. Tbe time allowed to run the cl' stance from Bow to the Hackneywick is four minutes, and for half a mile or so from the former station the line passes through a cutting. It is evident, therefore, that the attack was commenced immediately after the train left Bow. Amongst other things it has been suggested that the unfortunate g ntleman might have opened the door himself and jumped out to escape from his murderous antagonist, but the blows which he received in the carriago must have disabled him of all power, besides whi. h the door ou the opposite side of the carriage from which he was thrown, was found closed by the gentlemen who were about getting into the" compartment at Hackney. The stick belonging to the deceased is rather a formidable one. °lt has a large egg-shaped nob at the end, and blood scorns to have trickled down tho whole length ot the stick. The deceased might liave used it in resisting the murderer; and it is also possible that the villain might have caught it up when the old gentleman was dozing, and beaten him over the head with it. How the murderer got away is a matter of much doubt. In the struggle" he must have been stained with blood, and ifis conjectured that he may have sustained some marks of violence from the deceased. Afc that time of the night there are not many passengers alighting at Hackney-wick — especially on Saturday evening— the parties coming home earlier ;'but with the train in question the porters st tte that there w;.s rather a rush amongst the passengers to give up their tickets and leave the platform. It is very doubtful, however, whether the scoundrel — besmeared as he might be with blood — departed by the station, and it is tlr.ught more probable that ho ran down the embankment into the Wick Lane. The marshes and by-lanes would afford him a ready means of escape. The detective police from Scotland Yard have joined the divisonal force hi their exertions to trace out the murderer, and it is thought that some clue has been obtained. It is suggested that the thief's chief attention was directed to the black leather bag Mr. Briggs had with him. The bag is of the class generally used by bankers' clerks iv removing buUion, and an impression is entertained that he had been watched for some time, ancl ifc being supposed probable by his assailant that the bag contained a quantity of money, he was followed into the carriage, and the murderer watched his opportunity to obtain possession of the bag. The old gentleman was in the liabit of putting the bag on the cushion by his side, which probably might convey an idea that by the care wbich appeared to be taken of it tlio con teats were valuable. Ifc is stated that tho bag was empty, but the brass lock bears stains of blood — finger marks — whicli would seem to indicate thafc ifc had been opened by some one after the attack had been made.

An inquest was held on Monday, but adjourned before any fresh light had been shed on the mysterious event. In the course of the day, large placards were posted, offering a reward of £200 for such information as will lead to the guilty party or parties. £100 is offered by her Majesty's ijrovernmeiit, and the other £100 by the bank of Messrs. Robarfcs, Lubbecsk & Co., and ifc is anfcicipated n that the North London Railway Company wiU increase the reward to £500. On Tuesday affceruooon, just before 'Change time, a very circumstantial rumour reached the city that the murderer had been' apprehended.* It " went" "as far as to describe him as a fcUow clerk of the murdered man, who had somo years ago been convicted of forgery through his evidence. The story was repeated on ' Change in all its details, and created immense excitement among the merchants, litany of whom have known • tho' 'deceased personally. The exertions made by. the police were partially rewarded on Tuesday by tho xliscoveryiof ! a rather important clue. The chain belonging to tho lato Mr. Briggs' was' traced to a silversmith's in' .tlio city where it had been exchanged for another ono the dayibeforeibylaman <havmg the appcaranco of a foreigner.;:,/*, ft ; ,yvill ,? be,, rememberod that the hat'found iri tlioY'raihyay ' carriage was'of.fqreign phapefjalthoughm^ THeseitwo- facts *taken ? 'togother seem toY indicate; that the murderer: is : not. an Tho police JwiTO, ;*»; a»arat» drnxipfiLaa' ot the «pk-

changed chain, and are endeavouring to trace it; or at any rate stop its sale. I ns P ector Kerressey and the other detectives employed in the case have been inundated with letters from all parts of the country making "suggestions for tracing thjs murderer. Oiie gentleman suggests by way pf discovering the number of persons implicated in the affair the number of first-class tickets issued for the train in which the murder was committed^ should bo ascertained, and that every '*; one :„who' travelled by ifc should send in his name. Afc the station at£Bow there is a large collection of hats of all shapes and sizes found all over London since fche murder, and the police have received the names of a number of doubtless most innocent individuals who returned home hatless or with black eyes on the night in question. - These matters "are only, important as showing the amount of interest taken in the affair out of doors. "Man^people suppose that tb'e murderer intended throwing the the body into the canal,-' and that in his hurry he opened the wrong door. It seems more probable that his intention was to throw him on to the up line, when the noxt train would have passed over him, and so have given rise to the notion that accident or suicide was the cause of death.