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L. Some Circumstances relative to Merino Sheep, chiefly 

 collected from the Spanish Shepherds, who attended those 

 of the Flock ofPaular, lately presented to His Majesty by 

 the Government of Spain; with Particulars respecting that 

 great National Acquisition ; and also respecting the Sheep 

 of the Flock of Negrete, imported from Spain by His Ma- 

 jesty in the Year 1791. By Sir Joskph Banks, 



[Concluded from p. 248.] 



In the year 1787 the king, guided by those patriotic mo- 

 tives which are ever active in his majesty's mind, gave orders 

 for the importation of Merino sheep for his own use, and 

 for the improvement of British wool. As it was doubtful at 

 that time whether the king of Spaiu's license, without 

 which these sheep cannot be embarked at a Spanish port, 

 could be obtained, it was deemed advisable to make the first 

 purchases in the parts of Estremadura adjoining to Portugal, 

 and to ship the sheep for England at Lisbon. The first im- 

 portation of these valuable animals arrived in March 1788, 

 and a little flock of them was soon after completed ; but as 

 these were of various qualities, having been drafted from 

 different Cavanas, his majesty was pleased to order an ap- 

 plication to be made to the king of Spain by lord Auckland, 

 then his majesty's minister at that court, for permission to 

 import some sheep drafted from one of the prima piles. 

 This was obtained ; and a little flock, consisting of 36 ewes, 

 4 rams, and 1 manso, arrived safe and well at Dover, in 

 1791. These sheep had made apart of the Cavana called 

 Neiirete, one of the three piles restricted from exportation, 

 and which is likewise remarkable for producing the larsrest- 

 carcased sheep that are to be found among the Merino flocks, 

 m, has been before stated. 



On the receipt of this treasure, (for such it has since proved 

 itself to be,) the king, with his usual prudence and foresight, 

 ordered the whole of the sheep that had been procured bv 

 the way of Portugal to be disposed of, (which was imme- 

 diately done,) and directed the Negrete breed to he increase *: 

 as much as possible, and maintained in its utmost purity. 



2 From- 



