328 iVoburn Shcep^Shearing. July 



WoBURN Sheep- Shearing. 



It is ivith singular pleasure that nve prescjii a particular Ac- 

 count of the truly rational Agricultural Fete, lately given 

 by his Grace the Duke 0/ Bedford, at Woburn Abbey , which, 

 cannot Jail to be attended with the happiest consequences to the 

 Husbandry of Great Britain. Compared with this rural en- 

 tertainmenty how contemptible do the immmcrable details of halls, 

 routSy 'iSc given this Spring in the metropolis, appear ! His 

 Grace has adopted a line of conduct creditable to himself, and 

 jisefulto the pubiic ; and holds out a pattern ixihich we earnestly, 

 hope may be extensively imitated. 



On Monday, June 16, the fheep-fliearing and fjiew of cattle 

 commenced ; and this truly laudable inftitution attrafted feveral 

 hundreds of agriculturlfls and breeders from all parts of this coun- 

 try, among whom were feveral gentlemen, members of the well- 

 known Society of Breeders from Leiceflerfiiire j a Baron from 

 Germany, who is at the head of an agricultural eftablifhment in 

 that country ; and four gentleman from Ireland. 



His Grace the Duke of Bedford gave a public breakfaft at the 

 Abbey, at nine o'clock. 



At about eleven o'clock, His Royal Highnefs Prince William 

 of Gloucefier arrived at the Abbey, from the feat of Sir George 

 O^urne at Cheakfands, where he had been on a vifit Hnce the 

 preview, on Friday, at Hatfield. His Royal Highnefs was attend- 

 ed by Sir George j and, foon after their arrival, the company pro- 

 ceeded, in a grand cavalcade, to the New Farm- Yard, in the park, 

 for the purpofe of 'nfpefting the fheep (hearing, at which nve of 

 the beft hands that could be procured were employed : They then 

 proceeded to the building lately ercfted for examining the ewes 

 that are to be let for the next feafon, vyhich were viewed by the 

 hirers of tu/)S ; but their prices were not fixed, as laft year : they 

 ■were to be (hewn again on Tuefday, with the prices fixed on 

 them. 



The certificates were then opened by his Grace, and a Commit- 

 tee of the different candidates for the prize of fifty guineas, to 

 be given by his Grace (for encouraging the introdudlion of the 

 l.eiceiler and South Down breed of Iheep into Bedfordfhire) 



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