312 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



mind. Man is very apt to think himself the only knowing 

 animal upon the earth ; and I have no doubt that some of the 

 lower animals have the same self-conceit. It is interesting to 

 see reason and moral sentiment, the noblest gift of Heaven, any 

 where diffused, and even in the most humble forms. Such indi 

 cations strengthen the claims which all sentient beings have 

 upon our kindness and respect ; and several of the lower animals 

 if any being is to be considered inferior who accomplishes the 

 true purposes of his creation read many striking moral lessons 

 to mankind. 



The character of a salesman in Smithfield Market, for judg 

 ment and integrity, is of immense importance to him. He is 

 forbidden by law to purchase on his own account ; and it is 

 clearly most important that his private interest should not con 

 flict with that of his employer. But it is easy to see the futility 

 of all laws to make men honest, where evasions in a variety of 

 forms are so practicable. Personal character, and a healthful 

 state of public opinion, form, in such cases, the great security. 



4. AMOUNT OF BUSINESS. The amount of business transacted 

 in Smithfield is enormous. It is estimated at not less than 

 100,000, or half a million of dollars, every week. The Smith- 

 field Market is certainly one of the great sights of London. 

 The returns of the market on the Christmas week of 1844, 

 when I was present, gave 5000 beasts and 47,000 sheep. This 

 was considered the largest market ever remembered ; and the 

 extraordinary quantity of stock was doubtless, in some measure, 

 to be attributed to the severe drought of the preceding summer, 

 and the consequent scarcity of fodder, which compelled the 

 farmers to lessen their stock. The largest return of stock 

 ascertained for any year, between the years 1821 and 1842, was 

 in the year 1838, and was, 



Of cattle, 183,362 



Of sheep, 1,403,400 



In the year 1830, there were sold in Smithfield, 



Beasts, 159,907 



Sheep, 1,287,071 



Pigs, 254,672 



Calves, 22,500 



