214 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



possessing some historic interest. The itali- 

 cized sentence is especially characteristic and 

 shows that in spite of all his claims for the 

 Duchess blood Bates was fully aware of the 

 fact that it was the Princess bull Belvedere 

 that really made his herd. We quote: 



"KIRKLEVLNGTON, April, 1838. I think it on the whole better 

 not to send you any of my own cattle this season, the exchange 

 being so much against you. Next year, as you say you intend to 

 continue importing, I might furnish you with ten young heifers or 

 young cows having had a calf or two, and five or six young bulls, 

 either of the age you got the two last from me or a year older. 



"The Duke of Northumberland (1940) and Short-tail (2621) are 

 the only bulls I am now using, and their stock is even more prom- 

 ising than that of their sire Belvedere (1706). The four you got 

 of me were all by Belvedere, and all my stock are by him and his 

 sons. After the trials I have now had and seen of Short-horns for 

 nearly sixty years nothing could induce me to use any bull that 

 had not Belvedere's blood. You will find it all money thrown away to 

 buy any bull that has not sprung from him. 



"Twenty-eight days after the birth of the Duke of Northum- 

 berland (1940) , Brokenleg (Duchess 34th) , whom you will remem- 

 ber, was again put to her sire Belvedere and brought 2d Duke of 

 Northumberland. She has since brought me a heifer to her sire, 

 and is now I expect in calf to Short-tail. 



"By putting Duke of York (1941) to the heifers you got of me 

 you will bring their produce into disrepute. I will on no consid- 

 eration whatever (if you would give me ten times the price I 

 would otherwise have charged you for a heifer) sell you any heif- 

 ers to put to any bulls but what I have bred, or are of my blood. 

 Nor will I sell you at any price till you and the company you act 

 with, under your joint hands, have solemnly promised not to do 

 so. My object has never been to make money by breeding, but to 

 improve the breed of Short-horns ; and if I know it I will not sell 

 any to anyone who has not the same object in view. On this prin- 

 ciple I began breeding, and I am convinced I have a better breed 

 of Short-horns in my possession at present than there has been 

 for the last fifty years, even in the best days of the Messrs. Col 

 ling. 



"The bull you ask me about sending you, Duke of Northum- 

 berland, is evcrthing I can wish in a bull, and Short-tail has taken 



