304 A HISTORY OP HEREFORD CATTLE 



Albert 477, bred by Yeomans of Stretton Court, and 

 the heifers Victoria 478 and Duchess 15. Curly 

 traced through Fairboy 28, Sir Andrew 54 and Con- 

 queror 97, to Wellington 160, of Ben Tomkins' 

 breeding and became Aston 's property. Prince Al- 

 bert was by Voltigeur 489, and was taken by Mr. 

 Humphries. Victoria, bred by Mr. Bowen of Monk- 

 land, Leominster, also became Mr. Humphries ' prop- 

 erty. Duchess was retained by Aston. Both heifers 

 came from the Bowen herd and both carried sound 

 old blood derived from the herd of James Eea, of 

 Monaughty. And what is more to the point, they 

 both proved prolific.* 



Early Exhibits by Mr. Aston. In 1856, Mr. 

 Aston exhibited his cattle at Pittsburg, Pa., at the 

 United States show at Philadelphia, and at Balti- 



*We have been furnished by Mrs. Abbe with a copy of the diary 

 kept by Mr. Aston on this memorable voyage. In view of the real 

 importance of this shipment of cattle as one of the basic incidents 

 connected with the introduction of Hereford cattle into the western 

 states, we reproduce this interesting account of the long journey just 

 as it was set down at the time. We quote : 



MY PASSAGE TO AMERICA 1852. 



Saturday, 17th of April. Came to King's Head Hotel and staid 

 all night. 



Sunday, the 18th. Sailed, with wind favorable at six in the morn- 

 ing. 



Monday, the 19th. Lost sight of land. With wind favorable, all 

 is going on very comfortably. 



Tuesday, the 20th. The wind changed to westward, blowing very 

 hard with rain. Night brought on a heavy gale. Waves rolling heav- 

 ily, tossing all our boxes and packages one over the other, and knock- 

 ing our poor beasts about the deck in a dreadful manner. One of the 

 cows was dead in the morning, and the other cow almost dead. Was 

 obliged to kill her. The others were very much bruised. 



Wednesday, the 21st. Still blowing very hard, and the sea very 

 high. Not able to keep anything steady without lashing. Several 

 of the poor passengers very sick. 



Thursday, the 22nd. Wind a little more favorable, but making 

 much speed. The captain afraid to put on too much canvas. 



Friday the 23rd. A fine clear morning, but sadly frightened. 

 The cook's apartment set on fire and would have been very serious 

 had it not been put out in time. 



Saturday, the 24th. With wind favorable saw a whale at a dis- 

 tance, blowing the water very high. Closed the evening with music 

 and dancing. About 500 miles from Bristol. 



Sunday, the 25th. Almost a calm. A steamer passed very close to 



