450 



into this country. The first importation of which I have any positive 

 knowledge was nr.ade in 1824,* by Messrs. George and Thomas Searle, 

 merchants of Boston, of which I had the care and management. They 

 stood the fatigue of the voyage remarkably well ; there were only 

 seventy-five ewes and rams, of which 1 owned a few myself. The 

 whole cargo was sold by public auction in Brighton near Boston, and 

 were scattered in various parts of the country, but mostly in the New 

 England States and the State of New York. The following year 

 (1825) another importation of one hundred and eighty rams and ewes, 

 and a few lambs, was made by the same gentlemen, in which I was 

 concerned, and came out also under my care and management, and 

 were likewise sold by public auction, in Brighton, near Boston. Thoy 

 sold however much higher than the first importation ; several rams 

 brought as hich as four hundred dollars a head, and one sold at four 

 hundred and fifty dollars. 



These prices were sufficient to excite the spirit of speculation, and 

 consequently the year of 1826 witnessed the arrival of Saxony sheep, in 

 Boston and N. York, and other ports, to the number of two thousand five 

 hundred ewes, rams and lambs. Many of these sheep wei'e well descend- 

 ed and of pure race, but a great share, I am sorry to say, were not so. 

 It is certain that many, — I might say some entire cargoes, — were im- 

 ported and sold for the '■'pure Electoral Saxon sheep^'''' that were only 

 of cross breed, and some of them as low as three quarter blood, 

 or as a German shepherd would say, '^ of the second generation.'''' It 

 is to be regretted, that the importation of the Saxony sheep became a 

 speculation, for it not only retarded the improvement of sheep in this 

 country, but it is a positive injury to those who may possess the pure 

 race. The importations being large, prices declined greatly, and many 

 importers suffered great losses. There were several cargoes which 

 sold for about fifteen dollars per head, which was insufficient to cover 

 the expense of transportation. 



The different voyages to this country, and travelling in the interior, 

 satisfied me, that the Northern and Middle States, as far as 1 examined 

 the soil and climate ; were exceedingly well calculated for the produc- 

 tion of fine wool, and would, in time, become decidedly wool-growing 

 States. Upon which I made up my mind to settle in this country, and 

 being fully satisfied that the raising of fine wool would be a profitable 



* I have been informed, tliat at tbc instance of Col. James Shepard of 

 Northampton, a few were imported in 1823, as an experiment. 



