172 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



But events were now transpiring in other parts of the world thi 

 opened opportunities for large purchases of the Spanish Merinos, tin 

 shipment to the United States, and a consequent reduction of price 

 which put them within the reach of many enterprising men. The wai 

 in Europe, the British orders in council, the various decrees of Bom 

 parte, our own embargoes, and all the various acts of all the powers 

 from 1802 to 1810 tending to cripple American commerce, served as a^ 

 stimulant to American manufactures, and at the same time opened a 

 channel by which fine wool, the base of one of the most important indus- 

 tries, was to be furnished. The invasion of Spain by Bonaparte not 

 only involved France and Spain in war, but let loose the spirit of faction 

 in the latter. Torn with dissensions within and invaded from without, 

 the once proud, rich, and powerful nation presented a lamentable spec-: 

 tacle. Bonaparte confiscated the estates and flocks of the powerful 

 nobles who would not take up his cause ; the Spanish Junta confiscated 

 the property of those who did not support the national or Spanish 

 cause, so, between two fires, all the fine -cabanas of Merino sheep were 

 confiscated to whatever party had success in laying hands upon them. 

 This inclined their owners to sell them when they became endangered 

 and when opportunity presented itself. The opportunity thus presented 

 was also taken advantage of by the American consuls at Lisbon and 

 Cadiz. They saw an opportunity to enrich their country with the finest 

 wooled sheep of Europe at the very time their country most needed the 

 valued animal. The first to take action was the consul at Lisbon. 



William Jarvis was born at Boston, Mass., February 4, 1770. He 

 was the son Dr. Charles Jarvis, a distinguished physician and surgeon. 

 He was educated for a merchant, into which business he entered ac- 

 tively and prosecuted successfully, until indorsements 011 paper of a 

 friend compelled him to retire. For five years thereafter he w r as captain 

 and supercargo of a ship, in which he had half interest. He was 

 enabled to pay all his debts and free himself from pecuniary embar- 

 rassment. In February, 1802, he was appointed by President Jeffer- 

 son consul to Lisbon and acting charge to Portugal. He made a good 

 business consul and successful diplomat. It was fortunate for the 

 United States that he made such successful efforts to ameliorate the 

 trouble to which our shipping was subjected that at the commencement 

 of the Peninsular war we secured the immense neutral trade of the 

 armies engaged in that conflict. It was fortunate also that he possessed 

 a mind comprehensive enough to see the great advantage to his country 

 of the acquisition of the Merino sheep, and the energy of character 

 necessary to secure them. There can be no question that his example 

 in securing some of the best sheep in Spain, not only for himself but 

 for others, was a great incentive to the trade in them that immediately 

 followed, by which so many thousands were transferred to this country 

 to increase her wealth and encourage her manufactures of fine woolen 

 goods. 



