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the fubftance of what he learned in the courfe of his 

 furvey, rather than his own private fcntiments. It 

 is, however, the general opinion over the kingdo:n 

 at large, uheth.er it be luell or /// founded, that the 

 new Leiccfter breed of fliecp is fuperlor to every 

 other. Though it is not intended to ftate that they 

 have attained the higheft poflible degree of perfec- 

 tion to which it is practicable to bring the fpccies, it 

 is prefiimed that even Mr Bakewell hinii'elf, deeply 

 interefled as he is, will not maintain this point ; and 

 therefore, in place of with-holding that degree of 

 praife to which this fociety feems to juftly entitled, 

 it would be fortunate for the community at large, 

 if fome men, equally knowing and attentive, would 

 endeavour to prove the poflibility of improving the 

 breed to a ftill higher degree of perfection ; in the 

 profecution of which attempt, every well wiflier to 

 his country will be anxious for their fuccefs. It 

 may be added, that one great objection to the new 

 Leicefter breed of Iheep, is their difpojition to fatten 

 to an extraordinary degree, and that they are not fo 

 delicate eating as thofe fheep which require longer 

 time to be ready for the market. It is believed, 

 that the warmed advocates for this breed of flieep^ 

 will not hefitate to allow their difpofition to fatten, 

 though they may difpute the other point, which de- 

 pends in a great degree on the talle of the confu- 

 mer; but if it is certain, that a quarter of this mut- 

 ton, weighing upwards of 30 lb. will only have 2 lb. 

 weight of bone, while a quarter oi the old improved 

 North amptonjhire breed, of the fame weight, will 

 have about 5 lb. the improvement of the breed is at 

 once determined, fo far as the opinion of the great 

 body of the confumers can go ; as a mechanic, or 

 labourer, who has a large family to fupport, by his 

 earnings, if fenfible of the fact, will be ready to a- 

 gree, with the new Leicefter fociety, that an im- 

 provement has really been efTeded, at leaft to the 



P extent 



