Common Sheep, 363 



now 'entertained, in Great Britain, of a scarcity of wools for the 

 coarser fabricks ; owing to the more general attention to sheep of 

 fine fleeces. The neglect of the common breeds, is already severe- 

 ly felt. 



The wools of common sheep in this country, I have long believed, 

 are finer than those of the like species in Eurofie. Our climate has 

 a favourable influence on the filament of wool. But the combing 

 and coarser wools, for articles most generally required, are as in- 

 dispensable, as are the men composing the great mass of our po- 

 pulation, who daily stand in need of them. Whilst men of refined 

 taste and manners, and superior endowments, are the ornaments of 

 society ; the labouring classes are the strength and bulwarks of 

 every country. Their accommodation, within their capacity to ob- 

 tain, at reasonable rates, the articles they cannot dispense with, 

 should always be objects of peculiar attention. The fabricks pro- 

 duced from common fleeces, and coarser wools, are among these 

 objects ; and are, indeed, essential to the comforts of every member 

 of our community, whatever may be his wealth, his acquirements, 

 or his condition. In vain shall we look to foreign nations, to sup- 

 ply deficiencies in our own country ; if the coarser wools are also 

 scarce dPhiong them. Were it, from inevitable necessity, to be de- 

 cided by a general vote, whether fine fleeced, or common, coarse, 

 and long woolled sheep, should be stricken out of existence ; the 

 wants of mankind would compel the suffrage in favour of the 

 latter. 



The calculations of those who pursue exclusively, the fine-wool 

 system, are,—-" How much money can be made, by fine and high 

 priced fleeces and fabricks ?" " Make money, (a most desirable 

 object, no doubt,) and you can buy all things." — Nevertheless, 

 without plenty of long and coarse, or common and appropriate 

 wools, money will not buy a competent supply of good blankets.* 



grand staple manufactures of this country are produced from Uie long" wools 

 of the old native growth ; which are now scarcely to be obtained, at double 

 tlieir former prices; while the demand for the finer sorts, is, comparatively 

 trifling-." 



* iMy duty, during the war of the revolution, called my attention to the 

 clothing of our troops, Multitudes became disabled, and great numbers pe« 



