No. 124. J 105 



throw what they had gathered into the river. Quarrels ensued: af- 

 terwards, vessels were loaded and sent down the river out of the 

 reach of the people. 



He also read an official return made to Parliament of foreign grain 

 destroyed, more than 3.000 quarters, under the inspection of the 

 proper officers — enough to supply six thousand persons one whole year. 

 Great Britain, at any sacrifice, secures the home market to her farmers. 



Mr. Sharwood said he was here only for the interest he took in 

 agriculture and the arts, and remonstrated in warm terms against in- 

 troducing subjects foreign to the club, which was improvement in 

 agriculture, not politics. He was surprised to witness an attempt 

 before this club to create a prejudice against his native country, and 

 ill feeling towards Great Britain. 



Gen. Tallmaflge stated that the wisdom of Great Britain was mani- 

 fest in securing to their farmers the home market, which was essential 

 to their prosperity. We ask the same for the American farmer. 

 They have a right to destroy foreign corn under their law. It is a 

 good policy in them. But I ask, of what avail is increased crops 

 and great production without a market 1 and if our farmers are de- 

 nied that protection which is the only security for one, have they not 

 a right, and is it not their duty on all occasions when their interests 

 are under discussion, to allude to it, to point to the better policy of 

 other governments for an example 1 Why should we busy ourselves 

 about increasing production, and acquiesce in laws that render that 

 production of half value ? 



Mr. Carter moved that the subject of manure, assigned for this 

 meeting, be taken up. 



Gen. Tallmadge said it had been usual to precede the subject as- 

 signed by some other matter — that the usual time would be allotted 

 to it. He remarked that Great Britain is wise in her legislation. 

 She parentally guards the best interests of her people. 



A report was made by Robert S. Livingston, chairman of a com- 

 mittee to which had been referred a communication from " the Prac- 

 tical Farmer's Club of New Castle county," on the subject of wool 

 and sheep husbandry. The committee state that they have read the 

 paper submitted with great satisfaction, and fully accord with the 

 views, &c. — that it contains very valuable information on a most 

 important subject, and recommend that it be published. 



The extract below is marked by the committee as particularly wor- 

 thy of attention, embracing very interesting statistics. 



Wool and Sheep Husbandry. 



The following is the estimate of the woollen business in 1839. It 

 has probably increased 50 per cent since that time. 



Number of fulling mills, 2,585 



Woollen manufactories, 1,420 



Value of manufactured goods,' $20,696,999 



Number of persons employed, 21,342 



Capital invested, $15,765,124 



[Senate No. 124. J O 



