jy INTRODUCTION. 



land, and with such success as to prove beyond 

 all controversy that in all these countries Merino 

 sheep will not only thrive and increase, but that 

 with common care and proper management, the 

 animal will be greatly improved in his size and 

 shape ; whilst at the same time, in the progress 

 of near a century, even in the inhospitable climate 

 of Sweden, his wool has lost nothing of its pe- 

 culiar qualities and superior excellence. 



Lastly, our own country has made the experi- 

 ment, and from the patriotic exertions of Chan- 

 cellor Livingston and Col. Humphreys, we have 

 now for more than eight years had an opportunity 

 of becoming acquainted with this most valuable 

 animal, of proving that he will thrive with us as 

 well as in any other country, and of learning the 

 necessary means of his preservation and improve- 

 ment ; just in time to participate in the oppor- 

 tunity which the present war in Spain and Portu- 

 gal has afforded to procure an ample supply from 

 the best flocks in Spain. The spirited enterprize 

 of our merchants has not suffered the occasion to 

 pass by ; and wc now possess a sufficient number 

 of Merino sheep, from the best flocks, to render 

 us, in no great length of time, not only independ- 

 ent of all other countries for so necessary an arti- 

 cle of our clothing, but probably, to become ex- 

 porters of fine wool to other countries. 



Upon so interesting a subject, every step we 

 advance is of great consequence j although there- 



