INTRODUCTION OF MERINOS INTO THE UNITED STATES. 71 



ny Cultivator (which is appended to the present page), in 

 which the priority of his importation to Gen. Humphreys' is 

 clearly shown, and a reference to the archives of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Agricultural Society will confirm it. 



For particulars relative to further importations of the 

 Merinos, the compiler is indebted to the Hon. William 

 Jarvis, of Vermont, whose name, with that of David 

 Humphreys, will ever be associated, in the minds of Ameri- 

 cans, with the Merino, and cherished with gratitude as the 

 great founders of wool improvement in the United States. 

 The account was originally addressed to L. D. Gregory, of 

 Vermont, and which is invaluable from its authenticity, and 

 graphic details ; and the compiler thus publicly expresses 

 his grateful obligations to Mr. Jarvis for his kind permission 

 to insert it in the present work, and its readers will doubtless 

 feel likewise. 



After many interesting details concerning the manage- 

 ment of Merino sheep in Spain, Mr. Jarvis proceeds thus : 



" I shall now call your attention to the first introduction 

 of them into the United States. Soon after the accession of 

 Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency, Chancellor Livingston was 

 appointed Minister to France, and in 1802, he obtained from 

 that government three or four Merinos of the Rambouillet 

 flock, which he sent to New York and put on one of his 

 farms. This flock was obtained by the King of France 

 from the King of Spain, and were undoubtedly pure-blooded 

 sheep. A little before Gen. Humphreys left Spain,* he was 

 enabled to get two hundred sheep from Spain into Portugal, 

 and they were sent to Figueira, at the mouth of the Monde- 

 go, and thence shipped to the United States. From what 

 flock he obtained them, I never could learn, though I in- 

 quired a number of times ; but as Spanish Estremadura and 

 Leon border on Portugal, from 38 deg. of latitude to the 

 northern boundary of Portugal, and as no other than the 



the society for the premium. Knowing from report, that his sheep did 

 not arrive before the spring season after mine, I applied at the same time 

 for the premium, and after having examined the sheep and wool, and 

 comparing with those of General H., the society awarded to me the pre- 

 mium, and awarded to General H. a gold medal for having imported a 

 larger number. My sheep were from the flock imported by Bonaparte, 

 and distributed through France to improve the flocks of that kingdom." 



* For further particulars concerning General Humplireys' importation, 

 see Mr. Jarvis' letter in Appendix. 



