and Extension of the Merino Breed of S beep. 385 



*' by ourselves, as Dutch blacks, 8cc. For this cloth trade," continues be, " is oiir 

 " antient right, and did always belong to our nation; and no other people in the 

 " world could in reason pretend to the manufacture, the staple growing on our 

 " own soil. And since there is now another sort of wool started up within these 

 " few years, which proves to the prejudice ofour's, I see no reason why we should 

 " not, if we can, compass to make our own, and that too.'* 



The author of" England's Advocate," in 1699, asserts, that " it haih been 

 " proved more than once, before Parliament, that no cloth of above ten shillings 

 " per yard, white, or thirteen shillings per yard, in mixed colours, sold atBlackwell 

 " Hall, haih one dram of English wool therein. "t 



Lastly, to close this long series of historical documents, a writer in the periodical 

 paper called the " British Merchant," in the year 1713, says, "I am afraid 

 '' Portugal, as well as Spain, has better wool than ever grew in England." + 



The superiority of Spanish to English v/bol was now universally acknowledged 

 Miroughout Europe, 



Now as those, who contend that Merino sheep originated in England, will 

 readily grant, what indeed cannot be denied, that no such breed now exists among 

 our native races, and, therefore, that we have lost what Spain has so advan- 

 tageously gained, I would beg leave to ask, at what period of our history could we 

 have suffered this loss ? 



Did it take place between the years 1300, and 154O, when, as I have shewn, our 

 wool and manufactures were gradually rising in reputation and consequent value ? 



Did it occur between the years 1540, and 1610, when our wool and manufac- 

 tured cloths were in the greatest estimation? or, lastly. 



Did it happen between the years i6io, and 1623, when both those commodities 

 fell into contempt, and consequent rejection by the rest of Europe? 



During the whole time included within the two first periods, which is more than 

 300 years, we continued uniformly to express our decided conviction of the pre- 

 eminence of our wool ; and at what moment during that long space, and under 

 such circumstances, shall we dare to impeach our ancestors either of ignorance 

 or wilful falshood ? 



To admit of such a loss during the first period would, indeed, be to give up our 

 • Smith I. 223, 225. ■[ Idem. I. 333. J idem. I. 394. 



VOL. V. 3 D 



