and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep. 389 



monarchs in 1465 ; and tiie important present is not mentioned in those, ■which, 

 according to some subsequent authors, it is said to have followed. Neither is there 

 to be found any express mandate for the exportation of these sheep, although such 

 a deviation from established principles would naturally have "required a form, 

 which seems to have been generally resorted to on much less important occasions. 

 Some persons have attributed this silence to the delicacy of Edward, who did not 

 choose openly to shock the scruples of his subjects, on so popular a topic. 



It seems, however, that the acute feelings of the monarch were oon happily 

 blunted ; for in fourteen years afterwards, we find him, by open proclamation, 

 permitting his sister the Duchess of Burgundy, to export from England, not 

 twenty-five sheep, and on a single occasion, but 2000 rams, and that every year 

 during her life. 



Let us, however, for a moment, admit these exportations to Spain. I have 

 already proved that, at this time, Spain was full of sheep. The country was un- 

 inclosed, and the immense flocks, by immemorial custom, took their long and 

 annual journies in quest of food,* Under these circumstances, five rams and 

 twenty ewes, introduced to a new climate and new management, are to change the 

 millions which constitute the entire breed of a vast country! So judge manu- 

 facturers, chained to their looms, or historians blind with poring over the midnight 

 lamp. An experienced farmer, aware of the difficulty of establishing a new breed 

 in the most favourable situation, would as readily believe that the whole ocean 

 could be blackened by one vessel of ink. Nothing, indeed, could be more easy 

 than to demonstrate the absolute impossibility of producing the supposed effect in 

 such a country as Spain, under any probable management of their native 

 flocks. 



On the other hand, in Holland, where, from the earliest ages, the necessity of 

 draining caused the meadows to be separated into small inclosures by wet ditches 

 impassable by sheep, there was the best possible opportunity of making such an ex- 

 periment ; and an annual introduction of 2000 rams might, in a very short time, 

 colonized the whole country with a new race of inhabitants. 



Where then are the Merino sheep in Holland, which sprung from this union ? 

 Will it be replied, that, in process of time, the climate, soil, and food would 



• I have shewn above that a tax on thess travelling sheep was established by law in 1457. See 

 page 377. 



