Merino-Ryeland Breed oj Sheep, 475 



little clothier derives his bread from the profit of the coinage. It is not to be 

 wondered at, therefore, if the former dreads the discovery of any new mines, and 

 if the latter, afraid of trusting to what he at present considers as an inadequate and 

 merely casual supply, and at the same time apprehensive of offending his patron, 

 will not receive it at all, or will receive it only by steaiih. 



These, I think, are the true and chief grounds of objection to the free and un- 

 restrained purchase of our native fine wools. But, under this deserved imputation, 

 I am far from classing the majority of persons in every department of the trade, 

 many of whom are men of free minds, discerning, candid, and patriotic ; whom I 

 am proud to rank among the most valued of my friends, and to whose liberal com- 

 munications I am indebted for almost every thing which I know on this part of the 

 subject. But the generality of mankind must necessarily be influenced by report, 

 rather than by direct experience. The cry of detraction is more impressive than 

 the " still small voice" of truth ; and a child may ignorandy or mischievously kindle 

 a flame, which the efforts of a hundred men shall not be able to extinguish. 



I have observed above, that the dealer in wool is utterly ignorant of its value in 

 the yolk. This may be considered as an equitable objection to its sale; and it can 

 hardly be expected that an inexperienced person should take so important a matter 

 upon trust. To remedy this evil, I know of only one expedient ; which is to reduce 

 the wool to the Spanish state of cleanness. Then no difficulty, and therefore no just 

 ground of cavil, can any longer exist on the part of the buyer, and the value of the 

 wool will readily appear from a comparison with Spanish of the same quality. — 

 Of the necessary operation of washing, I shall, therefore, speak more largely 

 hereafter. 



This mode being adopted, and the knowledge of the value being properly difliised 

 among the manufacturers, I have no doubt that we shall find them, with a few ex- 

 ceptions, disposed to give a just price for any fine British wools, which might be 

 offered to them. 



This end might be further answered, if gentlemen of rank and fortune would 

 follow the patriotic example of Lord Somerville, and give some preference to 

 cloths made of wool of our own growth. Inquiries for such cloths would naturally 

 cause the draper to demand them of the manufacturer. 



I once thought that the establishment of central markets, as at Bath for the West 

 of England, might afi'ord an opportunity for fair competition among the buyers of 



