MR. THORNE'S IMPORTATIONS. 197 



In the spring of 1853, Mr. Samuel Thorne (son of Jonathan) 

 having assumed charge of the farm and Short-horn stock in com- 

 pany with the late Mr. F. M. Rotch, residing in Morris, Otsego 

 county, N. Y., sailed for England in quest of some Short-horns, "as 

 good as could be found, without regard to the prices to be paid for 

 them." In the ensuing October Mr. Thorne brought out the bul' 

 Grand Duke, 545 (10284), bought of Mr. Bolden, and two cows 

 Duchess 59th and 68th, bought at Lord Ducie's sale, previously no- 

 ticed; also the cows Peri, by Grand Duke (10284), bought of Mr. 

 Bolden; Frederika, by Upstart (9760), and Lalla Rookh, by The 

 Squire (12217), bred by Mr. Townley; Aurora, by 3d Duke of York 

 (10166); Mystery, by Usurer (9763); and Darling, by Grand Duke 

 (10284). The vessel on which the cattle were shipped for America 

 had a tempestuous passage. Duchess 68th was killed outright by the 

 falling of a mast, and Peri had one hip knocked down, two ribs 

 broken, and lost one horn. This accident, however, did not prevent 

 her from breeding successfully after her arrival in America. The 

 bull Harry Lorequer, bred by Mr. Fawkes, also purchased by Mr. 

 Thorne, and embarked on the same ship, was lost by stress of 

 weather. 



The cow Duchess 64th, which was purchased by Mr. Thorne at 

 the same (Lord Ducie's) sale, with the before named Duchesses, was 

 left in England until the succeeding year, having meantime dropped 

 her calf, 2d Grand Duke, 2181 (12961), which, by previous arrange- 

 ment, was the property of Mr. Bolden. She soon after came to 

 America. Her calf, 2d Grand Duke, became the property of Mr. 

 Thorne, afterwards, in the year 1855, soon after the accident, which 

 rendered his previous Grand Duke (10284) useless, at the price of 

 1000 guineas, the same which Mr. Thorne paid for the latter at the 

 time of the Ducie sale. 



All efforts to restore the usefulness of Grand Duke having failed, 

 he was slaughtered in the year 1857, and made upwards of 1400 

 pounds, net weight, although in only moderate condition. 



The ten animals (exclusive of 2d Grand Duke) of Mr. Thome's 

 first purchase in 1853, comprising Grand Duke and the three Duch- 

 esses, cost 3,600 guineas upwards of $18,000 probably the most 

 costly purchase ever made by an American down to that time, though 

 several purchases of cows have since been made at higher prices. 



Mr. Thome's next importation was made in the year 1854, con- 

 sisting of nine cows and heifers, viz. : Lady Millicent, by Laud- 

 able (9282); Sylphide, by Pestalozzi (10603); Cypress, by Lord of 



