244 Comparison of Tunis and Merino Wool. 



to it) except that from Mr. Livingston's stock. 1 enter 

 into no comparisons on this subject ; not professing to 

 have sufficient quaUfications for it. The celebrity of Col. 

 Humphreys'* s sheep and wool, is generally known. But 

 I have never seen any of his prime sheep, nor their 

 wool ; though I have seen many of the mixed breed 

 from his stock. I had with me at Mr. Duponfs, sam- 

 ples of the Tunis wool ; which I had the opportunity 

 there of comparing with several specimens of the 7nerino 

 fleeces, from several quarters. W ith Mr. Diipoiifs wool, 

 mine will bear no comparison. But I was myself sur- 

 prised to find, that the wool of the ewe No. 2, in the 

 plate, will compete with, and is considered by those 

 who are judges, as fine in its fibre as, that of a sample 

 of real merino wool, oft' a sheep imported into New- York 

 from Spain ; and offered, with several others, for sale ; 

 at the price of 1500 dollars each. I should once have 

 thought my own, and more particularly this merino 

 wool, of a very extraordinary degree of fineness. But it 

 required very little discernment, to distinguish the dif- 

 ference, in favor of Mr. Duponfs wool. I know mine 

 (when justice is done to a flock, in selection and keep- 

 ing) to be evidently superior to most, and equal to any, 

 of the wool I have compared it with, except the me* 

 rino. 1 have sent herewith samples, by which my opi- 

 nion may be tested. And yet the Tunis wool is by many, 

 held in disrepute ; because those who have these pre- 

 judices, have met with fleeces from crosses with coarse 

 woolcd sheep. I have myself seen multitudes of morti- 

 fying instances of this kind of inattention ; and especially 

 where large, or white, sheep, were the objects of crossing. 

 It is far from my intention, to hold up this wool, as 

 to fineness, on any equality with a good merino fleece. 



