254 [Assembly 



The fourth importation was of 600 head, under the orders of Na- 

 poleon in 1808, according to the order of the minister of the inte- 

 rior. 190 of these sheep and ten rams were placed at the National 

 establishment of the Landcs, department des Landes. This last was 

 by far the most important, and were the finest sheep, selected from 

 the most celebrated Cavagnes of M. M. Le Compte del Campo 

 Alange for those of Negrette, the Marquis de Peralles, the Count de 

 Montarco, the Marquis de Les Hasmozas, the Count de Portago and 

 others. For the first time the French were permitted to choose the 

 rams in the reserve, in the proportion of five rams to every 100 

 ewes (this is important when you hear gentlemen boasting of their 

 sheep,) for the first time they procured permission to choose from 

 the elite of the flocks. 



Mons. Le Comte Del Campo Alange, proprietor of the fine Ca- 

 vagne of. Negrette, sent to Josephine, then Empress, 100 ewes and 

 6 rams, the flower of his flock. These were the best sheep ever in- 

 troduced into France, and were delivered to the head shepherd at 

 Malmaison. The mark of the Cavagne Negrette of Mons. Le 

 Compte del Campo Alange, was burnt on the nose, N. E. The' 

 rams were marked with a U, like a horse shoe. These marks are 

 all important, as by them it can be traced back whether sheep are 

 of pure origin, as by the laws of Spain, anybody adopting the 

 marks of any Cavagne, (which are all registered) would be prose- 

 cuted as for forgery. 



The division Luco Negrette is one of the finest Cavagnes of the 

 Compte del Campo Alange. 



The flock of the Empress Josephnie, ofl^ers in itself the choice of 

 the two Cavagnes, the most celebrated in Spain, those of Paular and 

 Negrette. 



The Paular of La Alcinda furnishes fleeces of the finest wool 

 known. In the Negrette we find the nerve, the length, and all that 

 distinguishes the Paular, notwithstanding the qualities of this flock. 

 Malmaison being Josephine's private residence, at the sale of her 

 effects, these beautiful sheep could not find purchasers at the lowest 

 rate, and I fear they fell into hands that could not or did ndt appre- 

 ciate them, for when in France in vain I made enquiries in every 

 direction to get a sight of these sheep. 



To show the folly of breeding sheep merely for obtaining only 

 the very finest quality, without regard to quantity particularly i*. 



