APPENDIX, No. IV. ^7 



cd from Spain ; both of which flories, though direftly 

 contradiftorj, are aflerted with equal confidence ; and for 

 aught I can learn, are entitled to equal credit ; as I have 

 not been able to find any authorities that confirm either" 

 report : and they are here mentioned only that the reader 

 may not think they have been inadvertently omitted. 



A more probable account is given by Mr. Carlier of the 

 origin of the fine-woolled Iheep in Spain, though I am far 

 from thinking itindifputable. Columella fays that his uncle, \ 

 Marcus Columella, introduced fome rams from Barbary, \ 

 which helped greatly to improve the quality of the wool 1 

 of Spain. The fame experiment is faid to have been re- | 

 peated by Don Pedro IV. king of Callile, in which he i 

 was followed by the great Cardinal Ximines, who thus i 

 is faid to have fecured to his country the pre-eminence ' 

 in that refpe<El:, for which they have been fince that time 

 fo jullly famous *. I have not, however, had an oppor- 

 tunity of invefligating this lafl part of the Spanifh hif- 

 tory with fuch attention as to enable me to fpeak of it 

 with certainty. Mr. Carlier aflerts it as faft without 

 hefitation ; and if it fhall be found to be true, it affords a 

 ilrong inducement for us to exert ourfelves to recover 

 our fine wool, by adopting a fimilar condudl, and try^ 

 jng the Barbary and other breeds of fheep. 



* Traitc des bftcs a laui.c, par M. Carlier, p. 13. ' ' — >. 



I s No. V, 



