210 Miscellanies. 



Angora in Asia Minor in the north; while Versailles, where this 

 herd is so flourishing, producing more down than even in their na- 

 tive districts, is 12° or 14° farther north than Thibet, and 8° farther 

 north than Angora, which is in N. lat. 40°, 200 miles E. S. E. of 

 Constantinople.* 



From reviewing all these localities, we may presume that our own 

 country, within its boundless varieties of climate and vegetable pro- 

 ductions, may yield such favored spots, as will enable the enterpri- 

 sing agriculturist to domesticate this valuable animal, as well as the 

 choice varieties of foreign sheep ; and with much greater probabili- 

 ties of success, than attended the first attempts at the culture of silk, 

 which was, for ages, believed to be a particular gift of Heaven to 

 China, from whence it was not deemed possible to extend it, to any 

 other region of the globe. 



M. Polonceau, who has the choicest herd in Europe, perhaps the 

 only one of Cashmere-Angora, disposed of four to the King of Wir- 

 temberg, in 1828, for the small sum of three thousand four hundred 

 francs; and in 1831 parted with thirteen more to Mr. Riley, as 

 above stated. This race of animals have not in the least degenera- 

 ted, since they first came into M. Polanceau's possession*,' ten years 

 ago, but their peculiar properties become annually more and more 

 fixed. The superior quality and quantity of their fleeces, with the 

 precious nature of the material, offer strong inducements to the agri- 

 cultural capitalist of some of our mild hill countries, to obtain some 

 of them by way of trial. 



The herds of M. Polonceau are probably, by this time, so numer- 

 ous as to enable him to sell a sufficient number for an experiment, 

 which, if successful, would secure a profit to the proprietor, and 

 accomplish an important national object. The peculiarities of cli- 

 mate and the vegetable productions of Angora, with the habits of 

 the goat on its native soil, might be ascertained beyond doubt, by 

 application to our countryman. Commodore Portier, who is investi- 

 gating a variety of subjects, in that part of Asia which is most inter- 

 esting to science, manufactures, and commerce. 



With great respect, I am, &;c. 



New York, August, 1833. 



* Port Jackson, in New South Wales, is, in S. lat. 32°. Van Diemen's Land is 

 in S, lat. 40°. 



