EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 173 



Passing for tlie moment the details of that invaluable service ren- 

 dered by him in leading the way in sending TVCerino sheep to the United 

 States in such numbers as to establish them firmly in many of the 

 States, it may be said that Mr. Jarvis remained at Lisbon until Octo- 

 ber 22, 1810, when he sailed for home, and in April, 1811, removed to 

 Weathersfleld, Vt., taking with him all his animals, including his 

 " selected Merinos (about 400), Dutch cattle, Portuguese swine, goats, 

 doiilfcys, etc., a Spanish shepherd and a noble shepherd dog." In the 

 care and breeding of his stock, surrounded by a large family and 

 devoted friends, he passed the remainder of his days, dying October 

 21, 1859, at the advanced age of 89 years and 9 months. Soon after 

 his death the flock of sheep that he had bred with so much care and 

 solicitude for forty-eight years were scattered, and the farm at Weath- 

 ersfleld does not, or rather did not a few years since, breed a single 

 pure-blooded Merino sheep. 



When Mr. Jarvis, at Lisbon, heard that Col. Humphreys had obtained 

 his 100 sheep, and saw their beauty as they were brought to be shipped 

 from his consular port, he was very desirous to procure some, and imme- 

 diately wrote to a trusted friend in Spain to that effect, but in reply 

 was informed that it was impossible. He possessed great facilities for 

 acquiring information regarding Spanish affairs, and, from his keen 

 observation of events, availed himself of the first opportunity to obtain 

 Merinos, convinced that the extended introduction of this flne-wooled 

 breed would greatly increase the prosperity of the country. He made 

 two unsuccessful efforts, one in 1806 and again in 1809 ; but now cir- 

 cumstances favored him. Napoleon had plunged Europe into war. 

 Spain was in a distracted state from French invasion and internal dis- 

 sension, which, as Mr. Jarvis was informed, would enable him to pur- 

 chase some of the jealously guarded Spanish flocks, for it would be 

 much more to the profit of the owners to exchange them for gold than 

 to have them eaten by the French soldiers. He wrote to the Hon. 

 George W. Erving, who had succeeded Col. Humphreys as minister at 

 Madrid, telling him of the information he had received, and requesting 

 him to use his influence in obtaining for him 100 Merinos, mostly rams, 

 and directing their shipment to Cornelius Coolidge & Co., of Boston. 

 This was in September, 1809. In December Jarvis received permission 

 to purchase and export from the kingdom 200 of the Escurial flock, and 

 Sir Charles Stewart, the British ambassador, was also permitted to 

 export a like number. 



The first arrival of these sheep was on April 13, 1810, and the Boston 



Chronicle makes the announcement : 



We are happy to learn of the safe arrival of the ship Edward, from Liabou, with 45 

 genuine fnll-blooded Merino sheep. Massachusetts is indebted to the patriotic 

 exertions of Messrs. Cornelius Coolidge and Francis J. Oliver, merchants of this 

 town, for this valuable acquisition to its manufacturing interests. 



