82 
Shorthorns  in  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
through  “ Sultan  ” (631)  the  blood  of  “ North  Star  ” was  infused  into  the 
Ladykirk  herd.  General  Simpson  dispersed  his  herd  on  the  11th  of  October, 
1818,  when  37  animals — 12  cows,  5 two-year-old  heifers,  4 one-year-old 
heifers,  7 bulls,  3 hull  calves,  and  6 heifer  calves — brought  a total  of  1388 
guineas,  or  an  average  of  nearly  £40  a-head. 
Among  the  first  and  certainly  the  most  successful  of  the  followers  of 
Mr.  Robertson,  of  Ladykirk,  was  the  late  Mr.  John  Rennie,  of  Phantassie, 
near  Prestonkirk,  East  Lothian.  Mr.  Rennie  probably  did  more  than  any 
other  man  of  his  time  to  send  the  good  name  of  • Improved  Shorthorns 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  Scotland,  more  particularly  into  the 
north-eastern  districts,  where  for  nearly  half  a century  the  breed  has  been 
held  in  high  esteem.  In  the  year  1818,  Mr.  Rennie  introduced  stock  from 
the  Ladykirk  herd,  and  in  subsequent  years  he  went  to  the  county  of  Durham 
for  three  of  his  stud  bulls.  The  animals  throve  admirably,  and  so  skilfully 
did  he  develop  the  beef-producing  and  early  maturing  properties  of  the  breed, 
that  the  Phantassie  steers  exhibited  at  the  first  Shows  of  the  Highland  and 
Agricultural  Society  of  Scotland  far  excelled  any  specimens  of  fat  cattle 
that  had  ever  before  been  exhibited  in  Scotland.  As  early  as  1823  he 
exhibited  steers  of  enormous  weight,  one  under  twenty  months  old  having 
yielded  118  stones  1 lb.  (Smithfield  weight)  of  dead  meat.  He  produced 
many  steers,  which,  when  slaughtered  at  from  two  and  a half  to  three 
years  old,  gave  from  80  to  100  imperial  stones  of  meat ; and  in  one  year 
prior  to  1830  he  sold  eighteen  21-year-old  steers,  whose  dead-weight  ranged 
from  85  to  100  imperial  stones,  and  for  which  he  received  the  handsome 
price  of  33?.  a-head.  Between  1823  and  1830,  Mr.  Rennie  held  three  or 
four  public  sales,  which  were  attended  not  only  by  many  celebrated  breeders 
of  Shorthorns,  but  also  by  many  fresh  patrons  of  the  breed,  who  had  been 
attracted  by  the  fame  of  his  fattened  oxen.  The  Phantassie  herd  contained 
a good  deal  of  excellent  blood.  He  used  such  sires  as  “ Satellite  ” (1420), 
and  “Pilot”  (496),  and  for  some  of  his  own  best  bulls  he  received  prices 
varying  from  50  to  120  guineas.  From  an  important  sale  held  at  Phantassie, 
on  February  16,  1827,  several  well-bred  animals  went  to  the  north-east  of 
Scotland,  chiefly  to  Ury  and  Shethin. 
Before  1830,  many  other  enterprising  agriculturists  in  the  south  of 
Scotland,  tenant-farmers  as  well  as  landlords,  had  adopted  the  Shorthorn 
breed,  some  rearing  pure-bred  herds,  and  a much  greater  number  crossing 
Shorthorn  bulls  with  the  common  cows  of  the  respective  localities.  It  is 
recorded  in  Mr.  Bell’s  ‘ History  of  Shorthorns,’  that  General  Watson,  of 
Fifeshire,  had  in  the  year  1789  bought  “Princess,”  by“Hubback,”  from 
C.  Colling,  but  of  this  transaction  we  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any  further 
information.  Mr.  Abraham  Wilson  (father  of  Mr.  John  Wilson,  late  of 
Edington  Mains,  now  at  Wellnage  Dunse),  who  was  an  enthusiastic  and 
skilful  breeder,  not  only  of  Shorthorns  but  also  of  Leicester  sheep  and  cart- 
horses, owned  a small  herd  of  well-bred  Shorthorns  about  1820.  Among  the 
bulls  used  by  him  was  R.  Coliing’s  “Diamond”  (206),  by  “Lancaster” 
(360),  and  out  of  “ Venus  ” by  “ Wellington  ” (680),  and  sold  as  a calf  at  the 
Barmpton  sale  in  1818,  to  Mr.  Donaldson,  Harburn  House,  near  Durham,  at 
102  guineas.  Soon  afterwards,  “ Diamond  ” was  bought  by  Mr.  Abraham 
Wilson  and  three  of  his  neighbours  at  160/.,  and  ultimately  he  became  the 
sole  property  of  Mr.  Wilson.  Of  this  bull,  Mr.  John  Wilson  informs  me 
that  he  has  still  a tolerably  distinct  recollection.  He  was  rich  roan  in 
colour,  very  thick  in  carcass,  and  low  on  his  legs,  and  at  a comparatively  early 
age  he  becamo  so  fat  that,  being  useless,  he  had  to  be  sent  to  the  butcher. 
Between  1820  and  1830  a great  many  Shorthorns  were  introduced  into  the 
county  of  Roxburgh,  where  the  excellent  properties  of  Shorthorn  crosses 
gained  numerous  supporters  to  the  breed.  The  rapid  progress  the  race  made 
