for Consumption in the Metropolis. 
207 
This comparison shows some remarkable results. Although 
the population of London has, according to the last census, in- 
creased in ten years from 2,362,23G to 2,803,034, we find that 
an increase of only about 10,000 more beasts were exhibited 
in the last half of 1862 than in 1853 ; whilst the number of 
sheep has decreased by 101,129 head, even though in 1862 we 
received 37,843 beasts" and 178,554 sheep, together with 12,279 
lambs, from abroad. The number of calves gradually declined 
from 17,058 to 12,579 head ; but it may be observed that, in- 
cluded in the latter number, were 11,436 from the Continent. It 
follows, therefore, that the introduction of foreign calves, duty 
free, has almost wholly destroyed the English calf-trade in this 
market. Possibly less stock has been purchased in London for 
country consumption ; but since the arrivals of slaughtered 
meat up to Newgate and Leadenhall Markets have evidently 
not kept pace with the increased population, the total supply 
must have fallen off. No wonder, therefore, that prices have 
kept up, and that store animals, especially of a first-class cha- 
racter, should have realised very high rates. In order to show 
the progressive rise in the quotations, we direct attention to the 
annexed table of prices realized for beasts and sheep in the last 
six months of the fifteen years ending with 18G2 : — 
Average Prices of Beef and Mutton. 
Per 8 lbs. to sink tlie Offal. 
Beef. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
1352. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
3 0 
3 0 
2 8 
2 8 
2 4 
3 8 
3 8 
3 4 
3 6 
3 4 
4 0 
4 2 
4 0 
3 10 
3 10 
1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
2 8 
3 2 
3 4 
2 10 
2 10 
3 8 
4 0 
4 2 
4 0 
3 10 
4 10 
5 0 
5 2 
5 2 
4 10 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
S. .'( (/. 
2 10 
2 10 
2 8 
3 0 
3 2 
4 0 
4 0 
4 0 
4 0 
4 0 
5 2 
5 2 
5 4 
.5 0 
4 10 
