Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Leicester. 435 
of combins;' wool have tliis year given way from Id. to fully l\d. 
per lb. The severe pressure of eolonlal wools upon the market, 
and the moderate shipments of woollen goods now being made 
to the United States, render it uncertain whether prices will 
recover themselves this year. 
4, Argyle Square, St. Paneras. 
XXIX. — Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Leicester. 
By Edwaed Bowly, Senior Steward. 
Since our pleasant meeting at the charming seaport, Plymouth, 
one most interesting feature in our Live Stock Exhibitions has 
been wanting, and it was indeed most cheering to find at 
Leicester the roan, the red, and the white shorthorn, with the 
white-faced Hereford, and the symmetrical Devon, in goodly 
array before us. 
The mind almost shrinks from contemplating all that we have 
passed through during the three eventful years, 1865-1867 ; and 
we would gladly bury in oblivion the recollection of the dreadful 
rinderpest ; how it pursued its fitful course through our country, 
sometimes carrying off whole herds in counties, then taking some 
and leaving others, paralysing every effort, and, as it were, 
mocking our endeavours to check its fatal course. 
Many are the once happy families whom it has made desolate, 
some in comparative affluence have been reduced to poverty, the 
minds of not a few proprietors have given way under intense 
anxiety, and the loss to our country may be counted by millions. 
Surely a subject involving such serious consequences ought 
never to have become the battle-field of party politics. Now 
that the Cattle Bill has been withdrawn, we trust that the Orders 
in Council will not be in the slightest degree relaxed, and that 
the usual good common-sense of Englishmen may prevail, and 
insure us a still more perfect bill next year. Our object is not 
for the protection of our home trade, as some interested parties 
have endeavoured to persuade the public, but to secure us from 
the fearful consequences of a renewed attack of this dire pes- 
tilence. 
The show-yard was honoured with the presence of His Excel- 
lency Drouyn de Lhuys, who charmed us with his courtesy, 
delighted us with the great interest he took in all our arrange- 
ments, and expressed great admiration of many of the animals 
exhibited. His visit, we have reason to believe, was not under- 
taken in his private capacity, but with the view of gaining 
information for the establishment of a similar institution in 
