CATTLE INTO FRANCE. 
75 
spectators from being crushed to death. This resembles not a little 
that which passed in Austria, at the purchase of the celebrated 
stallion El Bedavi, by the Baron de Coetdihuel. The population 
of that country, indignant at the purloinment of this noble animal 
by the French, endeavoured to oppose his departure by force, and 
it was necessary to employ detachments of the military to protect 
those who were leading him away. 
“ However this may be, the Durham bulls and cows are superb 
animdls. This is a positive fact ; and, indeed, it must be true to 
the very letter, when the Normans, who, generally speaking, find 
nothing well done or good except in their own country, are com- 
pelled to be silent. 
“ These magnificent animals are forty in number.” 
We smile when we read this account, and are proud of the com- 
pliment indirectly and unconsciously paid to the country whence 
these “ magnificent animals” were derived ; but soon, perhaps, our 
reflections assume a somewhat different character. Our neigh- 
bours have, for many a year, been stealing from us our best horses 
of the purest blood. The number of thorough-bred stallions and 
brood mares yearly exported to France and the various continental 
states is almost incredible ; and, as we have in a former number 
quoted from the foreign journals, the object is not attempted to be 
concealed — it is the improvement of their native breeds. The 
native breed of every continental state has been improved to a very 
considerable degree. In a recent account of the government studs, 
no fewer than eighty stallions are enumerated, many of whom had 
previously obtained a high and deserved reputation in England. 
Races have been established in almost every part of France, and, 
with them is necessarily connected the cultivation of the pure 
breed. 
Within the last few years the English long-woolled sheep have 
been imported into France in very great numbers. There is a large 
flock of them at Alfort, and in many districts of France this breed 
is completely naturalized. Not only so, but the long-woolled 
breeds of foreign countries are most of them improved by that 
sheep which was once the exclusive property of England alone. 
The consequence of this is, that the exportation of our long wool 
is considerably and progressively diminished. 
The same attack is now made on our incomparable breed of short- 
horned cattle. Forty of these “ magnificent animals” have been 
added to the breeding stock of France ; and not only so, but our 
continental neighbours, while they endeavour to cull the pride of 
our herds, sarcastically observe that “ we do well in profiting by 
the circumstances of the present hour; for a very short time only 
will elapse before every continental state will possess, and to as 
