606 
_ BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
‘The grand junétion canal has lately been 
opened from the Thames at Brentford to Fen- 
ny Stratford, in this county, from which place 
onward, through Bedfordfhire, to Tring in 
Hertfordfhire, it was before navigable. 
é BEDFORDSHIRE. 
Woburn Sheep-fbearing. —F irft-day. ” 
On Monday, June 16,: the Anniverfary of 
the Duke of Bedford’s fheep-fhearing and fhew 
of cattle commenced, and this truly laudable 
inftitution attraéted feveral hundreds of agri- 
eulturifis and breeders from all parts of the 
country, among whomwere feveral gentlemen, 
\members of a well known fociety of breeders 
from Leicefterfhire, a Baron from Germany, 
who is at the head of an agricultural eftab- 
lifhment in that country, and four gentlemen 
from Ireland. 
His Grace gave a public breakfaft at the 
Abbey, at nine o’clock, | 
At about eleven his Royal Highnefs Prince 
William of Gloucefter arrived, sattended by 
Sir George Ofborne ; foon after which the 
company proceeded in a grand cavalcade to the 
new farm-yard, in the park, for the purpofe 
of infpeéting the fheep-fhearing, at which 
five of the beft hands that could be procured 
were employed ; they then proceeded to the 
building lately erected for examining the Ewes 
that are to be let for next feafon, which were 
to be fhewn again on Tuefday with the prices 
fixed onthem. ~ 
The certificates wete then opened by his 
Grace and a committee, of the different can- 
didates for the prize of fifty guineas to be 
given by his Grace (for encouraging the in- 
‘ trodu€tion of the Leicefter and South Down 
breed of fheep into Bedfordfhire,) to the per- 
fon in Bedfordthire who fhould, between June 
1799 and Chriftmas, expend the largeft fum 
of money (not lefs than 60 guineas) in the 
purchafe of breeding Ewes, or Theaves of 
the new Leicefter or South Down breed. Thefe 
were taken into confideration, but the fuc- 
cefsful candidate was not announced. 
About three o’clock the company adjourned 
to dinner, and his Grace entertained near two 
hundred noblemen, gentlemen, and yeomen 
in the large hall, in the ancient part of the 
Abbey, where tables were laid, which branched 
out in three dire€tions, and fo contrived as to 
have but one head, at which his Grace pre- 
fided. Prince William of Gloucefter, fat at 
his right hand, and Lord John Ruffell fat as 
Croupier. 
About fix o’clock they left the Abbey, and 
proceeded to the farm-yard again, when a 
very fine hog, the property of Mr. Pickford, 
waggon-matter, in Market-ftreet, was thewn, 
which was fuppofed to weigh about a hundred 
ftone: during the whole of this time, the 
men continued fhearing the fheep in a place 
conveniently adapted for the whole of the 
fnecting to fee them.. His Grace then con- 
@u€ied the company toa paddock near the 
evergreens, to fee fome felect, Devonfhire 
J 
Buckinghamfhire—Bedfordfhire. ~ 
[ Julyez, 
oxen, and from thence they proceeded to the 
water-meadow, near Bjtchmore-houfe, in 
Crawley-lane, where there were fome very 
fine Devonfhire cows. , 
Second-day. 
On Tuefday the Duke of Bedford, attend- 
ed by his company, proceeded from the Abbey 
_on horfe-back to the New farm-yard in the 
~park, where they were met by great numbers 
who had arrived from different parts. 
The fweepftakes of five guineas each, made 
by the Duke of Bedford, Lord Winchelfea, 
Lord Somerville, and Mr.Bouverie, to produce, 
at this fheep-fhearing, the beft two years old” 
heifere, cf the Devonfhire breed, (the Duke of 
Bedford’s being dead, and Mr. Bouverie not 
producing one,} refted with Lord Winchelfea 
and Lord Somerville; and a committee was 
appointed, confifting of Mr.Smith,of Titmarth, 
_in Northamptonfhire, Mr. Stone, of Lough- 
borough in Leicefterfhire, and a Mr. Warren 5 
who, after a confiderable examination, de- 
clared in favour of Lord Winchelfea’s. | 
Mr. Garrard, the modeller of cattle, from 
London, exhibited the models of the famous 
exhibition of cattle that took place at Smith- 
field laft Chriftmas, which were highly 
approved of ; he likewife exhibited a number 
of other well know cattle. Several improved 
implements in hufbandry were fhewn, par- 
ticularly a chafi-cutter, ploughs, harrows, 
‘&c. At three o’clock the Duke again enter- 
tained about two hundred of the company in 
the great hail of the Abbey with an elegant 
dinner, confifting of 160 ccvers. 
The bufinefs of letting the Tugs took up 
the whole afternoon, till near dark, during 
which time feveral bets were made about 
cattle. 
Third-day. 
Wednefday there was a greater number of 
perfons affembled than on the former days, 
and the weather proving fine, the fight of fo 
many opulent men, affembled upon fo laud- 
able and rational an occafion, was highly 
gratifying. i, ge 
His Grace gave a public breakfaft atthe Ab- 
bey at nine o’clock. . 
About eleven the company began to move 
ina grand cavalcade from the Abbey, and 
were met in the park by a number of others 
of the firft refpeCtability,who had come from 
different parts; when they proceeded to the 
New-farm-yard. 
. Nin¢ fouth-down two-fhears, and one three-_ 
fhear, werc exhibited in the exhibition-room, 
and were examined by the hirers of tups. 
Two remarkable fine and fat cows, which 
had been fatted by poar feed, under certain 
management, the property of Mr. Maxey 
of Knotting, in this county were exhi- 
bited. 
A machine for dreffing corn in'an expeditious 
way, was exhibited in the yard, for which 
Mr. Cooch, of Malfton, in Northampten- 
fhire, has lately obtained a patent. 
As foon as the inipetion of the 
4 
rams and 
exhibition 
