adopted and fubfcribed, was made choice of, and continued to be the public formulary till the revolution.

66

From that period which forms a memorable æra in the hiftory of this church, no fubfcription was required from her clergy, to any regular fyftem of chriftian principles, for upwards of a centure. They were only required, at their ordination, folemnly to profefs their belief of all the canonical books of the Old and New Teftaments, and to declare their perfuafion, that those books contain every thing neceffary to falvation, through faith in Chrift. This practice continued till 1792, when the act of parliament, which was paffed in their favour, required them to fubfcribe the 39 articles of the Church of England; in dutiful compliance with which, as well as to exhibit a public teftimony of their faith, and of their agreement in doctrine with the united Church of England and Ireland, they unanimoufly and heartily fubfcribed them, in a general convocation, called for that purpofe, and holden at Laurence-kirk, in the county of Kincardine, on the 24th of October, 1801.

"No one, therefore, who is acquainted with the 39 articles can be any longer a ftranger to the avowed principles of this, Church. Or, if any thing further may be added on that fubject, it is that her clergy fubfcribed them, I believe, to a man, in the Anti-Calvinistic fenfe; fo that, whatever weight their opinion may be allowed to have in the fcale, it is added to that of the AntiCalvinists in England." Vol. ii. page 419.

That this work is the refult of much research, and gives proofs of refpectable learning, is obvious on infpection; and we have every reafon to believe, from a further examination, that the author is a man of excellent principles and fincere piety.

ART. X. An Account of the Introduction of Merino Sheep into the different States of Europe, and at the Cape of Good Hope; defcribing the actual State of thefe Animals, the Number of them, the different Modes of Treatment which they experience, and the Advantages which they render to Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce. From the French of C. P. Lafteyrie, by Benjamin Thompson. With Notes by the Tranflator. 8vo. pp. 245. Harding 1810.

THIS is, indeed, a very full and fatisfactory ac count of the Spanifh fheep naturalized in Europe; beginning with Sweden, into which they were first introduced, by M. Alftroemer, in the year 1715. 1715. It It appears

from the tranflator's dedication of this work, that the exertions of the Prefident of the Royal Society, "in further ince of His Majesty's gracious and paternal views, firft brought this valuable race to Britain; where it promifes to become of fuch incalculable benefit." The author, M. Layfterie, fets forth very clearly the fuccefs which has attended the naturalization of this breed, in countries materially differing from each other; and alfo explains the obstacles which at firft were oppofed to a general adoption of this race. The tranflator, in his own flyle, fays:

"The filly oppofition to this race, founded on the idea, that Merino wo would degenerate for want of the Spanish climate, pafturage, and journeys, has dwindled into infigniti. cance while the afperfions on the quality of the mutton, refuted and crushed by the teft of actual experience, have funk into merited contempt." P. v.

The fubject of this work being highly important to the agriculture of our United Kingdom; and having, there fore, moft juftly occupied a confiderable fhare of the royal attention; we fhall not hesitate to notice it at fome length; producing fuch extracts as may induce our readers to perufe carefully the whole book; in every page of which, they will find ufeful and curious information.

"The Merinos preferve in Sweden their original form. Their fleeces are close and thick. The wool lofes nothing in point of fineness, length, or elafticity; and the quantity of it is greater than in Spain, if the animal has had fufficient food. There are inftances of rams, whofe fleeces have weighed 13lbs. I have remarked that this naturalized race is larger and ftronger than the sheep are in Spain.

"On Mr. Schulzenheim's farm, at Gronfoe, in the province of Upland, 1 found a flock, derived from theep which had been imported from Spain 55 years before, the wool of which, on a comparison with that of Merinos recently brought from the fame country, was not inferior to it either in beauty or fineness.” P. 14.

"Upper Saxony is the country, into which, after Sweden, the Spanish race of sheep is of most antient introduction; and it is in Saxony that this naturalization has been marked with the completeft fuccefs, and has produced the moft advantageous refults. The different indigenous breeds of that country, fome of which produce valuable and others very coarfe wool, have been equally improved by the Spanish fheep imported at two different periods, viz. in 1765 and 1768." P. 25. F 2 "I

"I must confefs that I have feen fheep, which had palpably degenerated; but this was the refult of bad felection, want of care, infufficiency as well as improper quality of food, and un wholesomeness of the fheep-houfes, where, according to the cuftom of the country, the litter and dung are left throughout the whole year." P. 28.

"The price of Merino fheep has materially risen at Rambouillet, in the courfe of the two last years. It has even reached a height which appears extraordinary in a country where we are not accustomed, as in England, to ftake confiderable fums on the acquifition of animals calculated for our purposes. There are many owners of pure Merino flocks, who will not, at prefent, part with a fingle fheep for lefs than 150 or 250 francs. The applications, which are made on every fide, juftify the belief, that thefe prices will, for a confiderable time, be maintained. They may even be expected to increafe, as the prejudices, ftill exifting in the minds of many, die away, and make room for better calculations of profit,

"I must here make mention of a deception introduced into this fpecies of commerce, against which buyers ought to be on their guard. Many breeders fell fheep as being of the fourth or fifth crofs, when they are only of the fecond or third, or even the firft, and again deeply croffed fheep, under the false appellation of pure. Thefe frauds may effentially retard the amelioration of our French breeds, as has been the cafe in other countries. Imperfect animals, however they may be apparently gifted with the requifite qualities, cannot impart perfection, when put to fheep of any common breed, or even to the pureft Merinos *." P. 59.

"The fame deceptions are not unfrequently practised in this country; and cannot be too feverely condemned. The breeder, who, in beginning his experiment, relies on the purity of the ram, which he has purchafed, is, perhaps, ufing a MerinoRyland of the fecond crofs. The confequence is, that the offfpring do not produce wool of the quality, which he was led to expect; the price offered for it is not fatisfactory, even if quite as much as it is worth, and the breed finks into unmerited dif repute, not only in his eftimation, but, from his report, among his neighbours. Every perfon, who thus impofes upon indivi duals, and through them the public, ought to be publicly expofed; in order that thofe, who wish to give this race a trial, bat are not completely acquainted with its diftinguishing fea tures, may not be the dupes of this narrow-minded traffic. He, who would really found a good Spanish flock, must, at the outfet, refolutely put his hand into his purfe, and pay his money. at a market, where purity is indifputable.”

"It was at firft fuppofed that the Merino race would not be capable of producing, in France, as good wool as in Spain; because France did not poffefs the fame foil, or the fame climate, as that fouthern part of Europe. It was alfo faid, that the fineness of the wool being an effect of the journeys, no fuch quality could ever be obtained in France, because it was impoffible that the animals could be fimilarly treated. All these arguments having been refuted by experience, certain perfons have endeavoured to depreciate the Merinos, by maintaining that they were not of a nature to fatten, and that the mutten was of a very bad quality.

"This objection, fpecious, perhaps, in fome refpects, is, nevertheless, completely annihilated by facts. It is true that the mutton in Spain is generally lean, tough, and of a disagreeable tafle; but I have obferved, in my Treatife, that the bad qua lity of the flesh in Spain arifes from the circumftance of none being configned to the butcher until they are no longer of use for breeding, or begin to decay from old age. The butchers then convey them to the commons in the vicinity of towns, where the herbage is so scanty, that they can scarcely find enough to fubfift upon. The Spanish fhepherds keep very few wethers in their travelling flocks, and caftrate the males in general only at an advanced age. Every breed, fubjected to fuch improper treatment, would produce mutton of bad quality. The coarfe woolled fheep of Spain do not fupply mutton more delicate than that of the Merinos; and I have eaten Merino mutton in this country, as favoury as that of the French breeds." P. 67..

"Let us hope that, in future, we fhall frequently read in our journals a paragraph fimilar to the following one, which is extracted from an English newspaper, dated 14th October, 1798:

A ball will annually take place in the city of Lincoln, for the encouragement of the wool trade. Ladies will not be ad. mitted, unless wearing ftaff gowns and petticoats from wool, fpun, woven, and manufactured in this country. Gentlemen will not be allowed to appear unless in woollen dreffes, with the exception of stockings only: filk and cotton are proscribed.” P. 92.

"Prejudice has, in England, as well as in the rest of Europe, oppofed the improvement of fine-woolled fheep. The breeders have fancied that the quality of the fleece was dependent on climate, foil, and pafturage; whence arofe the erroneous fuppofition that the Merinos could not thrive in that Ifland; or at leaft that they would only fupply wool of an inferior kind. The merchants and manufacturers, imbued with the fame prejudices as the breeders and farmers, embraced a fimilar opinion; but they were led to it by different motives. They were afraid left

F3

fuccefs

fuccefs should cause a diminution in the profits afforded them by exterior commerce.

"The English, who have not known this breed in its living ftate much more than a dozen years*, have fince that time imported a few of thefe valuable animals. When the interested and patriotic fpirit, which animates this nation, is confidered, no doubt can exift but that the Merino race will rapidly be fpread through that country; and become a new fource of wealth to a people, who fo eagerly avail themselves of every fource opened to industry." P. 112.

This work is divided into two general parts; the fecond of which begins thus:

1

"I believe that I have fully proved the fuccefs, attendant on the naturalization of Merino fheep in every country of Europe, which has made the attempt; among them, feveral materially differing from Spain as to foil and climate. It remains for me to fhew, in this fecond part, the methods, purfued in various countries, with refpect to the treatment and prefervatiou of fo valuable a race." P. 136.

In this, as in the former part of the work, we find an abundance of useful information. But probably, the fpecimens already produced will be fufficient to convince our readers, that this is one of the most important agricultural works which have lately been offered to the notice of the public.

ART. XI. A Topographical Dictionary of the Dominion of Wales; exhibiting the Names of the feveral Cities, Towns, Parishes, Townships, and Hamlets, with the County and Divifion of the County, to which they respectively belong. The Valuation and Patrons of Ecclefiaftical Benefices, and the Tutelary Saint of each Church. The Refident Population, according to the Returns made to Parliament, in 1801; and the Amount of the Parochial Affements, according to the Returns made to Parliament, in 1803. The Distance and Bearing of every Place from the nearest Poft-Office, and of the Poft-Offices from the Metropolis. Markets and Fairs. Members of Parliament, and Corporations. Free Schools, Petty Seffions and Affizes, To which is added, Mifcellaneous Information refpecting Monaftic Foundations, and other Matters of Local Hiftory.Com'

* This was written in 1802,"