P. S. If you should obtain any accurate knowledge of the otter breed of sheep which has lately made its appearance in your State, I shall be much obliged by your communicating the facts to me. Should it be true that this is a new race, totally distinct in its formation from all others before existing on the globe, its recent origin, which can be traced, presents a phenomenon in natural history worthy of being thoroughly investigated, At a meeting of the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture, August 28, 1802, a letter was read from Colonel Humphreys, late Minister at the Court of Spain, to the second Vice-President, upon the subject of the Merino breed of sheep, of which he has imported into the State of Connecticut seventy-five ewes and twenty-five rams, with a specimen of their wool, and upon the importance of propagating said breed in the northern and eastern States, &c. &c. Voted, That the thanks of the Trustees be presented to Colonel Humphreys for his valuable and interesting communication this day made, and that the second Vice-President be requested to present the same, and furnish him with a copy of this vote. Extract from the Minutes. (Attest) S. PARKER, Corresponding Sec'ry. A LETTER FROM THE REV. DOCTOR PARKER. Boston, December 15, 1802. SIR, Hon. DAVID HUMPHREYS, Esq. THE Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture, at their meeting, held October 29, 1802, voted that a Gold Medal be presented to you by said Society, for your patriotic exertions in introducing into New-England one hundred of the Spanish Merino breed of Sheep; and appointed me a Committee to procure and transmit the same to you. $ It is with pleasure I have executed this commission, and now transmit to you the Medal accompanying this; and, in the name of the Trustees, request your acceptance of the same, as a small testimony of the high sense they entertain of your merit in accomplishing this arduous enterprize. I have the honour to be, With sentiments of the highest esteem and respect, Your most obedient and very humble servant, UPON my arrival in this city yesterday, I received the Medal in gold, which the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture did me the honour to present to me from that Society, in consequence of my having introduced into NewEngland a small flock of the Merino breed of sheep; accompanied by your highly esteemed letter, dated at Boston, on the 15th of December last. I request you will be pleased, Sir, to express to the respectable Society of which you are the Corresponding Secretary, the great sensibility with which I accept this distinguished token of their flattering approbation. Should our mutual hope and expectation of meliorating the breed of sheep in America, by the introduction of this race, be fulfilled, I shall consider myself peculiarly fortunate for having been instrumental in producing an event, from which I shall derive more pleasure and consolation than from any other transaction of my life. In all cases, I shall find an inexhaustible source of satisfaction in a recollection of the motives for the importation on my part, and the appreciation of them on that of your Society. Since my return from the seat of government I have not visited my Merinos, which are about eight miles distant from this place. I propose to see them scon; and should any thing have occurred that may be interesting to your Society, I shall take the liberty of writing to you. My friend, to whose care the Medal was addressed, did not think proper to forward it to me, while on my journey, for fear of accidents. My absence, somewhat longer than was calculated, must therefore be offered as an apology for my not having acknowledged the receipt of your letter at an earlier period. For your trouble in executing the commission, as well as for your politeness in making the communication, I beg leave, at this late hour, to tender my sincere thanks, together with the respectful assurances of the great consideration and esteem with which I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most devoted and most humble servant, D. HUMPHREYS. |