Romsey, Dec. 23.
PRICES OF MEAT.— To the Editor of the Advertiser.— Sir,—I have always been a constant reader of your paper, and have admired the readiness with which you have admitted any article touching a public matter, and therefore the more confidently beg your indulgence in the present case. What I complain of is, the high and exorbitant price of meat at Romsey. A friend of mine is just returned from Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and assures me that the best meat at the city of Worcester is only 6d per pound, and in the fashionable town of Cheltenham 6½d, whilst we who obtain our supply at Romsey, decidedly an agricultural district, are obliged to pay 8d, and till Michaelmas 8½d, for all meat, including shoulders and necks; but then my butcher declares he kills nothing but the very best wether mutton! I will just hint to you, Mr. Editor, in secret, that he looks very sheepish when he makes this assertion, and that I am not lamb enough to believe it—my teeth would tell a very different tale. Excuse this trifling on a serious matter— serious to those who have large families, as well as to all who have small means, especially at this dreary season, when the poor require so much assistance. But as Dr. Johnson and I (I) both say, there is nothing like figures. Allow me to inform you that I know a person, and he has a noble flock of sheep, who bought, at the late Petersfield Fair, capital dry fat ewe sheep, weighing by estimation 14 or 16 pounds, per quarter, for 24s each, which would bring the mutton (I have not been at school lately) to, I believe, about 5d per pound; but, I forgot the Romsey butchers never kill ewe mutton. — I am, Mr. Editor, your humble servant, A LOVER OF MUTTON AND BEEF.