Elwes, Henry John, 1846-1922 (traveller and botanist)

Elwes writes that he has received a letter from Duncan Robertson of Kirkwall to say that he had got Elwes a pair of North Ronaldsay sheep. Elwes will ask him to send them to Ewart and he is welcome to keep them for a year if they are of interest. He is also enclosing 50 copies of the circular and can provide a list of the recipients.

Elwes is sending Ewart samples of Iceland wool which he would like him to compare them with Cowan's. He judges it to be less fine than the Shetland and not as long as the white wool. He also lists the names of the recipients of the circular he has sent.

Elwes writes that if Duncan Robertson cannot keep the two North Ronaldsay sheep until September, he has been instructed to send them to Ewart.

Elwes writes that Lord Fortescue had not mentioned his sheep's Eastern origin, but that he will provide further particulars if requested. He also encloses a photograph of the white Welsh ram 'Twm Shon Dafydd 4th'.

Elwes agrees with Ewart on Wallace's proposition concerning the Karakul sheep, and states that he has declined to sign the application unless it is considerably modified, with Ewart's original writing to be reinstated.

Elwes writes that he is sending Ewart his paper for him to check, and asks him to select some photographs after consulting Eagle Clarke. He is also returning the original application as altered by Wallace, and recommends that Ewart make contact with Carruthers.

Elwes writes that he has no doubt that Carruthers will publish his discoveries when he returns. He asks that Ewart return the proof of his paper by 01 December at the latest. He commiserates over Ewart's farm and promises to help him when he returns to England the following year.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that he would be very glad to get a proof back from Eagle Clark by 01 December.

The letter is not dated, although marked 'Sunday', which appears to place it the Sunday before 01 December, ie the 26 November 1911.

Elwes thanks Ewart for the draft of the application which he hopes to submit shortly. If Ewart can secure the grazing on the hill behind his farm, Elwes will send him 30 Shetland ewes. He will take the five sheep that are for sale for £9 and offers Ewart the Herdwick ram that Mr Howard of Greystoke is selling, if Ewart would like to try him with some Cheviot or Blackface ewes. He advises Ewart to get the printed results of experiments at the Cumberland Experimental Farm near Penrith.

Elwes reports that Hall, a mutual acquaintance, approves of Ewart's paper and feels that it paves the way for something on a larger scale later. Elwes has received a pair of Rocky sheep, and asks Ewart if he wants a long-tailed black Welsh ram lamb. He has heard that the Board of Agriculture are trying to get a farm where animals for exporting will be tested for tuberculosis and imported animals received in quarantine.