Ewart thanks Elwes for the wool samples and the details about the Austrian Skemschaf. The four sheep have not yet arrived from Greystoke, but he doubts they are allowed into Scotland yet. Cowan is coming to see the Shetland ram from Fairisle and that he will use it with Elwes' ewes if it is judged to be better than Alexander's ram.

Alexander is relieved that Elwes enjoyed inspecting his sheep, although he considers Elwes' aim of trying to manufacture a breed of sheep with the hardiness of Welsh and the size and fleece of Lincoln longwools to be an impossibility. He reports the birth of a fat-tailed ram lamb out of his best ewe. Ewart should treat Mr [Guracy?]'s letter with caution, as he is an untrained observer and Alexander has known him to make errors.

Alexander asks whether Ewart still has the Przewalski's colt, as his own colt is ill. He reports that his various sheep flocks are looking their best, and that he wishes Ewart would try on Mendelian lines to get rid of the wool on tame sheep by crossing with wild ones.

Alexander reports that his colt is dead. He believes he has enough evidence to prove that in the matter of wool, sheep are not Mendelian, and provides details from his own breeding experiments.

Alexander writes that he would be delighted to take Ewart's colt and breed from him as he wishes. He will try to send Ewart any samples of wool that he wants, and is glad that Ewart is willing to speak to the Board of Agriculture on his behalf.