University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Sexton encloses a photograph (not present) of a striped mouse dun pony and recalls seeing an unusually striped bay horse. She also mentions visiting Ewart to see his hybrids some years ago with the agricultural college.

Elwes will send his fat-tailed sheep to be served by Ewart's ram and could also send some 'so-called Siberian' sheep which he is buying. He asks Ewart to confirm when would be a suitable time for him to visit to see his Fairisle sheep, and to settle what crosses he will make to exhibit at Bristol. He mentions some brown and white sheep of an old Spanish breed belonging to Lady Campbell.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes makes arrangements for visiting Ewart after his trip to Yorkshire. He thinks that he will soon discard the Hebridean and spotted breeds and confine himself to brown Shetlands which he will cross with Manx, Black Welsh and White Cheviots crossed with Norfolk. He also plans to try some Exmoors this year, which thrive well on Salisbury Plain. He asks whether Ewart or Cowan have any Shetland sheep arriving that year.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes asks Ewart to let him know when he can visit his sheep. He has shorn the rams but the brown Siberian will have to be killed as he has a cancerous growth on his jaw. He describes what sheep cross-breeding he intends to do and states that he must move the Wallachian sheep from Hungary.

The letter is undated.

McDonald reports that he and his brother are quite ready to begin experiments with the dun five year-old pony stallion and makes arrangements to visit Ewart briefly on his way to London.

Cecil writes that the Chartley-Vaynol bull has set three Highland cows again and he now wishes to send the bull away although he is reluctant to have it killed.

Frieda Cecil finishes the rest of the letter after her husband has been called away. On behalf of Lord Cecil she offers to bull to Ewart if Cadzow won't take him, as well as two brown calves, and makes arrangements with Ewart about staying with him.

Alexander offers to send Ewart his white mare and asks if he may visit Ewart to see his ponies.

Alexander thanks Ewart for allowing him to see his ponies, and states that he will send the white mare before his visit to Edinburgh.

Alexander writes concerning what money he would take for the sale of the filly, and invites Ewart to come and see his lambs. He adds that he has got a perfectly marked white calf from a pure fawn Jersey by the white bull.

Ridgeway congratulates Ewart on the announcement of his marriage. He reports that he has finally got a photograph of the Somali wild ass in Regent's Park from Dando. He mentions forthcoming papers about quaggas from Pocock and Lydekker and concludes by enquiring whether the quagga's markings and its bay colour are to be attributed to its living under the same climactic conditions as the Libyan horse.