Balfour writes that her brother has been unsuccessful in attempting to gain Lord Elgin's help for funding for a research farm. She enquires whether anyone has tried procuring immunity for horses from the Tsetse fly by permitting infection in zebras.

Linton informs Ewart that he will be going to South-East Africa to breed and cross zebras. He would like to see Ewart's animal station and receive some advice.

Hill passes on a report from Stordy that no zebra mares had yet been bred with stallions in England. He mentions that he is awaiting Stordy's report on the zebra farm, and hopes to meet Ewart at the next Polo Pony dinner.

Brand informs Ewart that he has recently returned from Egypt hoping to call upon Professor Wallace, who would have introduced them. He writes that he has photographs which he took on the Aboukir Company's mule breeding farm near Alexandria of a mare with twin horse and mule foals. He comments that this must be a very rare instance of 'double conception' and says he would be happy to show Ewart the photographs.

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.

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 will read Ewart's lecture on the origin of domesic animals with great interest. He has asked for some photographs of sheep skulls in the Museum at Cambridge. He reports that he has received a letter from Hudson Beare asking Elwes' opinion of Ewart's farm at Fairslacks, as someone has objected to it being too high and cold.

Elwes recommends that Ewart keeps the fat-tailed ram in a shed and that the shepherd assists him when the ewes are brought to him. Elwes recommends where Ewart can get some spotted ewes, his own having all been served. He recommends how Ewart might freshen up the soil of his farm.

The year is not written on the letter.

Elwes writes that he is glad to hear that the farm is arranged and that Ewart will be able to carry out some more extensive experiments. He enquires about the fat-tailed ram at Liverpool, as he would like to see him, and remarks that the weather at Colesbourne will suit him more than Ewart's farm at Fairslacks. He suggests that Ewart send over some live specimens of sheep to the new Zoological Gardens in Edinburgh.

The year is not written on the letter.