From George Rolleston   16 August 1878

[Enclosure]

Ridott Stephenson ^Co. Illinois. U.S.

June 28. 1878.

Dear Sir,

The beginning of May last, I had a letter from our mutual friend, Alfred Hill Es^q. asking me to procure a Pig’s head having wattles on, as he saw one in my in my hog-yard when here. The year before he was here, M^r. Hunt⁴ & myself had used a male hog having wattles, not because he had wattles but because we thought he had a very vigorous constitution: about 5 pigs of his had wattles more or less uniform, & those M^r. Hill noticed (not much escaped his notice.) After receipt of his letter, I at once began to look for a hog with wattles & only found one hog & he had one wattle & a small lump where the other ought to be. I drove about my neighbourhood, say, a circle of 7 miles one day, & that was all I found. I then ceased till after corn planting & last week made a business of it: the weather is hot & salt w^d. not preserve unless the brains were taken out & the note said, “cut off a hog’s head—” so I found a jar of alcohol to put it in. I found 3 little pigs in the country south of me. I spent 3 days before I succeeded but when I try to do a thing, I do not like to fail. I enclose the receipt of the American Express Company: they thought the charges w^d. be about 14/ your money to Liverpool. I am aware it will be costly, but then a few years from now, there will not be a specimen left. There is no such thing as a breed of them in existence, an occasional “Sport” is all, & farmers do not use them to breed from because they are of a wild nature, and difficult to father young. The head I have sent you I consider an excellent specimen, as I saw them 30 years ago, Except two small dark spots on the head, probably a cross from “Poland Chinas”⁵ our favourite hog. I have done my best, & hope it will arrive safely & answer your expectations. Of course had the hog been older, the wattles w^d. be larger, but I c^d. not find a larger with any. These wattles are well developed for the age of the hog.— I have expended for the Pig, alcohol, tin case one sovereign, & if it arrives safely you can allow me one sovereign for my time & use of my Horse & Buggy & making the wooden case. & please send a P.O. Order for £2.0.0. to

Charles Blakeway | Dorhill | Near Kidderminster | Worcestershire | England

If it sh^d. not be satisfactory, send only one pound, and I will lose my time & trouble, for I c^d. not do it again for that pay, & shall be vexed if the specimen does not please you.

90° in shade. Indian corn growing 3″ a day, but hot for Cereals.

Now Sir, if this is a failure from any cause, let me know, for you must have one of them in any way. I did not put any water to the alcohol, & that I packed it in was not what I first used. I think if I had to get another I w^d. advertize in the county south of this. Still they are so rare that a man who had one, might not notice it. I have written M^r. Hill by this mail, but he put no address on his letter, so I only know, Birmingham England. I directed Alfred Hill. J.P. As you correspond, if he does not receive it, tell him, I wrote.

I remain | Yours respectfully | Herbert Blakeway | address as headed.