From Thomas Russell to George Cupples   18 June 1869

Dear Sir,

I am favoured with the note you referred to when I saw you yesterday.

I fear I can give you little, or I should say no information that can be of service to you in the enquiry you desire to make. As a matter of course in most of flocks, many Lambs die either at birth or shortly afterwards, and shepherds as a rule are not over communicative to their employer on these mishaps— I never ask my shepherd to give me exact numbers until the males have been castrated which is done in the month of May; this year on the 12^th of May from 167 Ewes there survived Males 124. Females 112—¹

Although this is no data I have always found that at weaning time there were more Males than Females.

It quite escaped me to talk about the Terrier Yesterday   I do not wish “Dan” back as he leads the big dog astray. If you can get the “Cocker” we spoke of cheap, and let “Dan” assist the purchase it might be a good arrangement. I wont pay a large price for any dog at present, as I have been spending too much of my spare cash on horses &c of late!!!

Excuse this hurried note as I could not have written you for a day or two had I let this post escape

Yours truly | John Russell