Levi McKeen letter to Thomas Rotch, Poughkeepsie, 5th mo 1810

               
  B-121-3
                     Poughkeepsie, 5th mo 1810
  Respected Friend
                 I am under obligation to thee for the
  [illegible] seed which were safely delivered. the demand for
  Marino Rams is truely astonishing. I have sold one of
  my ram lamgs borne since I was at thy house for
  1500$ And last week I gave a person the refusal of my
  Queen Bess and her ram lamb at 3500$ for three
  days until he should raise the money which he has
  failed of.   they are then yet for sale, the lamb would
  in a minute bring me 1500$ but he is near sighted
  which presume will not injure him but on this
  account I ask only 1000$ for him and 2500$ for
  his dam. 
      For my three quarter blood ewes I ask from 175$
  250$ and for the rams from 50$ tot 75$. I am
  now fully convinced that these sheep are not by
  nature designed to breed the first year, for neither my