William S. Buring letter to Thomas Rotch, New York 8 mo 27, 1810

              A-87-2
page 1

Esteemed Friend                    New York 8 mo 27th 1810
Thomas Rotch
                             Thy acceptable letter of 22nd Inst came to hand this afternoon. I had heard of thy indispositon, & attributed thy silence to that cause. The information thou hast communicated, will probably be of much use to me in my future movements. I reached home the 20 Inst with a pair of fine Merinos, which I purchased at Cape Ann; thy had been landed but 9 days - many of the flock were in very poor order and some sickly, having had a passage of 50 days from Lisbon; but having the choice of them I was able to select a pair in good health, of fine size, 3 years old, and bearing wool I think as fine as any I have seen. They were shorn after being put on board at Lisbon. 60 yielded 315 lbs that which has grown since, is no doubt coarser, than if they hd been in good pasture; but as thou art a better judge, and can make a proper allowance, I send thee a small sample from each, taken from the shoulder. they have been viewed by Fitch, Williams & Co large proprietors of Merinos- by Jordan Wright, Silas Titus, Crown im[illegible] & others, who profess considerable knowledge of this kind of Sheep; they have all pronounced them good. A person to whom I was introduced at Cape Ann, ascertained the price at which they could be had, without the Owners having a knowledge of my being in the place; by this means I obtained the pair for $1000- several persons who are desirous of purchasing have admired them so much that I believe they could be disposed of very readily for $2250, but I have no intention to sell either. I expect to take them up to my place in about 10 days, and intended to tarry there about as long, wish to superintend the making of a few Ricks, on the improved plan. I think that I understand thy description, but by the drawing at foot as I understand it,