Volume 62: Walter Stevenson Davidson papers, 1815-1846: No. 122

[Page 122]

7

bring the details into the narrow compass they now occupy - the issue of Provisions, Money, Expenditure - being made up from Returns furnished me by the Overseer; and if the Expenses appear large, you at all events know the extent.  You will see that the expense of management has always been paid by the sale of Male Sheep, thus leaving the females to multiply, and the Wool to pay the interest of Money.  The delivery of the Sheep did not take place on the 1st of January 1837, as intended, Mr. Leslie not being prepared to receive them; but for the Expenses incurred until the final delivery took place, he has arranged with me, and I shall have no further Account to send you.  There will be a small sum to receive yet for Rams sold, one-half of which I will pay Mr. Leslie, on your account, when received: in one item for the sale of Rams to Mr. Busby, my overseer took 5,000 pounds of flour in payment, thus costing me 3d. per pound for what I have only charged 2d. per pound in the Account.  In 1835 that article was very dear, and the expense of conveyance from Maitland to the interior, exorbitant, that being a year of excessive drought, and in which I may say we lost nearly the whole increase of Lambs, from the poverty of the Mothers being unable to support them; and this will in some degree account for the reason of what you consider the small number of the 'Joint Flocks' on 1st January, 1837; but let me remind you what the great bulk of this number were Female Sheep, and consequently the more valuable.

"My Flock now count about 6,500, and you will have at least an equal number,and perhaps somewhat more.  We have the prospect of a fine winter for food, and I look forward to an increase in the September Lambing, of at least 2,000; it is now we begin to feel the effects of compound breeding, and a handsome Revenue thereafter ought to follow.  With regard to the small supply of Wool which you allude to, I assure you, that all that came from the Sheep's backs was sent to London, as I never dreamt of selling any in the Colony.  If the season is favourable, and feed good, the crop of wool will be heavy; but if a bad season and scanty fare, the crop will be light; and 1835 and 1836 were indifferent years for a large clip.  I must here free myself from the apparent blame you place upon my recommending (as Mr. Leslie informed you) him to draw the Bill you advise me you paid of his, in favor of my House; I really gave him no such advice, as I was out of town when the Bill was drawn, and Mr. Donaldson sent it with the others, in my absence to his Father, as a remittance.  Mr. Leslie, however, has drawn on you two other Bills since this, and received from us their value."