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Rams to Ewes of very near relationship to each other, and thus the stock shortly will degenerate and become small, as is the case in every species of animal.  Another thing at which I was much concerned and vexed was, to find some of the Sheep scabby, slightly only I am happy to say; but it is very bad indeed that there should be so.

The second letter from my Nephew is dated Cocrabil, 4th Dec. 1835.
To W. Leslie, Esq. of Warthill.

"Cocrabil, 4th December, 1835.
"Concerning my Uncle's affairs here, I have spoken in former letters to you and to him; but now that I have had the opportunity of observing on the spot for two months, I have given him full and correct details of every thing; which you will of course see: so I shall endeavour to repeat as little of what I mentioned to him as possible.  From what I heard from people down the country, and which I mentioned to you in former letters, I expected to find things ill gone about here; but I have been much surprised at what I see and have seen.  Yes, I must say, it far exceeds any idea I had formed.  Things are conducted very badly indeed, and I can assure my Uncle every week longer that the Joint Concern lasts, he will be a loser.  You will see what I say of Mr. Jones in my Uncle's letter; he is a highly principled, honourable man, but his extensive mercantile business prevents him attending to this and his other concerns in the farming line; and though he were to think a little about them, he is utterly ignorant of any thing of the kind.  Both he and Mrs. J. have been very kind to me since I arrived in the colony.  You will see by my despatches to my Uncle, that I am most anxious that a division of the Flocks should take place.  I have told my Uncle every thing I can learn on the subject, and freely given him my opinion as to the best way of conducting his Flock in future.  If he takes the same view of things as I have done, of course all my endeavour will be to conduct his affairs in the best manner; and if I get as much insight into Sheep management during the next twelve months as I have done since I came to the Colony, I would confidently take charge of his Sheep and property, with the full conviction that I could conduct them in a much better way than they have ever yet been.  There might appear a good deal of conceit in this last saying; but I do not tell the world so, and I trust I will always say to my Parents what I think, without reserve.  It is true, as I say to my Uncle, that Jones suffers equally with him, but who has he (Jones) to blame?  Why, himself.  He is head here, and

 

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