Yours of the 24 th May came duly to hand,

The plan you have determined on of furnishing your state with merino sheep, is another proof of your zeal for the independance of your country, but that is nothing new. Sir, when Colo. Humphreys was in this city1 some time ago, he put us all to silence with the constant sound of patriotism and his great exertions to promote domestic manufacturies. now sir to let that gentleman see, what patriotism is, and where it is to be found in its purity.

will you give me leave to have that part of your letter made public, where it treats of your method of furnishing your state gratis with ful bread merinoes.

Sir I have made all possible enquiry respecting the post rider you make mention of in your letter, but can hear of none—that goes from here to Charlottesville, there is one rider from Fredericksburgh to Charlottesville once a weak. I can think of no other way of getting the dog you were so good as to give me, but by going for him, and this I would freely do, If my circumstances would admit it. but as I am struggling to pay some money I owe to the bank, and some to Mr du Pont, I cannot feel any inclination to part with money2 for any other purpose whatever, althoug I consider the dog as a verry valueable3 present—an would give any thing that I could spare, to get him here, I do not know whether Doctr Thornton will send for the one you offer to him or not, as he appears to make but light of the present, he would much rat[her] you would give him your merino ram &c. &c. &c.

The Doctr askd me whether I would have the male or female I answered, that which one mr Jefferson chuse to give me I wold be Satisfied with.

Sir, I wish to sell one of my three quarter bread rams, and as Mr J. W. Eppes asked me several times last winte[r] to sell him one of them, I would wish him to kno[w] that one of them is now to be sold, I expect4 to get 500 Do [llars] for him, as he is thought by all that has seen both. that he is a finer sheep than any of the fourteen that Colo. Humphreys brought here, or any of the 12 lately from Lisbon, his wool is as fine, and in fa[ct] said by some to be finer, than any ever seen in this place, his fleece weighs 6lbs 12oz partly washed before shor[n] and the best English Sheep Shearer in this place assured me that there is more than a half pound left on him in shearing as I do not know where a letter would find mr Eppes, will you Sir be so good as to communicate this to him, and I would wish to have an answer as soon as it could be mo[st] convenient, as Mr John C. Scott of Virginnia ha[s] offered me 150 Dollars for the season of him, and I b[elieve?] he would give me 200 Dollars, if I would consent to let hi[m.] I will send you a sample of the wool to compare with the wool of your imported ram