'My brother and I have read over together the Essay on Sheep their natural history &c which we so often talked about it is extremely curious and interesting and very original he has ordered me to sell it to the highest bidder for a magazine Encyclopaedia or any such thing but on the condition that the purchaser is to publish it in a small volume or pamphlet afterwards with notes and an appendix by me. I think Boyd and you might venture to give him £30 or at least 25£ for the copyright.'