Peter Coutts to Cornelius Van Buren, 1882-03-12

London, 12th of March 1882

Mr. C. Van Buren, Mayfield, Calif.

My dear Mr. Van Buren,

I have duly received your welcome letter of 17th of February, and I have to thank you for the crop you have put in good order on our Rancho. -- According your estimation, you have plowed and seeded about 600 acres in wheat and 25 acres in oats. That's all right. -- I fear the crop of oats will give poor results, except if you have put it in the triangular place wich [which] is at the foothill, between the flume of the spring's tunnel, and the two roads, one of wich is planted with poplars. Oats require a fresh ground; but, 25 acres are not an important thing.

-- In regard to the Horses your ideas meet mine and I give you my full approval. Please call Mr. Chase, and pray him to sell by auction, without reserves, when he will think it the best, all the stock you judge unnecessary to keep.

So, you will sell,

Elmira, Elmora, all-moraK, Blackpeter, Hermani, Queen, Reine, Louisa, Betsy, Menlo Park mare (from Maloney) and the black mare from Stanley of Mayfield. --, and besides you will add another one to make twelve, if you like. I leave the twelfth to your choice.

Please sell also, all cows, calves and bulls, except

2 Holstein bulls 2 Ayrshire bulls 9 Holstein cows or heifers, and 9 Ayrshire cows or heifers,

We will keep 22 or 24 of the best ones, and you shall send all the others as we have done two years ago. --

I am proud and happy to see our thoroughbred horses doing so finely as you say in the hands of Joel. I am very thankfull to him. As for our trotting stock, I will be pleased seeing his improvements, and I will reward, according their merits drivers and trainers. Please tell particularly to Joe, to take the best care of Flou Flou. I think she will be a first-rate runner, when young,

and afterward a good breed mare, because we will not ruin her in races -- unless she would be another Mollie MacCarthy.

As for breeding I don't know why I don't like General Benton so well as Electioneer. You have bred Gipsey to General Benton, that's all right, but she was giving good colts with the former. ...

-- You are doing well in breeding only our best mares, I mean: [Jennie C. Bellina?], Evangeline, plaything to Monday; -- and Fidelia, Emblem, Addia, Fanchette and Gipsey to the stallion you think the best. -- We will have quite enough, with nine colts by year, and I think with 8, 7, or six. Quality is allways better than quantity. The time will come soon when we will breed no more Fanchette. What do you think of her?

In fact, I don't want to keep many horses, I don't like poor or middle ones. I want only the best -- if I can have it.

-- I am now in good health and able to attend my business, and the education of my children. Physically, thanks God, they are all right,

but, intellectually, they require great care and study.

We have had a very mild winter in England, and as the Spring is now coming, all our fears with the change of climate are over.

I don't know yet if I could go this summer to Mayfield, I hope and I desire to do so, and to pay you a long visit, but I will write you on this subject, only the next month of May.

Did you sell some hay of our last crop? If our wheat don't turn well in grain, we will have wheat hay for sale, and I think advisable to make some room in our barns.

Please give me again the address of Mr. Chase. I have lost it during my sickness or if may be, burned with old papers.

With my best compliments to Mrs. Van Buren and my best wishes for your son, Tremain, my dear Mr. Van Buren, your very truly,

Peter P. Coutts