The Rev. Mr. John
Ramsay
Minister of the Gospel Kirkmichael
Near _______________Maybole
N. Britain
My Dear
Sir,
Liverpool 8th August, 1797
I received yours of
the 29th June. I waited a favourable opportunity for making the
enquiry regarding Mr. Walkers affairs otherwise yours would have been answered
long [ago] on this. It gives me much pleasure to find your health is quite
reestablished and that Mrs. Ramsay and the Bairns [Scottish term for children] are well.
Long may you and them
continue to be a blessing and to comfort to each other.
As to Mr. Walkers
affairs, I have received the following information when the acct came of his
death and that the Messrs. Andersons & Mr. Seller were his Executors. Mr.
Seller proposed to the Andersons that he would take all the goods that were in
the store at primecost adding there to the charges of freight, insurance and any
charge [cind?] whatever to pay a certain price for the Negroes that belong to
the store. [cind?] at the time there was a ship coming from America loaded with
goods for the store on the Coast, he offered to take these on its arrival at the
rate of 25 _____ advance by way of profit. The Andersons would not agree to that
proposal nor would they say what terms they wanted. Sometime thereafter Mr.
Henderson, Mr. Seller's partner being in London called on the Andersons. One of
them said there that the offer that Mr. Sellers had made he thought a fair &
libral offer. The other said they had too much business of their own to be
troubled with other peoples business, and it seems matters stand. So, Mr. Seller
tells me there he owes some money to the estate that he wanted to pay and wrote
the Andersons to know where they cashed the money _ ___ be __ that it maybe
b_____for behave of the family but he has rec'd no answer from them and that he
had caused his attorney to write them on the same subject. In short it seems as
if these Gentlemen are determined to do nothing else in the business. I am of
the opinion that the estate must have suffered considerably by the delay that
has already taken place. Mr. Seller informs me that had his offer been accepted
of there would have been ten thousand pounds sterling realized before this time
for the family. A pity indeed that such a fair offer, should have been
disregarded.
Mr. Seller also
informs me that he was for forwarding the children to Scotland that they may be
under the ___enence of their Grandfather but that he could not obtain
their consent say the consent of the Andersons. This is what I have from Mr.
Sellers himself. I embraced a favourable time when him & me were by
ourselves, as he seems willing to communicate everything regarding the affairs
should those you further want to know. I dare say he will inform me. It’s a
great pity that the ___ should suffer for want of attention.
I am happy to
inform you that we are all in tolerable good health, Annie is much better than
she was when she came home. I have got both James & John home lately. They
were both complaining when in America because now … Mrs. McCrie is at Boston
she when there with her sister Sally.
I pray let me hear
from you soon. I will always __ much happiness that you and yours are well. Good
health is the first blessing that the human spirit can enjoy as those that all
other things of a temporal nature that the words can confer will be but little
relished. But as you say the comfort of religion being superior to anything that
the corporal part can either enjoy. It is better than riches and even health. It
directs us how to use riches to the best advantage, and strengthens the mind to
bear up under the trials & disappointments of life and even to maintain a
degree of tranquillity under the most severe afflictions that must be unknown to
all --- does not feel something of the power of those promises that are held
forth in the gospel to the faithful. Give compliments to Mrs. Ramsay in the
kindest manner. Please remember to all friends you may have opportunity of
seeing. I am
My Dear
Sir
Yours most sincerely,
David
McClure
