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a diſcharge for 200l. Scots that I was owing to your father-in-law, and his own friend Mr. Muirhead, which diſcharge I gave to John Ewart, when he deſired the money; and he, at my deſire, produced it to you, which you ſuſtained.
A great many of the like inſtances were told, of which I cannot remember the perſons' names and things; but, ſays he, what vexes me more than all theſe, is the injuſtice I did to Homer Maxwell, tenant to my Lord Nithſdale, for whom I was factor. I borrowed 2000 merks from him, 500 of which he borrowed from another hand: I gave him my bond, and, for reaſons I contrived, I obliged him to ſecrecy: He died within the year, and left nine children, and his wife had died before himſelf. I came to ſeal up his paper's for my Lord's ſecurity; his eldeſt daughter intreated me to look thro' them all, and to give her an account what was their ſtock, and what was their debt. I very willingly undertook it, and in going through the papers I put my own bond in my pocket. His circumſtances proving bad, his nine childring are now ſtarving. Theſe things I deſire you to repreſent to my wife; and take her brother with you, and let them be immediately rectified, for ſhe has a ſufficient fund to do it upon; and if it were done, I think I would be eaſy and happy; therefore I hope you will make no delay.
After a ſhort pauſe, I anſwered, 'Tis a