Dugald McTavish letter 4.29.1818 to David Caldwell - Edinburgh 

Mgadale was yesterday favored with your letter of the 25^th and its enclosure, when I desired himself to write to you on the subject of his money matters.  I was aware of the necessity for your having his signature to show to the ???  He is obliged by your attention to this matter. 

I use the freedom to prefix a copy of three letters in which you will perceive I have personally a very deep interest in the hope that will take the trouble to call in my behalf on Major Plenderleath to ascertain what are the intentions of my young namesake in the subject.  Neither of these parties have as yet returned any answer to my letters and as I understand that Mr. Malcolm Poltalloch has made an offer for the lands, I shall feel very unhappy until I learn how it has been treated. 

It is not to be supposed that a party in my situation can divest himself of partiality in his views of a transaction of this kind.  But after making every allowance for this feeling I can not for my soul conceive any good or honorable pretext that Mr. William McTavish can urge for putting me in a worse situation as to these lands than ??  from which his father voluntarily stepped forward and relieved me. 

He should ask no more from me that repayment of the sum his father advanced with interest and any expense of management that may have been disbursed.  He giving credit for the ??  with rents which latter from the date of the transaction have considerably exceeded 5 percent on the sum advanced. 

Should the young man and his friend view the matter in a different light however here cannot possibly exist any apology for his selling to Mr. Malcolm and any other person without first putting it in my power to purchase an equal terms to secure my having an opportunity at some future time of redeeming his property.  My curators price considerable under what could have been procured for at the time.  This sacrifice was in fact considered no sacrifice such was the confidence of my friends in the generous motives and which they imputed Mc MacTavish voluntary interposition in behalf of my fathers family.  As matters are now liked to turn out however I fear I shall have reason throughout life to curse the house in which my friends allowed themselves to be duped by professions of friendship which though certainly sincere on the part of Mr. McTavish have only had the effect of placing me at the ?? of a son who can not possess a spark of honorable feeling could not have hesitated for a moment as to the line of conduct he should pursue if there were a spark of honorable feeling in his disposition. 

The state of this young mans health is said to be very bad.  I therefore entreat you will not lose a moment in seeing Mr. Plenderleath and if your find (which I have little doubt your shall) that there is a chance of my getting this property at the sum Mr. McTavish favor me for it, I beg you will learn from Mr. Plenderleath at what price I may have it and if you can close a bargain by with Mr. William McTavish at any sum below sis??/ Thousand guineas your may do so without waiting further authority from us.  One half of the prices payable in 1818  the other at 1819.  In case you get this transaction so closed, tell Major Plenderleath that I entreat he will not let any human being know that the lands are sold for some months as I have very particular reasons for wishing and keep the transaction private.   

Whatever may be the result of the negotiations I bet you will observe similar secrecy???.  The sum offered by Mr. Malcolm is so good if it can be kept from him that I am in the field he probably will raise it higher.    Should he discern that I am looking after the purchase there will be the devil to pay as he can afford to give any price rather than lose it.  You will therefore take care to commit yourself to paper with Major Plenderleath and Mr. William McTavish on the subject until your find that your doing so is to be conclusive as otherwise the document would be instantly shown to Malcolm as a lever to raise his offer.  I have lost all faith in the honor of these partied.  It would scarcely surprise me that they should deny having received the letters of which I enclose a copy as it might perhaps suit their views to destroy the letter from the late Mr. McTavish which they cannot peruse without feeling how inconsistent it is with their present conduct.   

I shall expect to hear from your if at all possible by return of post.  You will of course conceal your knowledge of Malcolm’s offer when feeling your way as to the price expected take care not to let it be supposed you have my intention of giving beyond $6000 until you ascertain that a little more ???  to settle the matter.  In short you must let it be understood that nothing but any attachment to this sport would induce me to offer $6000 and that in asking more they will take a very cruel advantage of my feelings towards it, and of the circumstances in which they stand in consequence of the mistaken reliance on my creditors on the assurance of a power of redemption held out to them by the late Mr. McTavish.  I need scarcely add that it will be necessary to use fair words throughout the transaction. 

Yours always most truly

D.M. Edinburgh

4/29/1818