The Macdonalds of Panmure Island 9

wages and Terms you would think right. Possibly you may wish to have your brother in law and his Family in that way. Write me freely what you would like, and I will execute it as far as I can.

Until Peace comes, the hazard of being taken by the French will make Servants unwilling at present, but I expect we will have Peace before it is long. ,

Such a house and Barn as you have require a large Farm and in letting Farms you will attend to the Preserving unlet about 1000 acres, lying most contiguous and convenient for a Farm to the House (5?).

Panmure Island has always been thought a proper place for Fishers to settle upon. I wish you could get some to settle there, so that they could furnish a Cargo of Fish, and I could keep you furnished with goods for keeping a small store, for serving all your Neighbours. Think of this likewise; for I am willing to furnish money for any plan of that sort, where it is to be managed by an honest and judicious man and I take you to be both. And if I am right I think We may be able, in a few years after the Peace, to set commercial business a going.

I am apprehensive a Cargo of wood will not pay freight, but when you can contract to have a Cargo of Fish ready, it is likely I may be able to find a merchant that will annually send a ship from the Clyde for the fish. The Servants and Settlers carryed out would likely make a tolerable freight, and the Fish would be carryed either to the West Indies or Mediterranean.

You say in your letter that Pine, squared loged at high water Mark, will cost 10 shillings and hardwood l4 Shillings; Now I want to know how many feet square are understood to be a Ton; and the size of the Pine, and whether any considerable quantity of the Pine can be got, for I have been told that Pine is rather scarce in the Island. You say, that payment is to be made on money and goods, explain what you mean by that, it may be difficult to regulate the price of the goods, and the best way of considering the business is, what you could contract for to furnish a Cargo, to be paid in Ster. money by bills, and which bills would help to pay for the goods in the Store.

I state these things for your consideration, and wish you to write me fully upon the subject, and to suggest any Plan that you think would be likely to succeed; but neither you nor I can know, what plan will be most practicable when Peace comes, or whether I may be able to get any Merchant who has ships to engage, in sending a ship annually to the Island, however it is right to be thinking of it, before Peace comes, and it is for that reason that I wish you to write me fully and freely.