Series 4 > Papers on Scottish electoral politics, 1832-1854

135
1837-1839
Henderland, from whom I enclose a note to you.1 Time presses and
whatever is to be done to maintain the ascendancy in this County
must be done without the loss of a moment. I have prepared Deeds
over Mr Murray’s property, and in the view of doing the same over
any portion of yours it will be necessary that in direct course of post
your Agent and factor here give me access to the titles of such part
of your property as is to be included in the Deeds. Please observe
that after that the Deeds must be written and sent to you for signature and
returned to Edinburgh, all on or before the 30th day of this month. The
plan taken is this. Mr Murray has conveyed a share of the rent of a
given property, say to the extent of ^10 5s. to each of A. B. C. D.
etc. Each of these parties grants a Bill in return for such a Sum,
calculated according to his age, as would be required if any Insurance
Company were to provide to him an annuity of £10 5s. The Deed
is then retained in security of the Bill. Of course it is only a liferent
right which is conveyed. If any person choses to pay his bill you will
then have the option either of taking the money and paying the
annuity; or of sending the money to an Insurance Company which
will pay the annuity. The expence of the Deeds falls upon the voters-
any deficiency being paid out of the subscription fund. Perhaps you
will give such rights to 60 or 80 people, which requires property
to the extent of £600 or ^800 of rental. Mr Murray will make 65.
It is desirable if possible to get upwards of 200 placed on the roll
next registration. In regard to the Entail of Oxenford, if it be not
recorded, it will not prevent an operation like the above. On the
other hand it fortunately happens that the above operation will not
injure the subsequent recordings of the Entail.2
If you can name individuals who will take votes like the above, it is
most important to do so; because altho’ it costs little, yet there is
indeed much difficulty experienced in satisfying individuals, and I am
far, very far, short of the number which is required. In cases where
Mr Murray got cash for the liferent votes, he just at once paid it
over to an Insurance Company, which pays a Sum equal to what
the voter is to. receive, so that the transaction does not affect Mr
Murray in any way.3
Stair, Box 109: Miscellaneous Letters
1 Omitted. 2 I.e., in the Register of Entails and the Register of Sasines.
3 See introduction pp. xliii-iv.