Series 2 > Letter-book of Bailie John Steuart of Inverness

INTRODUCTION
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dispatch, and I hope to meet you in Glainelg. You are to
receive from Mr. Francis Sinklair a barrell of tar and one
of pitch, the tar to be sold at 12 shillings, and the pitch
at 18 shillings. And, if can not gett that price, carie the
same to the Highlands.1 I have sent with you ane iron
balk, with brod, barell and weights, to weigh out the
Meall, viz. two 52ths of lead, tuo iron ston weights, half
ston of iron, and a 4th and 2th of brass, which must be
carfully returned. And keep ane exact acct. of the
Meall, and take care that non be stoln nor imbasled. You
are to grant recepts for the meall, when shipped, to Mr.
Francis Sinklair; and my Cousin, Mr. Alexr. Pope, will
supply you with anie Mony you want. The mens wages
as folios:—to Will: Munroe 25 sh. ster. pr. month, and to
David Miller 22 sh. pr. month, and to Alexr. McLeod 20
sh. pr. month, and your own wages as Master is six pounds
sterlin for the whole woyage ; and I have given you at this
Dait half a Guenie to account, and seven shilling ster.
more. I have shipt of provisions tuo bulks Mutton and a
syde of young beef salted, tuo lairge cheeses, and half ston
butter, and half boll meall baked, and tuo pocks groats,
and 12 lbs. candles; and have ordered Mr. Francis Sinklair
to provid you with tuo barells beef. And I have shipped
a gallon of Whiskie, and given five shillings to David
Millar in pairt of his wages, and given Donald McKenzie
17 shil. sterlin to account to pay the Whiskie, etc.’
With the meal he frequently sent other commodities.
In a letter to his agent, Donald Macintyre, dated 27th
April 1725, he, after giving instructions regarding the
disposal of the meal, in Skye, Harris, North Uist, and
Glenelg, writes : ‘ Notta, you have likeways on board, to
be dissposed for my accot., 100 half barrs Iron, containing
113 Ston 9 pound, old weight, which you are to sell at the
best rate you can, not under 3/ 6d. p. Ston. There is
1 By ‘ the Highlands’ the Bailie usually means the West Highlands.