Atholl to Mylrea and Quayle re rumours of his supposed desire to change the Land Tenures

Mr Mylrea & Quayle

I have this Moment Received Yours of the 21st May & 13 June with a few lines from Mr Mylrea acquainting me of his arrival in England, I have not time at present to answer your Letters particularly but would not delay one moment taking notice of that Paragraph of Yours of the 13th June Relating to Mr Beatham the Collector of Douglas having propogated a Most false Malicious and Groundless Story of my having an Intention to Attempt breaking through the Peoples' Tenures, You may Assume those who have listened to him that I never had a Thought of that Nature and whoever knows my Character knows me Incapable of Such Baseness, on the Contrary I wish to do every thing in My Power to Serve the People of the Island and hope I may some time or other have the Opportunity as well as the Inclination to be of use to them, and though they have so soon forgot the long Conection between them and My family I never Shall.

I desire that Immediately upon Receipt of this you will procure all the Information you can with regard to what Mr Beatham has said upon this Subject; Gett me the Declaration of any who have ever heard him Speak of it, either upon Oath or otherways lett me know the Name of the Lawyer who he pretends to have had it from in Edinburgh, and if you cannot otherways gett any proper Information, Apply to him yourselves from me and desire to know whether he did propagate such a story and upon what Grounds - The Sooner you lett me hear from you about this the better.

I am in Constant Espectation of Sr Fletcher Nortons Opinion but have not yet received it.

I am Gentlemen
Your most Obedient Servant
Atholl

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