Morant Bay, Jamaica 16th. May
1829.
Dear Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your
favor of 24th Jany. and am exceedingly
sorry it has not been in my power to give
you an earlier reply.
As I now live at a distance of some
60 miles from Saint George, I am un
able to furnish you with that inform
ation regarding the late Mr. Catanach’s
Estate that I probably might have
been able to do, did I still reside there.
I have however communicated with Mr.
Adam Gray on the subject (whose answer
I only received last week), and he sent
me the Inventory & appraisement of his
(Mr. C:) Effects, requesting I would forward it
which I now beg to inclose. He also
gave me a copy of a letter he had addrefsed
to the Revd. Mr. Reid Kildrummie
dated 14th Feby, relating to the last illnefs
and the way in which your deceased friends
affairs stood, which letter I presume
will be at the perusal of you & your
relations, and its contents I know
to be correct.
I must inform you that I know
very little of poor Mr. Catanach, and
lefs of his affairs. I had always under
stood of his getting innocently in-
volved in a ruinous & unfortunate
Chancery Suit in qualifying as
Executor to the Estate of Toony, and
I have little doubt but the mental
uneasinefs which it created brought
him prematurely to his grave.
Mr. A. Gray does not wish to act
for fear I suppose of getting him
self ensnared in Chancery, but there
is no person I am sure alive now the
parish who knew Mr. C. more intimately
that Mr. G. nor the state of his affairs
for these last 30 years. I would therefore
advise you to write him from time to
time, intreat him to do his best, and
in the course of some time things may
be brought to a favourable ifsue.
I think it would be folly in your
putting yourself to the expence (sic) of coming
out here, and risking your health
in the present complicated state in which
your Uncle’s Estate stands, unlefs you
had an idea of remaining & trying
your fortune in this part of the Globe,
and at present time there is considerable en
couragement for Clerical gentlemen.
Mifs Elizth. Gray died of the prevailing
Bilious endemic fever of this Island
of which I very near fell a victim
too in August last.
I would esteem it a particular
favor if you would drop my
Mother a line to Inverury to say I
was well at the date of this letter:
I ought to have wrote her this packet but
am pushed for time.
I am sorry I have nothing respecting your
Uncle’s affairs of more interest to communicate.
Mr. Gray I must refer you to for particulars,
at the Same time it will afford me much
pleasure if you think at any future
time I can be of any service to you.
I am dear Sir,
Your very Obedt. Servt.
James Cobhan