Dear Sir
I had the pleasure of writing to You several times lately & I am sorrey [ ] that my Letters
by Good Capt. Thompson are still mentioned in the Province(?). The Ladies indeed are much
chagrined at this dealy apprehensive that it will long reland the delivery of a few articles
to Mrs. Saunders who they [ ] they did not send by M. Isaac(?) which a sort of perhaps false
delicacy hindered them from doing. I informed you Sir that M. Anderson contrary to his [ ]
promise failed to call on Me when in Town. I have therefore agreed with M. Wilson to send Your
power to His Son 13 [ ] who probably will be in Glasgow in a short time when He will get it
attested by M. Anderson. In a few days, I shall wait on M. Randal & if necessary pay to Him
immediately the amount of the Interest now due which including the first half Yearly payment
of interest accruing to Mrs. S & You from the death of my Son John will amount to about Forty
pounds.
A few days ago M. Boymmes(?) informed Me that on the 2 of last Month the Chancellour ordered
Atley(?) w(ith) pay into [ ] The money due on 13 and to my Brothers Estate and further
decreed that the Issue of the Suit respecting his claim against My Brothers Representatives
for certain lands recovered from Him contrary as he alledges to My Brothers warrant shall be
held(?) at Law in the Supreme Court of Jamaica. M. Skinners Solicitors advised immediately to
retain the first Council of that Island -- Mr. Boymmes(?) has accordingly wrote to His Lawyer
who he says is pronounced very capable by Mr. Grant the late Chief Justice now or late in this
things.
In short, if this council has not egsegiously misinformed us -- if he continues I say if he
conducts the actions with propriety it can hardly fail to terminate happily.
I think we may necessarily expect to see it indeed win this Year which I shall consider as
fortunate as it will bring my little affair in a narrow compass and perhaps find to determine
Me to some future plan of conduct - perhaps a little different from My present inactive
condition.
Unfriendly Sir as You are to Slavery You will not be displeased nor surprised at the prodigious
fervor executed(?) in this Kingdom against the Slave trade. Supposing my Self well acquainted
with the French and English West Indies and the [ ] abuse and treatment of their Negroes(,)
I wrote on that Subject with much deliberation. I did not present this Pamphlet adressed to
Mr. Wilborforce(?) but sent it with a handsome letter to Mr. Pitt. I necessarily detailed the
hardships of the Slaves in the Colonies - the principal cause of the deficient population:
Ostrennuously(?) by opposed the abolition untill 1803 on the strongest ground of propriety
[---ing] the present convulsions of the French Islands [torn] &c &c & I suggested the most
salutary [torn] [-ulations] to be submitted to the Colonial &c legislatures for reconciling
humanity to subor--[torn] which I attempted to prove would in ten years forever render the
Barbadous trade of imported slaves useless to the planters. You will be pleased to observe
that my pamphlet was some time in possession of Mr. Pitt before it was known in this Kingdom
that Dane mark had adopted such conditional abolition. I dare say I shall [ ] no other fruit
of my labour than perceiving that I had devined the opinions of administration on this Subject
and that Mr. Wallberforce(?) and others had recchoed my thoughts ---- This first Gentleman has
most [ ][ ] & made some use of my speculations. When a fit opportunity presents I shall
request you to [ ] the pamphlet in question. With my best regards to Col. Ellygood and to
your Sisters; and our Loves to your dear Marguretta. I will remain [ ] and affectionately
yours,
James Chalmers
Chelsea 4th April 1792