Madrid, 27th February 1849

William Hitchin Esq.

Madrid 27th February 1849

My Dear Sir,

            I have been about to write you for some days, or rather weeks, intending to enclose my letter in one to Mr Brandram. My materials for his letter however are still incomplete, and now I think it better not further to delay my note to you. I hope to write Mr Brandram, that my letter may be with him for the second Committee Meeting of March. Please mention this to him.

            My first request to you is, that you would have the goodness, as soon as you receive this, to transmit to Mr McLean, No.1 Milne Square, High Street, Edinburgh the sum of Five Pounds, placing the same in my Private Account.

            My second request is, that you would favour me, as soon as you well can, with the various items of my General and Private Accounts, that I might look them over, and write you about them in time for the closing of the same on the 31st of March. I wish to know exactly how I stand in order to regulate my drawings connected with my arrangements.

            You say in  your letter of the 20th of December, that you had received the Bill of Lading of the case for me from Halifax, please to say whether the case itself has now come to hand, and been delivered as directed.

            The Cape newspapers came to hand all right in due time, you need not therefore hesitate in future to transmit papers, posting them as before directed.

            You can notice also in your reply to this the contents of my letter of the 8th January.

            You will get a note in reply to the one enclosed very soon after transmitting it. Please wait for it, and enclose it in yours.

            Did you get my letter for Mr Saviñon, Mexico? - and did the Will I sent you in June last reach you? Please say. Believe me

                        Yours Truly,

                                    James Thomson.

Madrid, 24th March 1849

Madrid 24th March 1849

My Dear Sir,

            Thank you for your prompt note of the 6th instant, and the accompanying Accounts. I send you my two Accounts, Travelling and Private, and beg you to review them, and debit and credit accordingly, if you find them correct. To judge of them you must have before you my two Accounts, General and Private, sent you with letter of 22nd May last. I prefer the two heads, Travelling and Private to General and Private, the former containing all pro and con items of Travelling, and the latter the same as to salary and private payments. You can arrange them as suits you best. I never mix them.

            I did not give you Mrs McLean's Christian name, as by a Post Office notice seen some little time ago, the Christian name of one of the parties only is required.

            Please to look again into your box for my documents. You should have two Wills, one I left with you in June 1847, and the one sent in June 1848. This last is in the form of a letter, and marked on both sides "Will of..., etc.".

            As soon as the 3¼ Stock opens, please to buy me into it £100.

            In your next, be so good as to state, 1 the cost of the Stock, 2 whether you have said Will, 3 if my accounts are correct, 4 your year's entrances.

            Wishing you all strength in these busy days, and hoping to hear good accounts of your Annual Income, I remain,

            Yours Very Truly,

                        James Thomson.