Bressay History Group

Letter Thos. M Cameron to John Walker October 1871

1871/349 Annsbrae 30th October 1871

My Dear Mr Walker,

I have your letters of the 24th & 27th inst, but supposing you will be here this day week, when things can be more fully gone into, I shall shortly refer to the threatened action by Chromate Proprietors.

It was not to define Mr Hay’s powers, but yours, the proprietors thinking that particularly in retaining Millar’s payments you were exceeding your powers, this also is my opinion had I been at the meeting, which perhaps I should have been, I would not have considered myself justified in withholding from my Co-proprietors a sum due, merely because the Factor’s accounts were not brought up – and you as my representative surely cannot have more authority than myself, and if you will have the goodness to give up the cheques, drafts, bills or whatever, the proper may be I shall feel obliged and if you will put yourself in the place of the proprietors I am sure you will see the transaction in the same light as I do or at any rate in a different light than at present. The proprietors I am certain would never insult me unless goaded into doing so, so I must think you are mistaken in saying they have, for I have never goaded them by my own acts.

I have no doubt if there were no tenants in Bressay to get rid of, the Island would pay far more as a sheep farm, but as there are tenants left for the proprietor to care for & look after I could not be a party to summarily removing them & causing misery to poor people who have been all their lives in the island and depriving myself of all peace of mind. What I have suffered since returning is just indescribable. I therefore decided to sell and as I telegraphed to you today on finding you were not come, I have done so to my sister Miss Mouat. My relations could not think of the property going to strangers so she has arranged to buy it; my son should he wish on succeeding me to buy it back has the power to do so.

I am writing hurriedly as the wind has fallen and we are going to the Manse to call on the new married couple.

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