Autograph letter signed : [place not specified], to an unidentified recipient, 1782 January 24.

Thanking his correspondent for sending down "all Dr. Watson's draughts, in order to give us full Satisfaction concerning that one which I had said did not appear in the Banker's Account"; writing that he had sent on the bills to "Miss Watson's man of business" who has confirmed that everything is in order; mentioning that he has gotten a list of the Spanish books belonging to Dr. Watson from Mr. Thompson and asking if his correspondent would send "the enclosed" to him; writing that Thompson may have moved "but I should imagine he will sometimes be coming about Mr Cadells Shop"; discussing Thomas Cadell's stocking of foreign books: "Mr Cadell does not chuse them, Elmsly [probably Peter Elmsley] is the man who deals the most I believe in foreign books"; saying that William Creech has only two copies of Blair's Sermons left, though there are other copies elsewhere awaiting a convoy; discussing future printings: "He is of opinion that when you go to press again you may throw off 25 copies on fine writing paper for this Country... So that especially when you get the Head to ornament another edition I should think you may venture that number of both Volumes on writing paper; tho' I think, not to make it clumsy, it should not be of the thickest kind"; discussing the current political situation and writing that there is a great desire for a change of ministry, particularly "Lord G.G. & Lord S--h [probably George Germain and John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich]. Those two certainly ought to go out. The Cry of the Country after all our [disasters] is now too strong against them"; mentioning that Adam Smith will be going to London soon, to visit friends, and that "Dr. Carlyle" (possibly Alexander Carlyle) may go too; adding that he has been urged by many, especially the Lord Advocate (Henry Dundas), to join them, but he feels he is too old for such a change: "It would require a Sort of Effort which begins to be too much for me: tho' I have at times a hankering inclination."