You mention in your note when I ask those gentlemen about the sheep not to do it disagreeable. My dear brother it is well to be cautioned but I never intend to ask any one about any of Alex transactions particularly strangers. I will leave that part between you and him to settle. Poor fellow for all he often treated me very rude and bad in many ways if I could only get him to do what was wright I would be glad but it is a source of great grief to me the way he went on and concealed everything from me. I always thought he of late wrote you of all his transactions to show you how he wished to keep me in the dark about everything. Here is an instance this day when trying to make up accounts of wages to send to you I asked the stock boy indeed I came round him quitely what wages he had and if he had earned any money from Alex that I might know what his wages came to. He told me that Alex told him not to tell his wages or agreement with him to any one so was I to ask any of the rest they would perhaps tell me the same therefore I will not do so. The old sheepherd McRae is certainly a very respectable and good man and one that is willing to do what is just and correct about the stock. Indeed nothing will go wrong in his department if he can help it. So was the other sheepherd Liveston a first rate lad. He will come back again when we want him. At present we can do without him. The stock boy is a very good and active lad two but he was told by Alex not do anything for me that old Archy was to be master over their. Of course I did not care much about this if all would go well but every one on the place dislikes him, indeed he certainly has queer ways and very lacey [lazy]. In place of being the first up in the morning, he is the last and the first to leave of at night. I do not want to put you against the man but I cannot keep the truth from you. [incomplete letter]