Dear Sir William,

I beg you will not tell any one that I am writing to you about any thing. John Forbes, a married man in the Village and Murduch Maclean a young man in the village also, are sawing a whole year here. It is as though you paid them though they are not working to you. They can tell you more about your wood than any other body. You ought to try them. John Forbes will tell you every thing I daresay you ask. Miss Maddie MacPherson knows him—his sister was long servant to her sister Mrs. Clark. I daresay he will be at the Forres Market on Wednesday and if you think proper you can ask Miss MacPherson to find him and try him first—it is likely he will tell her more than he would tell you because people feel awed when they speak to you and then they feel no liberty to speak—he I daresay can tell you about the place under ground. You should ask him and other people what cars from this parish took your wood to Findhorn. When you ask any thing at the Dallas people you ought to be quite alone with the person you speak to as they will then tell you every thing—but they will not do it if there is any person beside. Be sure to enquire about the carts and you can then trace your wood. You should do the same at Altyre for many a load went from that all night. It must have been the tenants carts there as your own must have been at work all day. People in this place sometimes paid with wood for sawing. I am afraid you will not be up soon so please tell the bearer when Alex Forbes goes off and send me the Majors address. I hear David Mackay Rafford is going to India—would you advise me to give him my letter? But I would not tell him what it is about. Dear Sir William have the goodness to send me some word. I hope you will try to get James Cameron into Dunphail. Please send me word of how Lady Cumming & family are. I am dear Sir William,

Your very grateful

Jane Tulloch