Dear Sir,

I shall present the petition you have sent me, although I do not advocate the present suppression of trawling.

The Fishery statistics prove that a similar failure of the herring fishery to the present, took place before the trawling system of fishing was in vogue - namely between 1830 & 1836.

To prevent trawling a large force wd now be necessary, and measures wd have to be taken of such a force, that I shd be sorry to see put into practice unless the absolute necessity for these were proved.

For the present I am in favour of trying a weekly close time. This cd I believe be enforced, and the number of hours extended, if subsequently it be found advisable to extend them.

I remain

Yours faithfully

Dear Sir,

I shall present the petition you have sent me in favour of woman suffrage, but you will know if you read the report of speeches I made last year in the County, that I am not in favour of giving the right of voting at Parliamentary Elections to women. They have a natural interest in the education of their children, and on that account they are admitted to the privilege of a vote for the School Board Elections. To bring them in as voters at Parliamentary Elections is to make them take part in general politics, of which they can know little, and it is difficult to imagine how participation in public affairs can make them either better or happier, when have so many other occupations to which they can more efficiently apply themselves.

I remain

Yours faithfully

Dear Sir,

Altho' I have had no official intimation that there is a vacancy in the Post Office at Dunoon, I have received several letters from applicants for the Post. If the vacancy occurs, I shd wish to know the opinion of the Magistrates of Dunoon as to who they consider the best person for the place.

I remain

Yours faithfully

To the Chief Magistrate,
Dunoon

Dear Mr Smith

Many thanks for your kind letter of congratulation. I also thank you most heartily for the assistance you rendered towards securing the majority with which I am quite content. The diminution in the majority has been due to a variety of causes, the principal of which you mention in your letter.

When the time comes I shall give my best attention to the letting disqualification and the other matters to which you refer.

If you will assist Provost Oswald in preparing a list of names for the revision of the J.P. list in Cowal, I shall be greatly obliged.

Believe me

Yours truly

Dear Mr Smith

I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 7th recommending names for the J.P. list and drawing my attention to a matter in connection with the Parochial cemeteries in Scotland.

Believe me

Yours very truly