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(illegible text)? He anſwered, The reaon that I want you, (illegible text) that I know you are diſpoſed to do for me, (illegible text)at none of your brethren in Lithſdale will ſo ⟨much⟩ as attempt, though it ſerve never ſo good ⟨purpoſe⟩. I told bim, I would never refuſe to any thing to ſerve a good purpoſe, if I thought ⟨was⟩ obliged to do it as my duty. He anſwered, ⟨that⟩ I had undertaken what few in Nithſdale (illegible text)uld, for he had tried ſeveral perſons on that ⟨subject⟩, who were more obliged to him than I ⟨was⟩ to any perſon living. Upon this I drew my ⟨saddle⟩ reins, and talked in furpriſe, aſking what ⟨had⟩ undertaken? He anſwered, that on Sabbath (illegible text), I heard you condemned Mr Paton and the ⟨other⟩ miniſters of Dumfries, for diſſuading of Menzies from keeping his appointment with (illegible text); and if you had been in their place, you would be perſuaded the lad to do as I deſired, and that would have gone with him yourſelf, if he had ⟨been⟩ afraid; and that if you had been in Paton's place, you would have delivered my (illegible text)miſſions yourſelf, ſince they tended to do ⟨several⟩ perſons juſtice. I aſked him, Pray Cool, (illegible text)o informed you that I talked at this rate? To (illegible text)ch he anſwered, You muſt know that we are ⟨acquainted⟩ with many things that the living know ⟨nothing⟩ about. Theſe things you did ſay, and ⟨much⟩ more to that purpoſe, and all that I want, that you would fulfil your promiſe, and ⟨deliver⟩ my commiſſions to my loving wife. Upon (illegible text) ſaid, 'Tis a pity, Cool, that you who know any things, ſhould not know the difference ⟨between⟩ an abſolute and a conditional promiſe; (illegible text) indeed at the time you mention, blame
