1 27th.Sept.'16. Dear Mr. Tate, Thanks for your kind
letter of 24th. I wish I had been at the
funeral, if only to show my
regard and respect for the brave and kind
old man. It was however almost
impossible for me to make the
journey. As regards his affairs, I have
no status whatever, and I have no
knowledge. The only time that he
ever took me into his confidence was 2
at my last visit to him in August '06.
All he said was that Scottie would, at
his death, come on the S.M.T. fund
for £200 a year, and that he had, on
Jim Roche's death, fixed her allowance
at that figure, but that she had always
exceeded it. That did not surprise
me because I had some experiences of Scottie in India. I went on to Cork, and was so
much dissatisfied with what I saw
there, that I wrote to him, rather
forcibly, about the children 8th. In
his reply he gave me some figures of
Scottie's expenditure, which did as
tonish me. Naturally I surmise,
from your reference to Scottie's debts, 3
that the sublime in (?) 1913, was due
to further calls upon him. With what
her second husband left, with the children's
allowance from the Queen's fund, and
with the £200 from the S.M.B. fund,
we may feel confident that Scottie is
well provided for, and that she will go
on piling up debts for the rest of her
life. I'm sorry I cannot help you in
regard to the name of W. Robertson's
mother. Louie told me the little I know
about her family. The paucity of her
relations was due, I believe, to the fact
that her father, and his father were only
children, and her mother one of two.
She would be pleased that the Johnston
family get so little. You may be quite sure that the
will will not be disputed. It was just
to leave most to Mabel. 4 I cannot clearly recollect Ballycastle
I sincerely hope that the change has done
your baby good, and that she will soon
be quite well. Also that Alec will soon
be fit again. She and I have reached an
age. My trouble is stomachic. I cannot sufficiently praise you
for sacrificing yourself as you have done,
and returning to Abbotsleigh, to help
Mabel. Now, I conclude, the executors
will attend to every matter. Yes, I fear that we are too far
apart geographically, to be likely to meet.
If- as seems possible, my interest in Rubber
and coconuts turns out well, we would let
our house for a while - but our sojourn would
be in Italy. Nevertheless we shall continue
to hope for a visit from you & the girls. With very kind regards,
Yours sincerely, David Leighton. 5 Mr Tate Glenluce Ballycastle Co Antrim Ireland. 6