From Archibald McLachlan   Sunday

Sunday

D^r Alpha¹

Something must be done and done quickly, you know that at the present moment upwards of 20 of our men are now employed in London, almost every man feels resentment towards the O.S – ²

Very few among them have the necessary knowledge of Facts – and still fewer have the Temper to do anything calmly – The letter in the Daily News³ had been from one of the 20 – (at least I think so)

Last night, I was told by one of our own gentlemen at the O.M.O.⁴ – ‘That it was a poor thing that nobody would expose the O.S. in good style like Spectator,⁵ stop a little, you will see quare⁶ work before long – there is a confederation & commotion among the Boys in London, and perhaps they are clubbing their money to have the expenses of letters paid in the Newspapers, I wonder what they intend to do’ – – – Now, if Steel-nib⁷ is first in the field it might deter the above gentlemen from executing their design – Among them they could furnish much information, but who is to arrange and compose? I dont think they have a man among the 20 able to do justice to the Subject. Therefore let Steelnib be first in the market –

Do you mean that I should make a list giving each mans name and his rate and length of service? – or will something of this sort do

No of men	rates	Years employed
6	6/.	18
15	4/.	10
30	3/.	10
14	3/.	7
	&c––––––––––––	&c––––––––––––

I think perhaps the number at so much per day and length of service and duty employed on would be enough – would that do? –

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Are you aware that the Excise – or Customs (I don’t recollect which) have all got an increase of £50 a year added to their salary – This has been done owing to the repeated Custom House frauds &c &c – This increase is intended to place the men beyond temptation, and to make the Situation worth holding –

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I am completely posed, I cannot see how you are to commence – I cannot imagine what will be the drift of your First Letter⁸ – I imagine that each letter will be devoted to some one point – that you will take every⁹

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