is dead, and I am very sorry to say that owing to the negligence and
delay of Frank Walker's papa, our friend William does not succeed
nearly to what his Uncle intended, nor does he indeed get anything
till after his father's death.

The state of the Case is this:--Sir William met his agent, Mr Walker,
at Harrogate, this summer, and he then desired him to make out a
settlement for him by which he left _everything_ he should die
possessed of to William. Mr Walker recommended him to delay it till he
should get to Scotland that he might execute it formally. To this Sir
William agreed. On his getting to London, however, he found himself so
very unwell that he wrote to Mr Walker to say that he had no time to
lose. Mr Walker, none the less, still delayed, and did not send the
Deeds for above a fortnight, and Sir William had died two days before
they reached Town. By the Will which is valid, and which was executed
so long ago as the year 1790, his whole fortune is to be divided
between three brothers, William's Papa, Mr Douglas (Sir James Shaw's
partner), and one in America. The American one is since dead, leaving
an only daughter, and there is a great question whether or not she
will be entitled to anything.

But let the worst come to the worst, our friend will have the Castle
Douglas estate entire, about L7,000 per annum, besides his father's
estate of Orchardton, L5,000 a year more. This he will in a great
measure owe to his uncle, Mr Douglas's, kindness, who says that as far
as possible, the unexecuted Deed shall be complied with. In the
meantime, you see, he would have nothing till his father's death.

But I have since heard that the old Boy is going to reside at Castle
Douglas, and going to give his present place immediately to William.