Gibraltar 11th April 1812.

Dear Sir,

It was my painful task to communicate through my friend Mr Dunsmure, the death of your worthy father, whose state of health from his first arrival had been such as to occasion to himself some uneasiness but which until the day previous to his decease had been gradually improving when he was taken so ill as to leave little hope of his recovery. On the immediate notice of this illness, I waited upon him and carried with me the best medical advice and as a matter of satisfaction to your mind I can assure you that nothing could exceed the attention which was paid to him during the short period of his confinement.

Some little time previous to his dissolution, he requested I would receive from a person here the sum of £20 stg being for some pieces of lace he had sold him and I have since received from the person he lodged with $23 2/3 dollars for some articles he had sold together with £14 more for some bedding & clothing which could not be packed into six packages which I forward this day by HM Store Ship Tortoice (Tortoise) addressed to you and placed under the immediate charge of Mr Ralph Forman one of the passengers, who will deliver to you a box containing your father's watch, some English money, the only thing of the kind discovered on sealing up his luggage, and a bundle of keys, and who will aquaint you of the arrival of said ship that you may receive the said six packages at Woolwich.

For the money before mentioned I send you the first of Archibald Johnstones draft of this date on Messrs Reed Irving & Co. for £30.1.9 stg and shall have further to remit for a can & two trunks, shirts which I was also desired to receive from the person with whom he lodged them but as no good offer has yet been made for them I hold them for the present in the hope that as the summer advances they may be turned to a better account.

It only now remains for me to say that every expense incurred shall be charged to Messrs B & I Gray & Co. of Liverpool and that I condole most sincerely with you and your family in the loss you have sustained. I am very truly

Dear Sir your most Obed Servant

David Johnstone

Kind acknowledgments to Kay Clarke for providing me with this letter.