This is a brief letter some 2 weeks after the East Lothian Bank opening for business and is a request for a Loan of £350.

The letter reads

To:                  Christopher Middlemass, Dunbar.

From:              Middleton, By Prestonpans.
Dated:              14^th September 1810.

Dear Sir,

                        From a disappointment in the payment of some money I expected at this time and I being in immediate want of it, I am inclined to apply to you. (not being acquainted with any of the Directors of the New Bank at Dunbar) to solicit the loan of £350 for three months by an acceptance, your answering this by return of post will much oblige me with best respects to Mrs. Middlemass.

                        I am Dear Sir,

                                                Your most obedient servant.

                                                                        Robert Logan.

PS. Excuse this simple sheet.        

 This is one of several letters from Robert Logan with further letters suggesting military links (There is a letter dated 23rd October 1810 from Thomas Logan, Hutton Hall, Barns who commences "I am sorry that my Brother Major Logan........"  From later letters it would appear that the requested loan was granted although also that Robert Logan may not have been the most reliable of clients for the Bank.

Christopher Middlemass was a founding Partner of the East Lothian Bank and a prominent personality in the East Lothian area.  It is almost certain that Middlemass knew Logan prior to the Bank being established and that Logan seeks to use a probable military link with Middlemass to introduce himself to the Directors of the Bank and to obtain a loan.  In the early days of the Bank it would be important to both Middlemass and the East Lothian Bank that established contacts were converted to customers and this request is likely to have been welcomed and, given the prominence of Middlemass in the Bank, readily approved.