Draft Affidavit (for return of Probate Duty)

Made by Samuel [III] Vale regarding George Ryley's death and probate; the will was sworn under £10,000 with a stamp-duty of £180 which was too high because the testator's Edinburgh Tramway shares were not (as was supposed at the time of the probate) worth £300 since a £100 call had to be paid upon them so they were sold for £264/13/4 - moreover, government stock returned for the probate as worth £1,000 had been sold for £900; a scheduled inventory herewith shows that G. Ryley's personalty amounted to £8,928/12/11, therefore the stamp-duty ought to be reduced to £160 and the £20 paid to Samuel [III] Vale or to Oscar Augustus Ullithorne (1, Field St., Gray's Inn, Mdx., solicitor) as his agent.