The MacDonald Family Letters, 1779-1801: Browse the Letters

I had the pleasure of receiving your
affectionate, and entertaining favors. of the 26 June
on the 16th July, and should have wrote you
before now, but waited to get Donalds letter
which I received only a few days agoe —
by the letter I had from him in spring,
I imagined that \he/ had once got himself in
away able to settle and stay at home, but
I am sorry to understand that it was on so
uncertain afooting, and that he has still to
lookout for himself in the world. So Much I
fear \he/ at last \will/ fall asacrifice — when he wrote
to me he was in a great hurry, being just go-
ing to sail so that he had not time to say much
— only as to his affairs in this place that he
wished to dispose of as many of the cattle as could
be sold to any advantage — but it happens un.
lucky this year there seems to be very little
demand for beef— the Gentlemen in Town
thinking the price too dear at asix pence {unclear: apraised }
— not considering the most extravagant prices
that are given for goods on the Island, or
servants', wages now that they have ordain\d/
to Do their own work — of hope at any rate
I shall be able to get some oxen sold, our stock
of Cows are very young, ther is not above
three or four of the Cows that will be fit for
market this year, but the servants will I
dar say take some of the young Cows — the
bear have killed tow of our Cows since
I wrote you last. — the number of
Cattle that are allways kept at the sandhills,
have destroyed the marches in such a
maner, that this year, ther is not hay Hay enough for thirty hedd on our part
of it — our Cropt is exceeding good, we have
not a great deal of it, but I hope it will
be sufficient for our own family — I had
three men all spring, besides what asis
tance I got from the soldiers that are stationed
at the enterance of this harbour — the different
officers that come ther with them are very
obliging, their being so near us, causes us
to be more expensive then otherwise we should
be, particularly in the Rum {unclear: article}, but
it cant be helpt — upon the whole I
fear my dear Glen you will have but little
cause to be pleased with my managment
— but I flatter myself you are convinced
that I do my best, and the nieghbours can
witness that tho we were unlucky in the
cattle last year, it was not owing to awant
of care or proper attention, but real accidents
which could not be prevented — the bear did
a great deal of damage to many people last
spring, and will do I darsay next fall yet
— I will take great care of what money
I shall get for the cattle, or any thing
else, I have not as yet got any money from
the people — if ther is sale for cattle next
fall, I suppose they will all pay less or more

— Donald did not say whither I might
expect him this fall or not — I wish much
to know if I may expect him this winter —
— I have not settled with the servants since
he left the Island, tho I have given them several
things. and I think the sooner I do it
now the beter — but I shall defer it yet
till I hear from you, or give over hopes
of him—

Captⁿ Burns have been
on the Island this summer, and as I
mentioned in my last, he has Set a good
deal of his lands to your people — It would
give you pleasure to see the great Cropts Cropts that are this year on your
Lott — Sctoch Fort excepted and I dont know
what can be the reason, but they never
have agood cropt — Portage that formerly
were the outcast of all the lott, is as pretty
alittle Settlement, as any on the Island, but
the settlers on it will never agree, allways
quarreling about hay or some mischief or
other — the dummie is come away from
Ewen Mac Eacherns, and I know not what
the poor man intend to do, he came to me
several times since May, enquiring when
you woud come to the Island, he at last
came and has been here this month past

— Donald desires me to write him,
but I am at aloss to know what way I
should send it, unless M^r Callbeck can tell
me — we have not heard any thing of
General MacLean, this long time, by the
last intelligence, ther was not any great
hopes of his success — if it pleases God to
send Donald safe from this expedition, I
hope you will never allow him to end-
anger his Life so much again —

I understand you expect that your Reg^t.
will be called for to head Quarters – for
Heavens sake my Dear Glen, if this is the
case, try to get leave to come to see us, if
it should be but for three days —
Donald did not say aword of Mr Augustin
in his letter, but I hope it did not proceed
from any thing, but forgetfullness — he left
asmall Trunk at Hallifax with several
letters in it, perhaps ther is one from Augustin

— if you knew of asafe opportunity and think it proper
to send some necessarys for the servants as
you did last year, I think it would be of
great service, you need not fear but what
I shall keep an account of all the things
I give them — we are much in want of
Winter Cloaks and bonnets — I wish you
woud order tow large Table cloaths, pretty
fine, to be sent — I am affraid you will
think us extravagant, but we cannot help
it — as to our winter Stores I shall leave
that to you, and if the Regiment does not
go to New York I hope you will come and
spend the winter with us —

Peggy intends to write you soon –
she joins in Love to you, and best
Complement to John {unclear: More}

I have given Ranald the cloaths as you
desired, he is gone & now so far away
that he cannot do much here —

{unclear: grumly } is pretty well and I dar say if
he could speak would desire his best respects
to you, so as it is you may take the will for
the deed, ther is a grand son of his here, I
wish you had him, but he does not take
sufficiently after the grand father to make
\him/ so handsome —