Dear Calvin,

Yours of the 21^st I have just received now seen any Rochester Money since I came to Canada [or written little at most?] but if there is much with you we shall see it there shortly--as it is now Bankable with us--Harris has given up making Castings or at least sayes [sic] he will work no longer than such time as we shall be able to obtain another workman--I have concluded that if Mr. Backus will let Mr. Atkins come over if for but two weeks we had better engage him--Two of Our Wheels have broken since the pattern was altered--I know not when our bad luck will change--

I shall contract our business as much as possible till things are better--but the machines--We are out of Coal--the 5 Tons I paid for at Oswego have not yet reached us--I shall be much disappointed if it does not reach [this?] by Thursday of this week--We have been to Toronto and Niagara and have not obtained but [79?]--at Niagara. They had on hand 50. Tons but would not sell a pound--perfect [Hogs?]--I have marked them--told them that at any time they might be out if they would call on us if we had but one Ton they should have ½ of it. There has now 3 Large Wheels broken since the Pattern was altered--Mr. Johnson will tell you all about them.

We must now lay still till we receive coal and till a Furnaceman can come from Brockport I think the coal will be here this week. Will you endeavour to obtain permission from Mr. Backus to have his best hand come over here without delay.

Respectfully

John Fisher¹

¹ John Knox Fisher, Dr. Calvin McQuesten's first cousin and business partner, had difficulty working with co-founder Mr. [Joseph] Janes and was often concerned about the man's methods of conducting business. In 1838, Janes ran off, leaving behind his wife and thousands of dollars of debt. See W-MCP4-6.237. For more on Fisher, see W-MCP5-6.240.