Dear Cousin,

I have received nothing from you since yours of the third of this month--I should like to have the Drafts and Bill I have sent you acknowledged--your opinion of the statement I sent you and any other suggestion that may occur to you--

The Bill for a loan of $800,000 or £200,000 for commencing a Rail Roade [sic] from this Town to London and Goderich has passed the Parliament and there is now but little if any doubt but this great improvement will be commenced as soon as arrangements can be made--Our citizens are full of expectation.

There has been an addition to the Capital Stock of the Gore Bank of $400,000. Present Capital $1,200,000. Business is expected to open very brisk in the spring--I hope it may give a good turn to our business--I cannot promise to send you more than $200. by the last of this month--I might borrow probably but I do not like to do to [sic] much at that at present--but if you think best--I will try to now send Mr. Backus a draft for $220.00--$160. from Whittey,--the ballance [sic] from this vicinity I shall probably send him $200 now in a few days if [?] one fair promises. Catherine has taken me to do for sending you a number of communications without giving her a chance in. She shall now have the opportunity.

Yours Truly

John Fisher¹

[Enclosure from Mrs. Fisher follows:]

Dear Cousin Margaret,

After so long silence you have at length broken the ice, I was truly happy to hear from you once more and should be still more so could you favour us with a little of your good company. We have lately moved into a small but very convenient house and can accommodate company without trouble. My family is small our little boys make plenty of work for me so that I have no time to be idle. They grow finely and John improves in talking every day, he calls himself Aunt [Mary's?] little boy he is very proud of singing and will probably be a singer. Now is not this very interesting. Do not say after reading into that I can think or talk of nothing but my children. I can assure you this is not the case. Do come very soon you and your good husband and make us a visit Sister Mary says remember me to Mrs. McQuesten tell her I hope to have the pleasure of her acquaintance some day.

[Lorenso?] says he is pleased with his situation he was quite disappointed that you did not mention him in your letter write soon your ever affectionate cousin

Catherine Fisher

¹ John Knox Fisher, Dr. Calvin McQuesten's first cousin and business partner, had difficulty working with another of the foundry's co-founders, 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.