Dear Doctor,

I have only time to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15^th and the one Janes has since rec'd. Mr. Janes has come to the conclusion that his better course is to go to Brockport and see you; and have some final arrangement of our business. He is anxious to reach your place before Mr. Stiles starts for this if possible. He says he can never consent to leave the Furnace for the purpose of giving Backus or Burroughs a chance to come in for a share. We have thought you might have got the impression that Mr. Janes and myself harbour toward each other feelings other than those of perfect friendship; if such is the fact I think your impressions are ill founded, on my part I harbour no feelings toward him but those of perfect friendship and have nothing to warrant me in believing he cherishes different feelings toward me.¹

I have had a number of interviews with Mr. J. in regard to the letter I sent you by Mr. Backus--I have told Mr. J. that I sent what I honestly believed--Mr. J. says that he thought as Mr. Stiles was in the shop and I spent my time there our interests could not suffer by his absence--He feels very positive that our business will be profitable and that we are fully equal to the charge.

As I stated in my other I am a stranger to the business myself and do not feel competent to judge in all cases when our affairs are managed in the best way--So far as I can judge at present I know not but our business is going on as well as we ought to expect. Mr. Janes has devoted his time to the Furnace since his return and I have told him that I shall give my consent to any conclusion to which you may come.

He will inform you that we have a Mr. Harris and Brother Samuel to work in the Furnace one man on the Lathe. Two men making Patterns and doing other work at the bench and one preparing to wood Ploughs; so you can see that our expenses are not small--It is necessary that our affairs should be strictly and understandingly managed to ensure us success.

It is my desire that we may come to a fair understanding and that in whatever arrangement you make, think proper to make; we may act with pure motives and for our mutual interest.

My best regards to your wife and I remain your ob't servant

John Fisher

¹ Despite his reassuring words here, John Fisher had in fact written several letters outlining some of his difficulties working with Mr. Janes, most notably W-MCP4-6.237.

For more on Fisher, see W-MCP5-6.240.