Dear Cousin,

I have deferred answering your letter two days in order to send it by private conveyance. We have on hand 7 machines not sold--how many we shall sell this winter or whether any--am not able to tell--I will endeavour to send you some money this month I cannot say how much--I have paid that we owed $200 at the Gore Bank and $200 at Toronto for our draught of Van Norman--I should have sent you pay for the coal by Janes but I could not send any but Canada and I have since used it. Samuel will not remain more than 10 days longer--[Steve?] now works in the furnace--is a good workerman--will stay till spring--I hope if Tunnicliff¹ does not come we shall not be troubled to obtain good help.

We have had no bad luck in the foundry since [Fall?] [?] although I do not think him [?] and a workman as [?]--I have not yet brought our Iron from the Wharf--The charges were so high that I could not think of paying them. Whole amt on last Lot $125.00. I have at length proceeded on time to deduct $48.00 which leaves $77--I want them to deduct $25.00 more which will satisfy me--if not I must pay the $77--on this day made an arrangement to take the Iron from the wharf and if I obtain no further deduction I am to pay the charges next week--I will weigh the Iron and send you a Bill--I have taken the scale patterns and am now making 3 sets. J. has nothing more to do with them--If you want J. will send you a set that will weigh 1200 [?] when we have a set to spair [sic] no mistake. I will ship Backus & Co a set at $40. they want a set--will send them a set that will weigh one Ton gross for $60--Fairbanks sells the same kind at $75--

I remain yours

John Fisher²

John Fisher

¹ Fisher mentions Tunnicliff in W-MCP4-6.189, W-MCP4-6.195, W-MCP4-6.203, and W-MCP4-6.218. Tunnicliff wrote W-MCP4-6.179 and W-MCP4-6.181.

² 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.