Dear Cousin,

Yours of the 31^st has just come to hand. I have made out a bill for the [?] against [?] which is about $400 and requested him to arrange it with me so that I could receive at least $200 this week--but he said he could do nothing this week. I told him that it must be paid next week, and stated that I had a bank note to pay in the States over which I had no control. He said he would do what he could next week.

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[Good?] has turned out a pair of poor horses a waggon poor--and double harness (new) in part pay for the note against him. It was all the property he had and two or three judgements against him. I have sold one horse on six months at $50 and the other at $40.00 which is the best I could do, the harness and waggon is worth some $30 which may be all that will be realized on the note. We have made an attempt at the other [?], the second pair and I fear we have lost them--we wanted about $30 more of iron. If I can get them off, I will do so no doubt they will [?tand]--Our bank has concluded to discount small notes to a limited amount. I hope to make a raise next Tuesday. Dean has not yet returned--I expect him daily.

Yours truly,

John Fisher¹

¹ John Knox Fisher was Dr. Calvin McQuesten's first cousin and business partner. He had some 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.