Dear Cousin¹

[I] have this moment taken yours of the 26 from the office--I wrote to you on the 20^th or 22--stating that I paid the notes on the Monday after Mr. Dike left you; he was detained on his way--I wrote to all the persons whose notes were due to day received them--on the 20 or 22 when I sent you a line stating the fact, I had not rec'd a dollar--the roads are intolerable and very likely not one of the persons to whom I wrote rec'd word by the 20. Two have since been here and they say they did not receive the line I sent them till the 26^th--I called on Tiffany on the 20 as requested by Mr. Backus, or rather I called at his office but he had gone to Toronto on the Hall case, and had not yet returned unless he returned last night--so I have heard nothing from him.

Samuel starts for home the first of next week. I shall send all the money I now have to Buffalo by Post and send it to you--I cannot buy a Draft here or I would do it today--The Bank in this Town has wound up its business--it was only a branch of the York Bank. In regard to obtaining money from the bank here--that is to say in York I do not think there is any chance for us if it is out of the question for our best men who have been in the constant practice of obtaining money to do it at present.

Yesterday one hundred notes were protested in this town, at the office of the old Branch. I have settled with Mr. Janes which was done on the receipt of the papers by Mr. Dike. Janes² felt extremely bad on his return--was sorry he went to Brockport--was sorry he ever started the Furnace--but after we settled he seemed to feel better, has resumed his wonted cheerfulness--is buying and selling village lots--says he shall leave the Province next Spring for the West, wants now to ask you if you will obtain what Mills of Backus he wants and he will positively pay for the same by the time B. will require his pay.

I have wrote for Iron at the Colborne furnace 20 tons--but have received no answer. The terms of payment will determine what money I shall want. I hope to obtain it by a Bank Note which would run according to practice 3-6 and 9 months.

I can obtain a policy for full value of our property at 2per ct. in town. We have no fire but what we are melting--our stoves are removed--we melt in the morning to be the more secure--but for all this we may burn. I will insure if you desire although there is not 1/4 the risk now there is in the [?] but I desire that your interest shall be safe.

I hope Mr. Backus will not condemn me unheard--I hope you will receive my other letter before this has time to reach you. Our love to you and yours.

A new bank, the Gore goes into operation the 15^th of May--we look for better times, our furnaces will mould but we are now moulding our last heat till we receive iron & coal. Harris goes to Buffalo to move his furniture to this place. Mr. Dike is a good workman at the Lotter where he works at present. Some of the men who came here to pay their notes when they were out. Brockport will not pay their notes all the 15^th of May for the reason that it is out of the question to raise money at present--whether or not the collections would be hastened by suing I know not.

I will write you the beginning of the week by Samuel particularly, and will give you a statement of our business as near as I can--and will then say what I can in regard to funds. I do not think any Iron we can obtain in the province will be any thing as good as the Cartier and if I do not hear favourable news from the Colborne furnace to send you by Samuel--I think we had better make another effort to obtain some from Carthage. If I am able to obtain 20 tons from Colborne we will make do--we are selling but little--In great hury [sic] 30^th April.

Respectfully yours

John Fisher

¹ The date is noted at the bottom of the letter.

² Mr. [Joseph] Janes was a business partner in the foundry. Apparently, he and Fisher had some difficulties working together and eventually Janes ran off, leaving his wife and numerous debts behind. For more details and links, see W-MCP4-6.237. For more on Fisher, see W-MCP5-6.240.