Dear Cousin

I have now made out an account of our business as near as I can--I want you to write me on receiving this--and you will speak out your mind in full--Our debts are large but I have managed as I thought best--Mr. Dike says our Flasks have cost $300 and that they cannot be replaced for that amt. I have endeavoured in all cases to put the lowest value on the property--Our Patterns cost us more than $400 but we have charged for many of them which I exclude from our calculation--as well as all that which we think may not be useful.

I have valued the lot at its cost--I hesitate not to say I can sell it for 200 over its cost anyhow. You requested me to send you what money I could last month--I thought I should have sent you some but I have not for the reason I have not had it--I had $100 to send you at one time but I had no way to send it, when an opportunity offered I had not the money--I want to leave the furnace next week for the purpose of collecting--should I go out I hope to send you some on my return--If we could raise $1000. for a year I think we should then be able to refund it and go along without embarrassment--but you can judge from the above something of what we shall want. I calculate to be able to pay for one half of the machines the first of May and give a Bank Note for the remainder on 3 months and then I hope to be able to meet that.

We are not doing much in the Furnace at present. We have not much to do and the weather is cold.

Amt. of the last of Iron from Bush & Shepard. I did not take the Iron from the Wharf on my return to this place in consequence of the Charges but I have now rec'd and weighed it all carefully. Should we buy more Iron of Bush it will never answer to send it across to Prescott but ship it directly for this place--by so doing we save the duties and an extra charge of carring [sic] it across the River The Coal last received is full of slate and of course not good--

I have heard nothing of Tonnicliff [Tunnicliff]¹ since you last wrote.

I shall probably send you another draft for B. in a few days as a number of his note [sic] fell due on the 1 inst.--He will have to sell a number before they are collected--At his request I will leave such as have not been paid with Tiffany I hope if we are able to carry on our accounts one year longer--that it will pay on something handsome for the trouble--yet I know all is uncertain--

We are all well and remain with,

Respect yours [sic]

John Fisher²

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.