My dear Brother,

Yours announcing safe arrival rec'd all right. Though I have not much to write, I never let you know about the 'dorg'. Mary is perfectly delighted with it, & says every day that she is going to sit down & write you a note thanking you; but she has been quite poorly from a heavy cold. The little fellow is certainly the most curious & affectionate of his race I have ever seen, and very clean in the house. Both the large dogs are on duty watching the grapes, which are ripening very fast.

Father referred to family matters to me last week. And if you can come home at Xmas I should like the alteration made giving you absolute control of interest of half during life, & of course if you marry, it & its principal become yours anyway. Father seems quite agreeable to it. However there is plenty of time yet. I've got to go to Morley, Michigan tomorrow to take evidence in an extensive suit. Expect to return in about three days. Mary sends love.

As ever yours

I.B. McQuesten [Isaac Baldwin McQuesten]