My dear Brother,

Both of yours received all right no reasonable excuse for not answering; just the intention of doing so every day, & then delaying till the next. Father is quite delighted with the dog. He, not father, instituted proceedings by licking my dog, & when he went to father's, Rover was decidedly fighty, so he polished him off. The consequence is he is held in respect and esteem by the whole house. I think he'll be a successful investment. Thanks, but at present I don't feel inclined to either in mind or pocket to hand over $100 for a bloodhound or $15 for a [deer dog?]. I was quite full of the notion of having one of the former kind when in N.Y.; but imagine I can exist without one; & should only care for it in case it could be got at a reasonable figure. Besides the express charges would be heavy and should it just happen that you could find one when coming to Hamilton at a moderate figure, the trouble is so little in bringing it that I would not think it an imposition to ask you to look after it. All I had to do was to go into the baggage car & tip fifty cents to the man, & the same at the bridge; & did not have to take the chain into my hand till I got into the cab here.

Proudfoot is to be married tomorrow--a nice prospect as to the dog. This is the stormiest of the season. I will scrape up your funds in a few days. Don't know when for years money has been as tight. By the way Mary wants to know what a nice but plain plated set of covers for meat dishes could be got for at the Meriden Co. She never thought of it when there; & we almost need some. Father wondered we didn't get twice as much as we did at such prices. It is almost dark will write again soon

As ever yours

I.B. McQuesten