My dear Tim [sic],

"The king is dead: long live the king." But that is quite an insignificant matter compared to the knowledge derived from the receipt of our epistle, that McQuesten lives. I was beginning to think that our friendship may be likened to the relations of two "ships that pass in the night" which merely "signal to each other in passing" but was very much cheered by the knowledge that such was not the case as I would not like to altogether lose sight as you old warhorse, as in this part of the globe one does not come in contact with many fellows with whom intercourse (in either a social or business way) is palatable, and the occasional appearance of a fragment of cloth-of-gold in the patchwork quilt of humanity is pleasing to both heart and eyes. In reading the above splurge over it sounds to me somewhat pedantic but nevertheless I mean it so well let it go as it explains my attitude & hearty good feelings towards valuable mineral in place when I come in contact therewith.

The last letter I wrote you I did not remember your address and wrote on the envelope "Tim" [sic,] Hamilton or something almost as short as that. I hope it found you all right. I have seen very little of the old Elk Lake crowd lately as my headquarters are Haileybury & I have only seen Bill Hanley & one of the others. I heard from Jack Haigh of the H.B.C. today & he tells me although things are quiet there, yet there is a little bit of a stir in mining circles.

By the beard of my grandfather! It would take very little to make me come down and get a sight of your physiog [sic] again but I am afraid old boy that at present the struggle for existence is so hard that I cannot afford the time just now much as I would like to. In the summer we dwellers in tents must not forget that a long hard winter succeeds it & must of necessity lay in a stock of socks to keep our feet warm when it comes. I have seen Stewart once since I left Elk Lake & I believe he is in Cobalt now. Do you even hear from him? I had quite a long trip as you have heard and not without adventures too numerous to mention & perhaps too improbable but I shall look forward to being able to come down to see you some time this summer if the 'Fates are propitious,' but I cannot say with any degree of certainty whether or not I can find the time. I must thank you, however, for your very kindly offer to enjoy your hospitality even if I can't take advantage of it, & must say I appreciate it very much indeed & wish the Lord would shove two more months into the year & I would not be long in acknowledging the gift & making use of them the way you suggest.

Well old friend good bye for the present & whenever you have a dull & idle moment I shall be very glad to have a line from you if you can spare the time. I shall at least always answer until you get tired of keeping up the correspondence. I expect to go up to Elk Lake shortly on business & I have several other places to visit including Porcupine & Cochrane & the lord knows where else. My visit to James Bay put me behind a little & I would almost need two separate personalities to cinch the arrears.

Trusting you are doing a land office business & are happy withal, I remain

Your friend

P. McArthur-Murdoch