Mr. Harry Begg
Coppersmith
Tumulochy
Coldstone
Dundurcas Sep. 30 1831
Dear Harry
Although nothing of particular consequence has occurred since I wrote
you last, yet as the school (mails, hole in letter) at Badendallach
has happened to call here just now, by whom I believe it was that got
the last letter conveyed to you, I take the opportunity to inform you
that I have great reason to Bless God, we are all well. William was
this way lately from Abernethy the first time since the great Flood
we had here. It was out of his power to be here sooner being so closely
engaged at home, both repairing his own damage which was great, as well
as attending to the repairs of the damage done to Lord Seafield’s
property at Abernethy, -- and at the same time being called to the Jury,
at the Circuit Court at Inverness he had to attend there, after which
he was obliged to return home to meet the Hon. Col. Grant who was at
Grantown, upon important business before he could get here to look after
the damages done at this place and the Boat of Bridges, he had little
time to spare with me, only a short call as he came down, and the same
as he went home. Sunday was eight days I went up to Rothes with him
in a gig, he staid Sermon then went to Mr. McInnes’s at Dindabeth
for the night and went home the next day. I had a notice from him last
post that they were all well, and that my good daughter was got over
the fright and (hole) she underwent before they got into their house
the day of the flood of Nethy. For being both from home that day when
they come near the Bridge of Nethy, the road was all overflowed with
that Rivelot, and another water that came through the wood, so that
they were obliged to turn up the Hill, and when they got into the road
again, there was part of it, that they were not 5 minutes off it, when
Nethy swept all off. When they came opposite to the House, there
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was no possibility of getting over the hollow, as Nethy had got down between the Farm steading and the House, so that Mrs. F. had to stay wet and cold in a small house untill the water began to abate a little in the afternoon, when the servants put long ladders over the palling, and help her over, having to go through a considerable depth of water both before they got in and after they got off the temporary passage they had. Nethy was in the Kilthen Nursery & William’s office but the House being a little higher, it got only into the passage. -- I believe I mentioned before that the water had calt and destroyed a great deal of his Farm, but I had a letter from Mrs. F. soon after in which she said very cheerfully that they would have Bread and Wm tells me that he had reserved some Ricks of old corn, which would now be of service to him, and if he got the rest well taken in he would find no deficiency for his family or cattle.
I have been busy for weeks getting (hole -- See research notes above) from the wood beside (hole) up a sort of Ne (hole) in place of those spey sweep off and they an(hole) I had a request from Issac (last name, hole) Elgin to make out a report and send him, for a record to be preserved, of the perpendicular height spey rose to, above her usual level at the Rock of Sowerdon beside me, as also the breadth of the river at that place, in order to calculate the extra quantity of water that passed in a given (time, hole) also how high spey rose above the great flood in the year 1768. This I have accomplished today. There was a stone put into the rock marking the night of Spey in 1768 which was taken away many years ago but after I came here I searched the place, it was in and found it. I shall for curiosity add on the other side the result of my measurements which I intend to send him as soon as I can get a little time to make a report to him.
I am thinking [have been hoping] very long for a letter from Sandy [ref. 1826 letter, Sandy in Jamaica]. I have had no word from him since he wrote Morris except a line that a person here received some months since from an acquaintance there (who said) he was well – compliments to all friends,
May God Bless you all
I am Dr Mary
Your loving Father
James Forsyth
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