Eighteen Thirty-Three

John Begg (letter writer) James, Charles, Leman Grant, Bengie Tompson, Robert Michie, Thomas Michie, Harry Michie, Margaret, James, Jean, John, George and his wife, George’s daughter Jean

America, Aberdeen, Ballachduie, Mill of Towie

Flood of the river Nethy. There was a flood in the area which damaged homes and buildings. James Forsyth makes a record of the height and breadth of the river Spey at the Rock of Sowerdon for “preservation”. Using these measurement the flow volume was calculated. James mentions the great flood of 1768.

John has difficulty with spelling. Corrections in parenthesis. This letter had a hole in it. The space left by the hole is shown in the text below as - (hole).

Circular post mark Queenston Jun 7 U. Can.

Mr. Harry Begg
Coppersmith Township by Sant Thomas
of Southwould County
of Midlesex
Upper Canada

Badenyon April 11th 1833 Glenbucket

Dear Brother & Sister

I received your letter of the 29^th of October which gives us great pleasure in hearing of your being settled for once and of your being all in an ordinary state although the distance is far between us in the mean time in the course of a short time we may be nearer each other we are all in good health at present may Father & James and his family and Charles and his family all enjoy the same blissing thank you for it hoping this will find you all in the same I have got no shour bearer (certain letter carrier) to send any of the articles you mentioned as we lay at a distance from the sea for passengers are setting out for America especially the belt you mentioned I spoke to Leman Grant about it as he was going out in the Spring but as I had (hole in letter) an opportunity of being in Aberdeen mayself before he went away I lost the chance I tried Bengie Tompson but he would not promise to make or to give satisfaction I have delied satting (delayed setting) out for some time as may wife is but delicate and may family small she is much afraid for the passage but in the course a short time I hope to give it a fair trial I have heard of James settling for a school and am glad his is likely to suckseed (succeed) and you will perhaps think me carles (careless) for not sending any of the articles you mentioned but I hope you well excuse as I never gave you any reason to doute  (doubt) of may will in any thing I could do for you.  we have had an exelent (excellent) winter but the Spring coming in is more ackward (awkward) there is no seed sown in this place as yet grain low in price, bear 19 stone 18^Sh/ob boll, corn 15 stone 12^sh/ to 12/6ob boll, meal from 13 ^sh/ to 14 ^sh/ g none boll, hay per stone /6 ?, horses are selling well at present owing to the let seson (late season)   you will tell George I am clear of Robert Michie in his stead there has been a proges between Robert Michie and Robert Sanderson   Thomas Miche and Hary Michie about freighting as Robert Michie had got worse the three (hole)tioner has paid expenses all is settled   I am glad to hear of George succeeding so well with his new farm and hopes (hope) he shall have no

ocesion (occasion) to now (prevent) his leaving Ballachduie   I did not write to George but I hope you see him and tell him I expect to hear from him and from you all as soon as possible sepose I was detained in writing on account of not getting a bearer to send the things I intended   I hope by the time this reaches you, you will be better without them   with may (my) kindest compliments to you all and the blessings of God which maketh everything on earth   be with each and all of you   send me word how you are getting on with your trade and how James dowing (is doing) with his school and any thing that may ocure (occur) since you wrote last and what kind of a winter you have had by last and how you are liking the country   the reason of my delay is entirely owing to may (my) family not being able to be a help to me as they are of little youse (use) for any kind of work   I could not manage a farm without their assistance as I hear servants are dear and scarse (scarce) and of course may be as bad (as bad as his family, I presume) but I hope in the course of a short time if we are spared to give it a fair trial   give our kindest compliments to Margaret, to James and Jean and John not forgetting George and his wife and all his family   mention George's daughter Jean how she is getting if she is better then (than) when she left Mill of Towie

 

we remain

Brothers and Sisters yous (yours) Sincerely

John Begg