Eighteen Thirty-Eight, May 20

James (Charles’ brother) has two sons in Aberdeen, Alexander and William. Alexander is on his own account and William is with him, William Strachan, Dawson

Charles mentions selling grass parks and William's home made guns. He may be an auctioneer.
Charles tells us that his father is 84 years 5 months old when this was written. Therefore, James Begg was born in December 1753 or January 1754. When James Begg was 15, Captain Cook set sail on the first of his three famous voyages, in 1768.
Charles considers 2 pounds per month to be a good wage for a young man. Dawson a fellow in the machinery line makes that wage.

Charles says he wrote two letters in 1837 so do I have them?

Maps to move from Word document. Mr. Harry Begg
Township of Middlesex
St. Thomas, London Dist.
Upper Canada

                Milltown of Towie 20th May 1838

Dear Brother


      Should these few lines reach you I would request that you would immediately answer the same having wrote twice last year and never received on single scrape from none of you, I am anxious under considerable anxiety with regard to the cause of your silence, especially at the present crisis when all Europe seems to turn their attention unto the late struggles which has lately distracted the Two Provinces, but I would fondly hope that better days and more peaceable will be right at hand. And that, whatever grievances may have crept into the counsels of the country, and management of your affairs, redress will be in accordance with the present state of the colonies, which will give life and energy to you all. And as the subject matter to found this constitution will be taken from among yourselves. I hope that you will choose such as has the good of the country entirely at heart and none of that fire brand sort of fellows which is generally forward on every occasion but men of strict probity, a clear head, and sound understanding – who will have the common good of the country alike at heart – I sincerely trust that none of you have taken any other interference than that of defending your persons and

property and assisting to the protection of others, which ought to be equally dear to friends and neighbours . – There has been a great many alterations taken place in this country since you left it and every year ads something new to furnish you a history of but one year would be more nor my narrow space will admit. but to tell you a fiew [Charles spells few this way in other letters also] may not be improper – 1837 was a year of hardship and difficulty to some and also propitious to others to others. The upper part of the district was more or less damaged with frost, in the early part of the season in Towie little or any damage was sustained, The summer season however was very disagreeable, but the cops was all pretty well secured, prices per Tn 18/ to 25/ for oats, beer 23/ to 27/ meal per sack of 280 tn 32/ to 36/ sack, fodder dear 12/6 to 16/ per Tn, straw – Winter was unusually long and late, we had no snow of consequence until the last day of Christmas when a serious storm commenced which lasted fifteen weeks without one single fresh day, the average depth would have been fully 3 feet g h to four feet and where it drifted some wreaths several hundred feet deep, While writing this opposite my own window I can see several wreaths of snow, a good number of people lost their lives. Adam Hay was one of the sufferers -- sowing commenced about the 16th and 24th April all the oats & bear was completed with seeds &c [and etcetera] the first week of May on my farm and would have been done earlier had not a second storm come on which put a period to field operations for more nor eight or ten days, All our potatoes are planted and the turnip land

preparing, but I have seldom seen the grass so far back, I am going to Mains of Brux today, to take charge of the sale of the grass parks there, and is almost resoved to become a purchaser, I have taken a grass place for my young cattle in Curgarff by O-duchoy, but as I have sold none. And as I am overstocked I must do what I could have gladly avoided: making money to others, but I can see no other alternative – cattle and grain markets are all on the advance, and I may say that in general trade is healthy. and should a favourable summer follow I have seen worse prospects. Our local banks has all the appearance of contributing much towards the general good, as they are all established upon the most liberal and best digested plans, which past & present circumstance has disclosed & the Old Aberdeen Bank was about ten days ago robbed of upwards of £15,000 sterling besides a great number of checks, no trace of the robbers has at present been discovered, although the most active steps has been taken to discover them & a reward of Five Hundred guineas has been offered – your friends in Towie are all well, my Father has been rather bad with sore eyes, but the general state of his health has been good for his age, say upwards of 84 & five M/ds.
My own family is all well, Charles has completed his education and has as yet got no situation. I have caused him to write to James and hear his opinion – the people of Bandenyon & Blackhillock is all well, Two of James sons is in Aberdeen. Bakers & Alexander on his own account --&

William with him – Your friends in Huntly and Speyside are all well. and also in Cromar and Deeside – This is wrote to go with William Strachan “Via New York” who goes to the village of Niagara along with an Uncle of his wife’s. Dawson; who had been out there some time and returned and takes a young wife with him. He is in the machinery line of business, and had done some good, he has upward of two pounds per M/d with power to take a few good hands with him. Williams is a very ingenious fellow, he indeed is superior to most, and inferior to none for work and ingenuity he takes out some fine guns of his own making stock lock and barrel of the first rate descriptions, I attended (torn) and sold off his stock of goods, and am happy to say that he has something to take out with him say £50 – or upwards besides a good deal of valuable articles -- as this will in all probability be sent forward as early as he reaches New York. I will expect that you will write us all the history of your late troubles and how you are getting on, in your farming and trade &c, how your wife and family is, also is also if you are liking the country better – A number of your friends is slipping (shipping?) off but none nearer nor three or four degrees and for that an increase is upon the ascendancy, with myself and others – As I have another scrawl to write to George and little time I will conclude by sincerely trusting that his will find you all well while it leaves us also,
Yours Ever Affectionately
Charles Begg