Originals were unfolded, flattened, given acid-free envelopes and returned to donor.
Acquisition Source
Mrs. Gail Manson of White Lake
Scope and Content
From a description of the letter in Peter Hessel's book, McNab: The Township: 'Laird to Allan from Montreal. "I am so far satisfied at what you say that neither you nor your mother had any positive hand in that poor unfortunate Girl's act of having thrown a slur upon her family altho formerly your mother was to blame in Countenancing that fellow too much." (This was most likely a reference to the Laird's daughter Kitty. He never mentioned her again in his subsequent letters. Kitty eventually married William Yuill.) The Laird was suffering from severe rheumatism and a painful hand ("I can scarcely hold the pen"), although his "side" was better. He was waiting for Parliament to open, and until Sir Allan could "get on with my business during the session". He was still concerned about the road at White Lake, and he advised Allan to "sell the oxen for whatever they may fetch and remit me the balance after paying our excellent and worthy friend John Fisher what he has advanced". The letter closed with "warmest wishes to your Mother, yourself, John Fisher and his mother".
Notes
The originals were returned after scanning.
Related Material
See Peter Hessel's book, McNab: The Township for a broader history of the Laird's settlement and occupation of the area.