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 "Atlantic Island" (Long Island, New York). He planned to go from there to Huntington, Long Island. He was treating his rheumatism: "... it is astonishing the benefit I have derived from seabathing". In October he planned to come to White Lake. In addition to rheumatism, he suffered from "an attack of the Gravel which has annoyed me much", and he thought that it was caused by the "rupture" he had been "labouring under for some years past". He planned to consult "some of the New York doctors who are famed for curing that malady". He asked Allan not to discuss his illness with anyone, since "the sad miscreants of the Township would rejoice to hear that anything was the matter with me". He reported that the cholera had broken out in several US cities and hoped it would not reach Canada, "for these accursed rebels have brought enough mischief to poor Canadawithout it, I am afraid they will ultimately ruin the country. But it is just what the Vagabonds of the Township would wish, with Dugald McNab and Malcolm Cameron at their head, assisted by Dickson".
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.