Mr J D McDonald, West River, Pictou

Halifax, March 17th, 1841

Dear Brother

I have nothing particular to write to you about just now, but I thought you might perhaps be affronted in I did not answer your letter, you wish to know how Hallon Blackadar Agus Holmes get on. as for Hallon he says nothing in the house for a very good reason because he can't, and Blackadar always tells Holmes what he has got to say and gets him to speak for him.  I wrote to Father on Friday last by A Fraser.  I suppose he has got it before this, when you have another opportunity of writing I want you to get a copy of a song which is said to be composed by Red Davy, and send it to me.  I have heard it much talked of here and it is said to be a capital thing.

When you see Smith Clarks tell him he will answer the next letter I write to him.  You may give the same message likewise to Richard Blaikie, who promised to answer any letter that I would send him.  I wrote to him shortly after I came here.  He might not have got it if it is so let me know when you write again.

I think you are getting very careless in your inking, your lines are so crooked and so far apart and your letters so unshapley on would think that you had never been in school.  You outh to embrace every opportunity of writing to me as much for the sake of practising yourself as anything else.  You will find it a great advantage to be able to write a letter neatly and well expressed, when you are in business in after --

Remember me to all enquiring friends, to sister Nancy and Janet and Sally and to the Girls without number, to A Cameron James McKean, vc,vc,vc (etc, etc, etc) and in the meantime 

I remain Your affectionate Brother

AC McDonald

To J D McDonald, West River

PS.  I received a letter from J. D. Cameron he tells me that you and J. Blaikie set out to see the Squires girls home one night and then let Alexander Archibald take them from you Ah! you poor sneak