letter from john mcdougall (mcdougald) dated baldoon, april 29, 1806
Addressed to:
Mr. Hugh MacDougald
Arrive to the care of Mr. Robt Maxwell,
Island of Mull
Argylshire, North Britain
Dear Brother,
I gladly embrace this opportunity of letting you know that we are well at present wishing you the same and we would wish that you would all come over rather than to be bound in that place. All that is able to pay their passage let them do it and if they are not able let them do as we have done, that is to engage with Lord Selkirk as he is going to bring more Settlers off this year to this Settlement, Upper Canada. There is good encouragement for tradesmen in this Country, for Carpenters, Blacksmiths and Shoemakers, they have two dollars per day and there victuals - labouring men has from 1 dollar & 12 shillings per day. We have got a good spell of sickness since we came to thus place as no doubt but you have heard, but thank God we getting the better of it now. There is not a place under the sun better than this place. Any person that intend to come to this country and that can take £10 Sterling to this place he may make a living of it with very little trouble. Whatever money you take over, mind to take it in gold for every Guinea you take to Montreal you have 5 shillings profit. You need not trouble yourself about taking any cloathing or goods to this place excepting woolen cloth. You shall by them as cheap at Montreal. And I would advise you buy all at Montreal before you would come on here. We came about 10 hundred mile up the country. In that distance I could not see a poor man. The farder we came up the country the better. There is all sort of fish in this place. I have better engagement to give you now that what at Montreal. You may tell Ronald your brother for as much as he shinks of moriness he would get more land than what was in all Mull for about 10 £ Sterling. You shall be at the trouble as to let them no at Morven all about us and especially to Angus McInnes piper and tell him that he would do a great deal better hear than where he is and if he does not come let do his best for to send my daughters. You may tell Dougald Cochoon that he would make as good as 3 dolars of it per day. You may let Hugh McPhie no if he was to come here he would make in one year what would maintain them for ever and kep them in a good way. You may let Allan my son Father in law no that he and his wife are doing well and they expect that have the spirit of coming to this country. Beef is at 2½ per pound, pork 6d per pound - everything according to that. When you write direct to John McDougald, Baldoon, to the care of Mr. Innis & Grant, mercht, Sandwich, so no more at present. But my compliments to all that enquires for me.
I am as,
Your most affectionate Brother,
John McDougald
Many thanks to Barbara Thornton