Courtesy of Al E Haggart a great grand nephew of Alexander, Peter and Christina

Letter from Alexander Duff at Restigouche, NB
to
his brother Peter in Pictou East River, NS

Restigouche
March 20th 1838
Dear Brother

This few lines will acquent you that we are all
in good health at this time thanks be to God for
his blessings and hop thes few lines will find you
all the same. I received your letter about the 12 of Feb.
I supose that it lay for some time in the tyrents store.
I never hard them mention your name. Henderson give me the
letter and I sead that it was from you and he asked if you
was well and that was all that passed.

Cantley and his Conceanse apears to be more reconciled
than formerely. They are still living at the Point and
driving very little but they are still thinking of Commensing
on the back lots. they are very slothful. I did medlen well
last Summer. after you left I tuck a job on the Rings road and
it came to 12-0-0 pounds and I sawed fine wood which came from
the Islands which came to about 50-0-0 pounds in the cars of
last season. If God spares me my health I hope I will be able
to pay the Greatest Part of my debts in the inSuing summer if
there will be anything to do. It is very diltimes this winter
very little haling on the river. The lumbering is not very brisk
on a Count of being very low prises at hom.

I haled a little for Ferguson on the river this winter and
haled conciderable firewood to Campbleton. it geats necessancies
for my family. Providence hath blessed us with a better crop this
year past. I head 150 barrels of Potatoes and the oats was
tolerable good also but I head no wheat or Barley as I head no
sead nor has as yet. John hath promised several times.
I hope he will not forgeat me this summer.

Send som wheat and Barley patmeal and when boy is well grow up
I will recompense you. A pare of cart wheels wood be very
acceptable if you can send them. I wood do my best to send you
the money by A MacIntosh lowwhels(?) If I can get clear of
debts and lay by some money I will take a trip to see you all.

Alex Ferguson run away from his father last fall and he is in
Canada in the volunteers.

The french in lower and uper Canada rebeled several times
and the British killed a great many of them and there is a war
expected every day with the yankees. A great many trops is
come from hom alredy and more expected. Ritchie is rather
dearer than Ferguson now. Provisions is very hay been scarce
and if this war goes on we will be bad of for vitels then people
shuld farm hard now as there will be very litle imported.

Betsy Ferguson is married to one fraser from Bathurst

My Best respects to Father and mother and all.

I remain your brother with esteem

Alex Duff

**Note **

Alexander sends his best to Father and mother but his father had
passed away three months prior to this letter being sent