Pln. Nos. 17 & 18 West Coast
Berbice, 7th December 1825
My Dear Mother, 
	I embrace the opportunity offered by the Bearer ? Mr. Hugh Fraser who is returning Home in a bad state of Health, to acquaint you of my being well, and as Mr. F. will likely pop through Tain your can have an opportunity of learning from him personally, any news you feel yourself interested in from this remote quarter. Mr. Fraser is come from Brora Sutherlandshire and came to this Colony about a year and a half ago indebted to the same employer with me, but he was unfortunately sent to a most unhealthy situation, an Estate which Mr. Blair owns high up the Berbice River where he enjoyed very bad health and has now got an affection of the liver for which his only chance lies in visiting his nature climate. 
	I received yours of 24th September last month and have just to complain as much as ever of want of local news, will you never give up the practice of informing me to some others when you will know I never hear from anybody, and that I am like one who has no friend or relation living. You refer me to Messrs. Skinner and Bain for news, when did ever either of them take the trouble of setting his hand to paper to say Tain is ever as you left it. No ? I must excuse them, multiplicity of business of course hinders them, or perhaps Mr. Skinner, was playing a game a Bowls when the mail was made up and consequently was obliged to let it remain till ? packet and so on. But never mind there is a time for all things. It is time I should take a lazy fit as well as others, and when I cease to write every one of you, you can in justice have very little to complain of. Mr. Bain must certainly be very much altered since I left Tain, or he is not the person I took him to be, often have I wrote him but never received a line from him but twice but now a days people must learn patience and certainly you good people at Home are determined we shall learn that good quality all possible means in the West Indies. 
	As I suppose you would like to have the watch I carried from Home and which was the one my Father had, and as I have every hope it will be delivered safely, I send it to you and I hope as it was a favourite by far it will not be ? so when you recollect. It has gone with me Three thousand miles, and that I have wore it about me for the last three years. I have had it cleaned totally, and I hope you will receive it safe. It is an excellent time keeping watch, and a particular favourite of mine nor would I part with it except I thought you will carefully keep it in remembrance of your own son Sandy McPherson. 
	I send likewise fur Bearear, to skins of the rattle-snake which I have stuffed. One is for my Uncle at Fort George the other for my old friend William Bain and I hope both [may] accept of them as a small mark of my regards. If my uncle wishes for it he can have a numerous collection of the natural  of a tropical clime sent him but really my time was so short at present that I had no opportunity, having only two days notice of Mr. Fraser’s sailing. There is likewise two male coral snakes and the saw of a saw, a Sword Fish which is of itself no small curiosity. If you think they will be acceptable let my Uncle have them likewise, if not do what you please with them. I have not forgot that I promised [page torn] Fraser Dornoch some curiosities but really [page torn] not pleased she should not say whether they would be acceptable however she has only to say the word and I am very much at her service and will endeavour to procure some curiosities more to her fancy.
	I wrote my Uncle at Dornoch last packet and would again none but that I have not time to spare. I have but a few hours and these I intend writing a note to Mr. Bain and a few lines to Nelly. I had a letter from Dougald a few days ago, he is well, he received a letter from you date Dec. last two months ago. Mr. Baillie and John Chisholm are well, John has been with me for the las few weeks. Make offer of my best respects to my Uncle and Mrs. Fraser Dornoch, my Uncle and Mrs. Fraser Fort George and after of my friends who may enquire, and I remain my Dear Mother,
	Yours very sincerely, 
A.	McPherson
P.S. I intended writing Helen and perhaps may but having come to see Mr. Fraser before starting I have not a moment to spare, Nelly wants much to have a lock of my hair. I have but little to spare at present however as she is so very [wishful] of it I send a little enclosed in my watch cone. I also send for Mary to be given to my namesake a gold watch which I have sed for some time, it was a repeater but I have got the repeating works taken out, however I dare say it can be made well enough with a little trouble. Mr. Skinner is so very busy I suppose I ? not ask him ?with, however I will expect to hear from him soon. 
	I have wrote Mr. Bain for the last time. Make offer my best respects to both my Aunts as also to Charles Fraser. I expected by ? now to have heard from him however I suppose he is like the rest of the good folk. Give my love to Nelly, Mary, Jess, Mr. Skinner [etc.] and believe me to be yours affectionately, 
A. McPherson