Township of Whitby, Canada West
27th January 1852
My Dear Mary, 
	If the affection which you at one time showed to your only brother was to [be] measured by your correspondence I fear it would be at a tad discount as you have not taken the trouble of even once addressing me for the last twenty years. I am not a Rich Man perhaps that is one cause that my friends have so entirely forgotten me but I have still the same warm affection for the whole of you that I had in my younger days but writing letters is entirely discarded by me. I have wrote so frequently to Scotland without ever having a reply that I may as well try and forget as well as be forgotten.  
	My principal reason for trouble you at present is when Andrew returned from Scotland he wrote me stating the circumstance under which poor unfortunate Jess was placed and asking me to endeavour to assist her so far as to send her to Edinburgh to learn the profession of midwifery so that she might be enabled to help herself. Your sons know well I have no money and that I have to depend on my own exertions for the support of a family of mine; but well knowing the urgency of the case I have used every exertion even at the expense of my own family to meet Andrew’s wishes and have sent him about a week ago the sum of fifty dollars (which is all that I could scrape together) with instructions to [remit] the same to you for the purpose of assisting Jess to go to Edinburgh. Now My Dear Mary I cannot suppose this small sum will be enough for the purpose intended, but you must try and do all you can to further her views and I cannot help thinking if you would write Mrs. Fraser Flemington, or Jess go and call upon her that she would assist her, at any rate it is worth trying. I leave the matter with you, well knowing you will escort yourself as far as possible. Andrew is writing you he will better explain all matters. 
	I wrote my mother on the 5th of May last. My son Andrew wrote one side of the letter in which he sent to his grandmother one sovereign. Of this letter or its enclosure I have not received any account and your son Andrew says he heard no mention made of it, will you make enquiry about it.
	I send you enclosed one sovereign which you will give to mother with my love. I wish I could send a larger amount but she must take the will for the deed. To prevent any miscarriage of this I shall mark the letter money so that it may be entered in the Post Office Books.
	I need not ask you to write me, please yourself but rest assured nothing would give me greater pleasure than to hear frequently from you and your good man, my good friend Skinner has forgot me altogether. But never mind I can bear this as well as the neglect of the rest of you.
	I had a letter from your son Andrew a few days ago, they were all well then.
	Myself and family are enjoying good health at present and hope this may find you and all of your family enjoying the same ? With best respects to Mr. Skinner.
	Believe me to be My Dear Mary, yours affectionately,
		A. McPherson 

	You will receive along with this a Canadian [Almanac] containing a considerable quantity of statistical information. Andrew informs me he directed one of his sisters to forward the Inverness Papers weekly to me but I never have received. ? as withal.
	Yours A. McP.