Quebec 9^th September 1834

My Dear Sir

I received yesterday your kind & obliging letter of the 3^rd instant; and I do not see why you should imagine I should be surprised at receiving a letter from you, except that in one sense I have no right to expect one, since I have nothing to give you in return but my best wishes for your health & happiness[.] I do remember however that your brother, some time last spring, asked me whether I had ever received a letter from you some time before, which I had not acknowledged, and if I recollect rightly, it appeared that such it was your impression that such was the case; but I requested him to assure you that I had not heard from you since you left Quebec during the Session of 1833: and I am still certain that I have not, for I keep all my private letters in regular files, with a file of unanswered letters; and I have none of your's[.] I intended to have written to you to this effect shortly after your brother spoke to me; but various petty obstructions, of which it would be tedious to give an account, have always delayed the execution of an intention which I have however always kept in my mind, & now proceed to put into execution[.] I regret to hear of your continued ill health; I was in hopes that you might have been able to pay us another visit during a part at least of the next Session, in which the presence of all members of the Legislative Council of staunch principles & steady opinions will be wanted. But your health should be your first care; and there is but little encouragement in these “wretched times”, as you justly call them, for any man of sound principles, to make any sacrifice or even

any

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