Letter From John McFarlane, Scotland,
To His Son John, Lanark, Ont.

Lochgoilhead 1st April 1829

My Dear Son John

I received your loving & kind letter dated on the 23 Augt 1827, did not receive it untill in June 1828, it came in due course to me, I was at the time in Glasgow & Archd kept it from me §§§

I return you my sincere thanks, for your kind offer to me. I am now too Old to go to you, being 71 of age 26^th day of this month of April, & you are 50 by 29^th July first being born on 29^th July 1779. I wish you joy of your son Mich^l Boyle Mf & Agnes, - I am now to give melancholy act - of Deaths §§§ My Wife died on the 20^th Oct^r 1828. My Son WB Mcf died on the 4th Dec^r, 1828 §§§ & have left 6 Sons & 2 daughters, very poor he failed & was turn(ed) o(u)t of shop before death – John McGregor & wife are both dead. John Bain died 2 weeks ago. Andrew McCombie & his sister are dead & Andrew Mcfarlane Boige[?] of Finlas, Wm Walker Gardner & his wife also Laird Minses died poor & your old landlord, Peter Walker cotton spinner, fell into a Coal Pitt, & there was eleven people drowned at Terbet Locklomond from the Lady of the Lake. At this time the poor Glasgow weavers are starving, great confusion here, all over G. Britton & Ireland are afraid of a Sival Warr from Roman Catholics §§§ Alex Gibson Barber, is also dead & a great Numbers you know.

I read your letter to Ant R. & Mr. A. Smith both have there compts to you, Ant would go if I went.

It woud require a Rim of Paper to inform you of all the Death of them you once knew – Give my best compliments to all your Dear family Mrs. McCrae & McVicar Mr. Malloch Mr. Young, McKechnie & Robertson & Let WK know there are 500 Taylors without work in Glasgow at present poor times.

I have left Inchtavanock on 3^d of Feby last, at present with Mr. James McGregor Teacher Lochgoilehead – My Family are very crwell to me, since my Wife died, they have taken from me the 2/ weekly that I formerly got & most life where they please. I dare not go to Glasgow, they will not lodge me themselves nor pay for my lodgings hard enough.

If I were young I would be with you this summer. I also saw the Carrman, he hase [sic] his compliments to you. I called on John Provan, at Cooks work, but they would not let me see him. Rob^t McLellan is some where about Port Dundas. I cannot find the rest – you would not know Glaso They are building a New Bridge aside the wooden one, there are said to be 213000 - 900 - 42 Inhabitant in City [ice?] anew key down on the South Side of River.

You do not mention if you pay much for sending the par(c)il, I am fond to send a few News papers to let you know somthing of old Scotland. I hope you will soon write me & let me know as much of your family as you can -- as they are for keeping your letters from me direct for me care of Mr. James Garthly Teacher Cochran Street Glasgow. I will if living receive it.

I am thinking of marring another Wife as my Family are useing me exeedingly ill §§§

I have much to say but I must stop. The mail must be at Greenock tomorrow in great hast as the Steam Boat is going.

I am My Dear son John
your affectionat Father
[ornate signature] John M'Farlane