I am gratified my dear Susan with your attention in sending me a letter with the chance of its overtaking me and should have been still more so could I have seen you at Waikanae. I wish you had undertaken the trip sooner. The mosquitoes are now settling in although they are not yet very numerous. Why did you not enjoy the officer's ball more. Was it not a pleasant party? My letter of tonight would be much longer but I must go down to see Mr Hickson before he goes to bed therefore do not think it arises from negligence. If possible you will hear from me again before I leave for the East. With kind regards to Mamma. I remain Always yours faithfully Donald McLean Manawatu 28 Nov 1850 I wrote you by on Fr [crossed out] last mail hoping you are resolved as you promise to be a good girl. I again say Good night. On Monday next do I leave for Ahuriri where if a vessel should be going I may have the pleasure of hearing from you. The Duncans, Duries and others on the coast are well. Mrs Durie rather complains since her confinement, she is not allowed to drink Colonial beer as it contains ingredients that are injurious to health. I forgot to say that I received a long letter from Scotland last night and I am delighted to find that my faithful old nurse Effy McDonald, a widow with several children is most anxious to come out to live with me. The children are almost grown up and the chances are I will send for her. She is such a sincerely attached old creature. Your letter has been rather short for such an expert writer as you are. Probably Mamma would find fault with you if you were to be always writing to me. She does not appear to approve of too much letter writing although she has no doubt amused Papa with some of her original ideas on paper before they were married. I wonder if she gratified the old Irish Dragoon with a letter, or if he could read it if she received one. I send you a specimen of Taranaki poetry for your amuse ment and shall expect to see some production of yours before long in praise of Wellington, its gaieties, balls, dances, evening parties and numerous enjoyments notwithstanding your professed dislike to such amusements. 11 at night. Time to go to rest and you will say after imposing such a task the sooner the better, not knowing what may come next.