6 July 1871 Glenorchy My dear Donald Your letter by Douglas I duly received and it in some respects pleased me in what you say by getting a passage to New York in a whale ship would answer very well as I could get that way cheaper no doubt and I would availe myself of it if I were shure that I could recover the money when I got there, but as I have written to New York to inquire if Mr Samuel N Goodridge is in busness in that city again and to find out his whereabouts three mails ago it would not be wise to start now on the mear chance without I could get some situation that I could pay my way with there and back again if not successful in getting the money. I am writing by this mail to Catherine who if they return by way of New York will have no trouble in finding out all about the Goodridges as there old place of busness, 84 Broad Street is quite near the hotell they are most likely to put up at, eigher the Astor House or Creterrian and a few minutes walk would bring her to the door of 84 Broad St. It was a very old firm. One letter I sent to inquire for him was returned saying that 6 years ago not be be found but as he went to Nicaragua before I left New York to start a busness there he may be found out and doing well for he was a good busness man. When he first chartered my ship in China to go to Arican for rice and went passenger as far as Sinapore with me I found him a very nice young man. The Councel then at Singapore was his first cousin where he stayed till my return and then charte[re]d another ship and went in her to Manilla and on my going some two years afterward to New York he gave me the hand of fellowship in many ways and hence the reason I trusted him to do my busness. I have onley two letters that can prove the transaction. If he is to the fore it would require myself to go to him as the principal papers and dishonoured bills I got from him were burned. A copy of one of those letters that I have I sent to you as I fear trusting the original in case of losing it. I consider the better way will be to wait till I see if I can get an answer to my last letter and then if I find he is there and doing well be of[f] at once and try what can be done. The total amount left in his hands at first was £1500, £200 of which he paid me. The rest was to be at interest at the rate of 8 per cent. The amount now nearley 16 years would be over £900 and the half of it would be a very great matter for me to get besides I might do some good in other ways, at all events improve my state of mind and health. I am very thankful to you for the things you have sent me as they will safe money. I am so pleased to have Douglas up here all he can. He is a dear boy and a young man I have great hopes of but he should be at once sent to a good busness house as he bemoans to wast time and I do not think he will be idle and see what comfort it will be to you to have him a good busness man. Your affectionate brother Archibald John McLean