Saturday evening November [pre late 1873] Glenorchy My dear Donald As Mr Esdaile is going down tommorrow I write you a few lines to tell you how things are getting on here. I took Mr Esdaile up with me here yesterday and cut two colts and 8 of your calves and branded them. I then went down and wished to get those below done this day but it was put off. Alex said he would get them done next week, he then would be able. He is a little better and at work but in a very shaky state as yet and of course I did not gave him your letter in case of it irritating him till he gets over the effects of the fearful doses of drink he has been taking of late. It appears that old Archy from what I hear has been keeping drink for him and by what I hear leading him on his distruction. They were both in a sad state the night of the fatal drama. That fellow ought to be kept from him and away from there for the accounts about his conduct is dreadful towards poor Alex. He is his ruin. I will not say any more on the subject till I see you. I will try my best to forward the work for there is no time to be lost now. I want him to get the sheep in to dock by the end of next week. Malcomb says that some of the lambs are very large and ought to be docked while the weather is moist. They are getting on with the building for the screw very well now. They were all up pritty early this morning and at their work when they heard me up and Alex came out as well. So I took Easdail up with me to see how the colts and calves were doing. We cut yeasterday and found them all well. I gave him my mare to go down with as his own horse is got a bad back. He seem a respectable man and very willing to gave me a ha[n]d. He will be able to tell more about old Archy etc for he asked me today if he was not a relation of ours. When I told him he was not he said he was glade of that for it was supposed he was and that he certainly was an ill looking fellow for he said all the men at the station heated [hated] him or had told him so. It appears he has been for the last three months and all along getting spirits in his own name for Alex. It is dreadful to hear all I have been told. The lad has come up and I will see how he gets on and then arrange about wages with him. His idaia is to exalted for wages. I will go down again on Monday to station and if you cannot come up I will go down and see you if I can. Prince is a good horse to ride up. I fear that the big horse is not the thing for you. He is ruff and headstrong and you had better have the bay horse. It was as much as I could do to keep him in coming up that day. You better send word up by mail or Easdail when you want the wethers so as to have them ready in time. I hope poor Kate is well and that the shock did not effect her. I hope this will be a warning to all. It is praying very much on my wife for she dreads that any think [thing] may befall Alex in his shaky state. Always your affectionate brother Archibald John McLean My ha[n]d is very stiff with rooping and can hard[l]y write.