22 September 1845 Clifton My dear brother I received your welcome letter August last and was much delighted to hear that you were in good health and I hope you still continue so. Thank God I always enjoy good health. I remained in Sydney for a long time looking out for a situation but I could not find any to my mind. A good situation is not easy to be found now adays in this colony and at last I got sick of Sydney and came out to the country to see my cousin Mrs McDonald and they are most kind to me. They will not let me leave their place till such time as something casts up that will answer me and I have as good a chance hear as I would have in Sydney as the Doctor knows the most of the respectable people in the country and I hope before long that I shall have the good luck of a place to answer me. Dear brother I am thankful to you and much delighted for the many good advices you often sent me in your letters and I trust that you do yourselfe acordingly. You always tells me to save money and buy stock which I should like to do if it lay in my powers. Stock is reasonable at the present time if a man had money to buy. I have a few good cows and if I could get money I should have more and buy some mares to but I have not had the chance of saving as yet but I trust that I may be made fortunate through time. I hope as you are at present in the way of making money that you will try and put by as much as you posibly can. Se if you are spared if we can make a house for ourselves in some corner. I am verry anxious to get some money to purchase tow breeding mares as they are so cheap at the present time and a few good cows as I am a good judge of both horse and cattle for before long they will be higher in price. I should not advise you to speculate in any way down their for it is so uncertain a place. Save your money and if that situation fails there is a chance you will come to this colony and buy cattle for I can find that they are the surest property man can have in this colony. I have known people that had a little money by them to buy stock which will soon be a fortune to them. In conclusion I shall let you have all the news I have about our friends. I have not heard from home since from our friends their but our cousins the Reef family are all well. John is doing well. He keeps a publick house in Gibsland. Jessie is married to Mr Lamond from Tyree, Grace was married the other week to a gentleman from Glasgow. He superintends a sugar works in Sydney for which he receives four hundred pounds per year. A very nice man, a great crony of mine when in Sydney and was long before they got married. P K MacDonald is doing very well with whom I live at present. No more for the night but write me as soon as possible and to the care P K MacDonald Picton Clifton and that will find me out. Dear Donald I have no more to say but for ever remain your affectionate and sincere brother Alex McLean PS. Mrs MacDonald and the Dr sends their best respects to you and wishes you well. Write them adue. Good night and God be with you is the wish of your beloved brother. Alex McLean