30 November 1868 Glenorchy My dear Donald I was really glade to see Annabella yesterday as it satisfied my mind as to many little things regarding your health and things in general through out this ardious times but thank God and your wonderful, good management of the natives a decisive blow has been struck on the East Coast and in spite of all your enmies you will yet if spaired get in spite of them the cridit truly due to you. How could they expect the affairs of the west coast to go on prosperous under the management of a man of so little principle as Whitmore, a lyin and deciving scoundrell and his suporters are little better. However I am pleased at last that they have offered head money as it shows that they mean to do something to try and retrieve there lost reputation but I fear that they cannot do. I never had the lest fear up hear as I was always certain if things came to the worst we would have ti...ous warning and I never wrote you about any plan of defence altho I have been concocting a good maney but I thought you had plenty to do without me troubling you. But still I consider it would be nothing but fair and right that I should now say something. You perhaps are not awair that we have no officer of any kind in the districk and have told both Mr Condie and Twigg to tell you that we had no ammunition & I consider it would be very advisable to send us some and get a commission for Twigg in the maletiea [militia] so as to have someone that headquarter could correspond with here, indeed if my own leg had not been brocken I was going to apply for a commission in the 3rd class. However Twigg will answer the purpose very well and it will please the young fellow and incourage him to action and do not overlook that. Make an jusine of him as you can not have any dificulty in doing that. I am suposing you did not think of it before. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you some day soon. Your always affectionate Archibald John McLean PS. Be sure and tell your man to water the blue gum plants well this weather. I have to do the same and try that you ought to have thousands. I told Annabella to write you about them also. (To be watered in the evening).