Ship 'Nepaul' Canton River 16 December 1848 My dear brother I was happy to here of your welfare from old Captain Clayton and glad to find that you are so much esteemed in your situation and I hope with the blessing of God and steady perserverance you will endeavour to continue beloved by all who know you. Beare in mind much economy and try to make a place of residence and a place of comfort for the rest of your father's family. My dear Dan I am nearly tired of commanding a parcel of sailors and if God spares me to return home in safety in the noble & good ship 'Nepaul'. I will if possible try to leave of the life of voyaging from clime to clime seeking after a fortune that is always going against me. I hope you have received all my correspondence as you say in your own letter. My dear boy I am like the ocean bird no not where to be found or where to rest but I hope New Zealand will be my place of aboad before long. I have not heard from my sisters or aunts since I left last March river Clyde and you will be pleased to here I had no less than 4 Tyree men out with me in the Nepaul, one of them a son of Mr Jno McLean Coalus. Do you recollect calling there and getting a drink of milk when you came from Shuna to Tyree before leaving your mother land. I trust in God you will if possible send home some little money to help your worthy sisters and you must consider it is to heavey on me in those bad times to assist them. I am going from here to Penang & Arraca.. for a load of rice and back here again and I hope from thence home if I can get any freight that will pay my owners and self. The 'Nepaul' is 600 tons register and one of the finest ever left the Clyde. Should Alexander McLean leave here to join you I hope you will befriend him in every possible way. He is a joiner to trade which I think would answer well in a new coloney. I cannot give you any home news in this letter. In my last I mentioned Aunt Jessy's marriage to the Rev Mr McKenzie close to Glenorchy. For God sake write me on receipt of this to China care of Mr Donald Lamont, East Point, Hong Kong, China who will forward it on to me to whatever part of the globe I may be. He is a son of Archd Lamont Ruaig, Tyree. He came out passenger with me and doing remarkable well. You would here of Mary Anne Hynish being married and also her brother George is married our Miss Campbell Balephetrish. The good old friend the ground officer has lost his situation which we ought to be sorry for. If you could do anything for his son Donald in New Zealand you would only be paying a compliment for ma[n]y received in your father's family and if you will here of any thing that will answer him please mention it in your letter to me. I hope our dear brother Sandy is doing well. Let him know how I am. Wood [would] to God my dear I could only get down to New Zealand with my ship but I am afraid I cannot before going home but then I will try and get a chance down there. May God guide you my dear brother and ever believe me your affectionate Archibald John McLean