22 August 1862 Maraekakaho My dear Donald Your [letter] of the 6th inst came to hand last week and I can assure you it afforded us great pleasure to find you were well for as the 'Queen' did not call here we were kept in great suspence about you thinking you were coming by here fearing something had happened as the weather was very ruff so that your letters per 'Stormbird' allayed all our fears as to your welfare. I am sorry to say that Catherine is still very poorly but I hope and trust she may soon recover. Douglas & all the rest are quite well as far as health is concerned but kept in sad suspence with Aleck's shameful carrear. Ever since you left I do not believe he was two days sober since. That is as bad as need be but I much fear that he will dupe you if he has not done so already and I now for the last time send you this caution for all that I have said to you it appears that you cannot believe the unfortunate truth till it may be two late. Unfortunate because we should have to doubt in a brother in the way we have to doubt in him. His transactions may answer you when told you with sophestry and cunning and made believe things that never had any foundation mearley for to serve some selfish low intrigue that may make a poor man of you yet without you come down imidiately for from what I can see and what he has said many a time he means means nothing honest or straight forward either towards you or me. As for me he has showed all proofs of his dislike for no other reason but because I cannot enter into any of his low ways and he thinks I am a spy on him and his conduct. God knows I am not that and I have been sadley used for my good brotherly intentions towards him. This last transaction with Nairn has completely oppened my eyes to his cunning and selfish disposition. Nairn came here