25 August 1863 Glenorchy My dear Donald No doubt but you will be anxious to hear how I am getting on by this mail as the last mail went away before Catherine's letter went down . I am up for the last 5 days and going about but unable to do but very little. I commenced trying myself yesterday and the pain rose in my left side nearly as bad as ever but I hope and trust I may soon be able to look after things away from home as well as at home. Alex poor fellow was here last Wednesday and was quite correct. He told me he was going down to turn Maorie McKenzie of and put another man and young Atkins down there. He did so and returned on Friday night. He said he would be here on Saturday but never came. I feared that something was wrong and I sent the boy down on Sunday as Walker had come up with the dray I feared he might have got the run you were so good as let me have. The boy came back and said that he and two others were there very much the worse for drink. On Monday poor Kate went down and found him in a sad state laying in his beat not fit to speak and