Barrier Island 19th Jany. 1845 Mr. D. McLean. Dear Sir Yours of September came duly to hand but you are aware I am not the best of correspondants at any time and since yours came to hand I have really been very busy, the most of the time since you left I have been on the Barrier getting Timbers for another Vessel which I have nearly completed. She is 98 feet keel and will register 300 Tons and upwards it was only last night I was making a calculation and with the Miners I find I am feeding 91 hands and expect an additional force of Carpenters and Miners this week of 20 more so you see I am not quite idle. We have got a shute made at the Mine for sending the Copper ore down and we loaded the Tryphena there