how anxious I am about you and your foot but I hear from Mr Scully it is much better and perhaps it will be better to keep to the Dr's medicine therefore I will not send it. I hope you will keep your spirits up and cheerful among all your ard[u]ous and labour[i]ous work. I will be to see you as soon as I can appear properly in publice. Do not be put out about me in any way as when I see you you will find it was the working of the mind through various causes that brought this about. Ever your attached brother Archibald John McLean