Fort William Decm^r 10^th 1754

Dear Sir

I answered your last Letter soon after I Received

it I am sorry that it should not come to your

Hands, M^rs Leighton and I are much obliged to y^u

for your kiend enquiry after our Healths we thank

God we boat enjoy it well, I am sorry you cannot

Give me yet some acc^ts of the late {?mariens} acc^ts

Being as yet settled, I had a Letter from M^r Fore of

August 2^th 1754 and I here inclosed send you my

answer to him I do not know how it will please him

I have had no answer from him as yet

M^rs Leighton and I do all we can to devert us in

This Malloncholy part of the wourld she ith her

Dairy and I with my farme and Garding, I wish

I could be so happy as to have your advice not

By Letter but presence but that I am fraide I can

Not exspect although ‘tis but a small trip by

Sea and I can with ease convey you here and back

Againe and assure you of a most Harty welcome

I have dun more that here that never was dun before

I have made a Large Stack of Hay and a barne full

I have improved my land so much that I have made

More butter than serves the House and have more Hay

Then will keep foure English Cows and my Horses which

Are Enlish I have taken in 20 acres of moore Land

And this year I hope to have a very good Crop of

Oates and barly of the halfe of it I plowed it three

[new page]

all ready I have got to gether asmuch good muck as

as one of your great mounts near {?Loud} which I desig{^n}

shall goe on it I have raised as good potatoes as any you

{^have} seen goe about the streets great Rogues to {?Rost} and more

than I can use, I am glad you have so good a Hervist,

and so great a Crope but I am sorry that the distem=

=per amongst the horned Cattle is so bad, pray make

my Compliments exseptable to all my friends att

Alices and I thank you for the good acc^t you give me

of them except poor Hammersley who I hartely {?wis}

better let the admiral know that he is a Letter in

my Debt and that I should be glad to here from him

I should have wrote to him long before this but have

No franks this I send you I got from an Officer D^r Sir

M^rs Leighton and I joyn in our most Hearty ishes

For your good Health and that you may long en=

=joye it and that you lett us here from you when

time will permit I am Dear Sir

Your very much

Obliged Hum^ble Serv^t

John Leighton

PS

pray send me a fine mellon

seed the admiral sent me

some last year but the

wife eat them before they

came up send them in your

next Letter we have now very bad wether if you

will be so kind as send me a {?fue} franks you will much

oblige me

[new page]

[change hand] From Colln Leighton, With a Copy of

His Lr. To M^r Fox Sec.^ry at War dated 20

Aug.^t 1754 – and about his Farm

& Dairyman and desires some Franks

& Melon Seeds

To {?Thos} 1754

Fort William December 10^th 1754

Dear Sir

I answered your last Letter soon after I Received

it I am sorry that it should not come to your

Hands, M^rs Leighton and I are much obliged to you

for your kind enquiry after our Healths we thank

God we both enjoy it well, I am sorry you cannot

Give me yet some accounts of the late {?mariens} accounts

Being as yet settled, I had a Letter from M^r Fore of

August 2^th 1754 and I here enclosed send you my

answer to him I do not know how it will please him

I have had no answer from him as yet

M^rs Leighton and I do all we can to divert us in

This Melancholy part of the world she with her

Dairy and I with my farm and Garden, I wish

I could be so happy as to have your advice not

By Letter but presence but that I am afraid I can

Not expect although ‘tis but a small trip by

Sea and I can with ease convey you here and back

Again and assure you of a most Hearty welcome

I have done more that here that never was done before

I have made a Large Stack of Hay and a barn full

I have improved my land so much that I have made

More butter than serves the House and have more Hay

Then will keep four English Cows and my Horses which

Are English I have taken in 20 acres of moor Land

And this year I hope to have a very good Crop of

Oats and barley of the half of it I ploughed it three

[new page]

all ready I have got together as much good muck as

as one of your great mounts near {?Loud} which I desig{^n}

shall go on it I have raised as good potatoes as any you

{^have} seen go about the streets great Rogues to {?Rost} and more

than I can use, I am glad you have so good a Harvest,

and so great a Crop but I am sorry that the distem=

=per amongst the horned Cattle is so bad, pray make

my Compliments acceptable to all my friends at

Alice's and I thank you for the good account you give me

of them except poor Hammersley who I heartily {?wish}

better let the admiral know that he is a Letter in

my Debt and that I should be glad to here from him

I should have wrote to him long before this but have

No franks this I send you I got from an Officer Dear Sir

M^rs Leighton and I join in our most Hearty wishes

For your good Health and that you may long en=

=joy it and that you let us here from you when

time will permit I am Dear Sir

Your very much

Obliged Humble Servant

John Leighton

PS

pray send me a fine melon

seed the admiral sent me

some last year but the

wife eat them before they

came up send them in your

next Letter we have now very bad weather if you

will be so kind as send me a {?few} franks you will much

oblige me

[new page]

[change hand] From Colonel Leighton, With a Copy of

His Letter. To M^r Fox Sec.^ry at War dated 20

Aug.^t 1754 – and about his Farm

& Dairyman and desires some Franks

& Melon Seeds

To {?Thos} 1754