Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/237

Rh ''Bro Abernethy has paid each year more than his $2000. I think $1000 or more over last year:'' but the cash I. E. $500 he did not meet and tells me that he is not sure that he can pay all of it this year either. His $2000 is in currency it will buy flour when he has it at $4.50 pr Hundred while the cash paid is $3.00 pr cwt. He has no groceries and but few dry goods in his store. There is an honest buisiness like promptness in his manner of doing buisiness which I like, and altho he cannot just now meet all his engagements with the mission yet I have no doubt he will be able to do so when he shall have struggled through the toils of the present year. Last fall I loaned him an Order on Vancouver for $1100. payable in Silver March first 1848. This I [did] partly to help him through a hard year and partly for the sake of getting some cash for I had not the prospect of getting a dollar to help myself except I sold Drafts on the treasury at some 10 to twenty pr ct. discount. When this note fell due he could not meet it Therefore I paid my Vancouver bill (which included this amount together with a draft I loaned the provincial Government for $400, spoken of in a former letter and $158.36. for supplies and the payment of Indians total $1758.36) in two sets of exchange drawn in triplicate in favor of James Douglass Esq. one for $1190.% and the other for $561.40. It was somewhat mortifying to myself and to Br. Abernethy for for me to draw for the whole amount of the $1100. which he borrowed, as the army had taken some of the wheat with which he hoped to meet the engagement and otherwise deranged his plans he has paid $150 on the note and the rest I think will soon be in hand. Formerly there was some cash coming in from things sold at the Dallas now of course there is none except it be the $500 from Bro. Abernethy and it is impossable to manage the payments of the salaries &c of the Preachers & freight without the cash in hand. (I have just paid $50 for 50 bushels of wheat for bread. $20 for 20 bushels of potatoes, and $35.70 for 51 bushels of Oats for my horse in cash and very thankful to get them at that.) besides hauling them at an expense of nearly 10 Dol. more. But I will proceed with the debts due the—Mission G. Abernethy (above mention'd) $1100. in Silver less $150. already paid. Beers. Abernethy & Force $220.64.—G. Abernethy $299.82 D. Leslie $339.17 G. Abernethy $390. due Oct. 3d 1848. Beers and Carter 400 bush wheat due Sep. 1846. J. Q. Thornton $282.