Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/84

 I think I sent you from New York a Copy of Parkers travels in this Country by which you will see that his object was to select places for to place Misisonaries and accordingly a large Band came across in 1838 and are dispersed among the Natives Instructing them in Religion teaching them to Read and Write and to Cultivate the Ground, for which this Country affords them Greater facilities than on the other side as these Indians live in Villages and Spirituous Liquors have not been introduced among them. At present their are Methodist and Presbyterians from the States and Roman Catholics from Canada My Compliments to the Honble Rod McKenzie and Mrs McKenzie I am My Dear Sir

Your Affectionate Nephew John McLoughlin

Fort Vancouver 15th March 1840

My Dear John

As this is the usual time that our express leaves this for the east side of the Mountains I cannot allow it to go without resuming my habit of writing although I am not one of the best letter writers still I can manage enough to let you know that I am still amongst the living of this country but to tell you the truth I was nigh going last spring but through good attendance I came round again. I will not have the pleasure of going across with the express this year as I have done since two years as I am ordered to go off in a few days to the coast to establish another fort, now you see my dear John that I am going farther this year than ever and the only thing left us is writing I hope that you will avail yourself of every opportunity to let me know how you are, as well as your good old Father For my part I can only write once in two years and then I will not be sure of even that time it will reach you ...

Our neighbours the Americans are doing their utmost to get their government to take possession of this country in fact I do