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Vancouver 17th Feb 1844

My Dear John

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 20th April by which I was happy to hear of your marriage with Elizabeth our Cousin I have every confedence she will make you a good Wife present her my Respect and tell her I devoutly pray God may Bless you

I am happy to find that your affairs are coming on so Well and of which I have not the least [doubt) if you follow the advice of your Worthy father

The report you had of the Murder of my Son John is unfortunately too true he was Murdered on the night of 20 April 1842 from seeing every thing about the place in the highest order Sir George Simpson was Induced to take Johns assistant (John had charge of the place) to place at another place on that Day or rather evening John allowed the men to Dance in the Fort and Gave them a little Liquor. But the person who acted for the moment as assistant and the Steward stole a quantity of Liquor which they gave to the men which made them Drunk, particularly the Steward who being noisy the deceased ordered to be tied, in doing which the deceased assisted but this making the fellow abusive The man who shot the Deceased made a remark which Irritated the Deceased he struck him when the fellow ran away calling out aux armes, aux armes The Deceased went for his Riffle and as he was in search of the fellow he shot the Deceased from behind a corner the Deceased was about four feet from the muzzle of the Gun and was shot in the Breast he fell and his Murderer rushed from his lurking place and put his foot on his throat while he was writhing in the agonies of Death and finished him by beating in his head with his riffle The Murderer is sent to Sitka to be tried by the Russians as the Deceased was murdered on Russian Territory. I have not yet heard the result. These men had spread a Report that the Deceased was Intoxicated. But it is false it is not so. I never saw so correct accounts of every Dealing at the Place as were found in his accounts—a Drunkard does not keep correct accounts My compliments to my Uncle and Mr Roderic McKenzie and Mrs McKenzie and

Believe me to be Yours truly

John McLoughlin