2016 
			                            Smithfield, 23 Feby 1850 
 Dear Sister 
 
 I duly received your letter of the 19th yesterday by which I am happy to 
learn of your welfare.  I came home this day fourtnight from Albany where I 
have been for a week with 68 head of sheep.  I took them down by the Rail 
Road which cost me 2/5 a head and found but a poor Markett.  I would have 
come better where sold them at home.  I called at Daniels where I stoped a 
night and another at James Dougalls.  Mary is still confined a deal of the 
time in bed and the flattering accounts you sent of her recovered has not yet
been realised.  True her leg is not affected as her other but it had been 
running a little above the ancle and was two soon healed up and it broke 
again and is now healed up a second time and I hope she will continue to 
improve.  I found Daniel and Wife about as well as usual but she had to go
to bed that afternoon owing to a cold she caught in visiting with John and 
Mary who were down seeing Mary and who came away the day before I arrived 
there.  Did you know that she fell some time ago and sprained her wrist and 
was then so bad as she could not use it in any manner and had to carrie it in
a sling.  A few days ago I had a letter from J. Dougall who says that she is 
not any better yet then had a Doctor to see her on Sabbath last who says it 
is a bilious fever.  I forgot to mention you of Thos Stewarts death at the 
time.  I called them lately and stoped a night.  He was for years affected 
with rheumatick attacks but the immediate cause of his death was an afection 
of the kidneys in connection with a stoppage of the bladder when in Albany.  
I made a small speculation by buying 200 acres of wild land of Virginia State
Domain.  I did not give quite a dollar one acre for it.  I fell in with a man
there who had been in Virginia there who says were he a young man he would 
not take 500 dollars for it.  James Dougall and I have been talking about a 
farm in his vicinity these two years and it was giving information about it 
that he wrote me lately.  I thought to hire it on lease or from year to year.
It contains about 180 acres but it is now lett but it is for sale about 17 or
18 dollars per acre and is only lett untill a purchaser can be found.  It is 
considerably nearer Markett than here and a wider range for sheep but Archie 
thinks it will yield but poor pasture and that it would probably not keep 
more sheep than the place I have.  As for farming I have no idea of going 
into it to conduct or work it myself.  The only way I could think of is as at
present altho if I had money to spare land might be a great enough investment
which at present I have not to spare unless I sell my place here and I have 
been offered this day for the part above the road 25 dollars an acre and were 
the payments to answer I would take it as I would get as much or more for 
that below the road as the principal part of the wood is on it.  What you 
mention in your letter re the contingencie that might arise in case sicness 
may not arise and might happen yourself partly and might be similarly 
situated but let us trust in a kind providence who has so long carefully and 
kindly born with all our infirmities.  I am happy to inform you that in the 
preaching of the Gospel freely and freely and faithfully every Sabbath and 
May week days (excepting as far as I live from Peterboro our place of worship)
you have not ANY advantage over me but where I have the advantage over you, I
THINK, is that in those I hear they practice what they preach and whose deeds
are evidence of what they are.  This last I may not be able to attain but 
asuredly it will not be the fault of the doctrines preached in the Church of 
Peterboro and if these are not the doctrines of the bible asuredly Mr 
Gilfellan Dr Pringle and Dr Jameson did not preach the gospel. 
 This winter has been uncommonly moderate here and Sleighing has been good 
almost all the time but there is double the snow in Florida that we have and 
is mostly here all gone.  I have not had a letter I think from any body since
I wrote you but occasionally a paper from Peter. Please write me soon and let
 me know what you think of all the within speculations. 
    I remain Your Loving Brother Henry 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2017 
				     Smithfield, 18th May 1850 
Dear Sister 
 
 I duly received yours of the 18th April by which I am happy to hear of the 
welfare of our people in Scotland.  I see the asthma sticks pretty closely to
James yet at Samuels conduct I am more sorry than ofended altho I cannot 
consieve any thing I said could give offence to him or James either and so 
for my meddling with himself or family they may make themselves very earie 
upon the subject.  It was owing to themselves in writing me about them that I
almost knew or had forgot any thing about them.  As to us knowing what he 
pays for his Farm it is of no manner of object altho I should be glad to hear
that it paid him well perhaps upon the McCallums coming in upon him in 
Glenturret   he finds he better look after his friends in which I do not 
blame him.  I am surprised I have not had a letter from Peter for a long time
nor from Duncan but do not know but with the latter I am in ariers and as I 
have not seen Archie or John of late I have not heard from Daniels people 
there of late.  I have some idea they will be up this season altho I do not 
know any thing positive upon the subject but she was getting better when I 
heard last but Mary was if anything rather worse but I believe I have not 
heard from them since I wrote you last.  Respecting your coming out if at any
rate you are to make any stay I think you should come as last year.  The Rail
Road is cheaper and you would do some service to me more than there and have 
as good accommodation and perhaps I might go down with you as far as J. 
Dougalls when you return and if I knew the precise time you came I might meet
you with a horse at the Railway depo but you will be better able to say in 
your next letter when and how and where.  Mr Thomas Stewarts widow and her 
daughter-in-law Mrs R. G. Stewart is to pay them a visit at Florida this 
summer.  Altho I do not buy any hay they ate up clean what I had when the 
weather came to my relief and it has been a tolerable season for pasture with
me but many of the neighbours that were out of hay had to pay œ8 a ton for it
which is a great price here.  The weather has been rather wett and has kept 
back spring work and this morning we have had a pretty sharp snow storm and 
has somewhat retarded corn planting.  I have no doubt but City or house 
property ought to be a good investment as the population is increasing so 
fast and I believe joint stocks in most cases pays well two.  I was sorry to 
see in an English or Scotch paper that the railway between Glasgow and Perth 
or Dundee is almost a total loss to the subscribers.  I hope James nor Ann 
had anything to do with it.  I think the Erie Railway promises to be as good 
a stock as in this countrie.  I see by a statement in the papers that the 
Fonda and Johnstown plank road pays 50 percent.  Please send me or take it 
with you (a recipe for washing made easier price 10 cents to be had at H. 
Twelvetree Room 23 No 80 Nassau St).  Mrs Ostranden would make me believe 
that it is dangerous for the health but should like to see it as 1d saved is 
as good as 1d gained.  A great many people from here has gone to California 
which takes away plenty of our money.  I fear more than will be taken back 
for a long time. 
 In the hope of hearing from you as soon as you have settled for your visit, 
        I remain your loving Brother, Henry Campbell 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
2018 
				                Peterboro, 4th July 1850 
Dear Sister 
 
 I duly received yours of the 20th June which first aprised me of Daniel and
Duncans ilness.  I believe A. Smith had a letter from him since he came home 
which says he is keeping better.  Duncan and wife with A. and wife and John 
and family called upon me on Friday last.  They say Duncan is quite recovered.
He has been to Canada but had returned before they left.  D. and wife went 
off by the Cars the day after being here.  I yesterday finished shearing my 
sheep say 200.  I think they will average about 4c a piece.  Prices are but 
low yet say from 30 to 40 cts but it is thought the buyers must give a rise 
before they can lay in much stock.  I have had no letter from any quarter but
yourself for a long time. 
 I am ancious to have that scolding letter from Samuel to cure me of my 
meddling interference.  You tell me of a deal of Ifs about my sheep after it
is two late and I have no doubt but there are many cheap farms to be got but 
the secret is to find that out some time.  When at Fonda, Duncan and I called
upon a land agent who seemed landed enough who enquired if it was a farm to 
make money by we wanted or one for pleasure and remarked if it was one for 
the money we had to look for one back in the countrie but if for the latter 
one near the City or Thoroughfare. 
 I felt quite diappointed you did not come this far when you were at Florida 
as I do not see how you can come here this season if you mean to return again
to New York City.  We have such an abundance of rain of late that it has kept
back outdoor work a good deal.  There will be but very little Fruit here this
season and Corn is 14 days later than last years.  You forgot to send me the 
receipt for WASHING MADE EASIER as I wrote you about formerly.  Please do not
forget it in your next letter as I have resolved to trie my own washing as my
washer woman has rose her price a cent a piece.  Prices of hired men here 
this year are still higher.  I paid a dollar a day for sheep shearing and 
boarded them and in harvest I believe it will be still higher.  I will keep 
this letter open untill I go to Peterboro in case I hear farther word from 
east or west. 
  I remain 
    Your Loving Brother 
        Henry Campbell 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2019 
		                	     Smithfield, 8th Feby 1851 
Dear Sister 
 
I duly received yours of the 21 Jany with enclosures but nothing clearing 
respecting James health.  At the same time I had a letter from Duncan who had
a letter lately from Daniel saying they were all getting better - so much 
that Mary is able to dispense with the services of Isabella that she has gone
to School. 
 I also had a newspaper from Peter which now such a small token of 
consideration I was happy to receive.  Duncan also complains he has had no 
word from the old Country for more than a year and thinks their wrath might 
now be cooled down.  My reason for writing an answer to you thus earlier is 
in respect to Mr Anderson.  From what you say he must have no means and as 
long as he gets such good wages would it not be prudent for him to continue 
as at present.  Here there is nothing doing but Chopping which perhaps he 
could not very well do.  My object in wishing him to come here when I wrote 
you per was that he might not be spending money doing nothing, that here he 
would be no expence and if he wishes to get into the farming he might be 
getting a little into the knowledge of it but will leave the matter entirely 
betwixt you and him.  I feel much concerned for Duncans health from what he 
says in his last letter.  He says "my own health has been rather precarious 
this fall and winter in the month now.  I was seized with a disease of the 
kidneys passing bloody urine for nearly a month which weakened me much  
but have not been troubled with it since that time but have considerably been
troubled with difficulty of breathing when making any exertion or exposed to
the cold and this has prevented me going out so frequently this winter as I 
have formerly done" 
 He wished me much to pay him a visit which it will not be in my power to do
unless H. Keene here in which case I would make a run up but at present I am 
so bound up with the sheep I have on hand that that is out of question.  I 
also had a letter from John Forbes, Wisconsin with his compliments to you who
are all well.  One of his boys has gone to California who was engaged he is a
Carpenter at $8 a day.  He pays $12 a week for board and lodging.  I have 
paind(?) no sweet apple.  The California Company will likely be filled up 
unless as they say in their prospectus the Stock will be fairly distributed 
among citizens of the east and west north and south.  Our weather here has 
been at all the extremes of an American winter.  This morning I could 
scarcely break the ice upon the water pail but yet has been good for stock 
and the sheep are doing well. 
  I remain 
    Your Loving Brother 
       Henry Campbell 
__________________________________________________________________ 
2020 
				    Peterboro, March 8th, 1851 
 
Dear Sister 
 
 I duly received yours of the 20th Feby,  The apples here are a dollar a 
bushel, 22lbs to the bushel.  You say they are selling with you at 6 cts a 
quart.  What is the weight of a quart ?  I have not yet even learned from you
on Mr Anderson what he was employed in in Edin. or wherever he lived 
excepting a short time in Glenquaich nor can I learn from your letter what or
how he is at present employed farther than that he is doing SOMETHING.  If he
intends to go into the farming line the time here for farms and hired men is 
the 1st of April.  I almost think I should write James Anderson as when I 
wrote him farming was rather discouraging and is now a good deal altered and 
I think he would do better in the States than in Canada.  Indeed I think he 
would be  calculated to do well with my farm.  If he do not rise much grain 
it is well enough as it on as a dairy farm.  Is Mr Andersons sister in New 
York and what does she follow ?  Alex McGregors daughter was married 2 or 3 
days ago to A. McCaffie on the Mile Strip.  We had Geo Thompson at Peterboro
for 2 or 3 days last week.  He exposed Cloughs(?) hipocritical scheme of 
colonisation to the best effect I have ever heard disected. 
 I see by the Tribune that Geo Gilfillan has published what he calls the 
Bands of the bible.  It is very roughly handled by some of their 
correspondents.  Notwithstanding I think it has likely great merits and as 
they hint it will likely be republished in this country.  By this happens I 
wish you would procure me a copy of it as soon as you can and send it by post
or Express as you see best.  There is another publication which I wish you 
would procure for me which will cost 50 cents and if you lay it out will pay 
you at meeting.  That is a map of the United States in packet form and will 
be sent free by mail by paying 50 cts.  Address: Phelps & Fanning, Map 
Establishment, 189 Broadway.  Peters letter I received and I am happy to think  
that on the whole his circumstances is rather better than I thought.  His 
patent scheme I fear will turn out a bauble.  It would be better that lies 
were never made than to make them more deceptive. 
 In the hope of hearing from you soon 
  I remain 
    Your Loving Brother 
      Henry Campbell 
  
P.S. Calling at the post office I found a letter from Duncan who I am happy
to see continues to improve somewhat in health. 
	H.C.