[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 167 



I am glad to hear of Lady Head and family having reached Toronto 

 so well, their arrival no doubt will add much to Sir Francis's comfort. 

 I sincerely hope that this may find Mrs. Allan, yourself and family in 

 good health, nothwithstanding the uncommon length of the Winter. I 

 am sorry to say that there is a very great scarcity of provisions in my 

 country, flour at St. Thomas $10 per barl and but little fresh meat to 

 be had, so that all hands are compeled to take to Salt Pork and I have 

 been obliged to give 7s 6d curr'y a barl for pea'se, to sow, and can't 

 get enough — I am anxious to hear what the wise heads will -do in 

 Parliament for Canada, but I have not much faith in them or their 

 measures. 



Present my very kind remembrances to Mrs. Allan, and believe me 



My dear Allan 



always most sincerely yrs 



Thomas Talbot. 



(Allan Papers.) 



The Honble. 



William 'Allan 



&c. &c. &c. 

 Toronto. 



Talbot to Hon. Wm. Allan. 



Port Talbot 39th Jan. 1838 

 My dear Allan — 



I cannot express "^o you how infinitely I feel obliged to you for your 

 kindness in thinking of me, and more, my money matters, in these times 

 of trouble, but I must in the first place, assure you, that the' painful 

 account that you give of Mrs. Allan's state of health, has grieved me 

 most sincerely, for I am sensible to the repeated trials she has had to 

 sustain, and which she has with the most exemplary christian fortitude 

 submitted to — God grant that she may be soon restored to health — You 

 will say that I am getting to be an Old man, when I tell you that I often 

 reflect upon our long acquaintance for I believe that yourself and Mr. 

 Chewett are the only persons left that I knew in the summer of 1792 at 

 Niagara, when we were all young and gay. 



The situation of this part of the Province is such at present that 

 I cannot say the time it may be in my power to visit Toronto all the 

 forcei that could be spared or raised has gone to the Detroit Frontier, 

 however. Lake Erie has within the last 6 or 7 days become more secure 



