note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions

my oldest son is now of age - and I wish you would let me know whether you mean to keep him on the Island as a hand if you no he Exspect to get the same wages as another man = as for our [illegible] much better both for our stock and gardens [our?] gardens are in a valley and the Hills break of the souther by gales - and the grass is much better for the cattle it being in the valley Makes it much warmer = we made 200 bushells potatoes last [year?] and plenty of cabbages, turnips personips [parsnips?] & carrots for our own consumption = but the winter being so severe we was obliedged to give the greater part of the to the Hogs to keep them and build warm houses for them to sleep in and by that means we kept them alive - if you send a vesell or [illegible] this fall I wish you would send some more [corn?] to fattem them for I think it is cheaper for government to buy corn then to buy Meat = for certainly we shall not have provisions Enough for a year = without killing some of the stock and I dont wish to do that untill I know wheather you mean to send others in their places as our stock is Rather Decreasing [than?] Increasing as we cant Raise no calves = I am sir
with Respect your obedient
Humble servant -
Edward Hodgson

Honourable
Michael Wallace [bottom left of page]