MASTER, 70TH REGIMENT, KINGSTON, CANADA.

EDINBURGH, 13th December, 1817.

MY DEAR TOM,--I should be happy to attend to your commission
about a dominie for your boy, but I think there will be much
risk in yoking yourself with one for three or four years.
You know what sort of black cattle these are, and how
difficult it is to discern their real character, though one
may give a guess at their attainments. When they get good
provender in their guts, they are apt to turn out very
different animals from what they were in their original low
condition, and get frisky and troublesome. I have made
several inquiries, however, and request to know what salary
you would think reasonable, and also what acquisitions he
ought to possess. {p.199} There is no combating the
feelings which you express for the society of your son,
otherwise I really think that a Scottish education would be
highly desirable; and should you at any time revert to this
plan, you may rely on my bestowing the same attention upon
him as upon my own boys.

I agree entirely with you on the necessity of your remaining
in the regiment while it is stationary, and retiring on
half-pay when it marches; but I cannot so easily acquiesce
in your plan of settling in Canada. On the latter event
taking place, on the contrary, I think it would be highly
advisable that you should return to your native country. In
the course of nature you must soon be possessed of
considerable property, now life-rented by our mother, and I
should think that even your present income would secure you
comfort and independence here. Should you remain in Canada,
you must consider your family as settlers in that state, and
as I cannot believe that it will remain very long separated
from America, I should almost think this equal to depriving
them of the advantages of British subjects--at least of
those which they might derive from their respectable
connections in this country. With respect to your son, in
particular, I have little doubt that I could be of
considerable service to him in almost any line of life he
might chance to adopt here, but could of course have less
influence on his fortunes were he to remain on the Niagara.
I certainly feel anxious on this subject, be