.MTI4MQ.MTAyNzk1

First of April the Miners struck you know, and there was no work done for the entire month. while of course there must be some expense all the time. Machinery must be kept running to keep the mine clear of water etc. Then the trade broken in upon, and disarranged by a months stoppage, the next month May would be but half of anything and no profit. Then the Superintendent went into the Army, ~ and the Foreman or Head Miner - and the Engineer, and the Clerk - and the Miners. And every thing was so broken up they did not get fairly to work again till the first of September, and made only a half a full months work in September. And yet the result is not neat as bad as I anticipated, as I expected before I got here. Really I believe when we get it all reckoned up - through a part of the sort of interregnum the Books were not kept up, accounts settled, or bills collected, and it is considerable work to straighten matters. I begin to believe it will be found that the whole time from April 1 to Sept 1 the Mine nearly or quite covered expenses.

 And now the prospect for Winters work is very fine. I shall be disappointed, if there is no special bad luck, if my share of the profits does not amount to twice as much as last winter.  
 When shall I get home?

When I left home -realizing that it was a bad time of year to be absent longer, I wanted to get home Saturday, is yesterday, and rather thought I could by next Wednesday 19th, at farthest. There is a Corporation School meeting then that I wanted to be at too. But this settlement was imperative; it had ?