“New Glasgow Feb. 22, 1861 Capt. George McKenzie Fraser M.T.T. Dear Sir, I forward to you my a/c [account] for attendance on sick Indians. And trust you will use your influence to get the Committee on Indian Affairs to grant it. Mr. Roach thought the Committee On Indian Affairs the proper persons to address this petition to. And in accordance with his advice I have done so. But if it should be necessary to present the petition to the house of assembly before the Committee can act on it, you will please either yourself or ask A.C. McDonald to make the necessary alterations, and you can sign my name to it. At your own suggestion I have placed the balance due on last year’s a/c at the head of this years. That you may be then better able to advocate my claims before the Committee, and answer the objections of last year’s committee for not granting me the full amount of last year’s a/c. I will as briefly as I can refresh your memory with regard to last year’s a/c (a copy of which I enclose to you, containing Dr. Webster’s reasons why the Committee did not grant the full amount). You will perceive that the first charges are for attending Francis Fraser. His camp when I attended him was in the woods between the East and Middle Rivers about 1 ½ or 2 miles from New Glasgow. As you are aware yourself there is now no open road in that direction, the old road being closed up and in many places ploughed. The weather being soft and open at the time, the fields through which (the late William Fraser []) I had to travel over were so soft that I could not take my horse, and consequently had to foot it. That there was need for all the visits I paid him, I think [pg.2] No better proof is required than that as you are aware this poor fellow died of his disease (inflammation of the lungs). As my charge for travelling being too high, you may ask any medical man in Halifax, if they would perform the same services cheaper, taking into account the state of the travelling. Dr. Webster says that the Committee thought I “charged too little for medicines.” I of course should find no fault with them for this, only if they thought I charged too little, they ought in future to have given me more. The other charge in the a/c is for a visit “to Louis Tom and dressing badly cut leg, 4[].” Now the times I was called on to see him was immediately after a heavy snow storm (another medical man having previously refused to visit him at all, on account of the travelling I presume). His camp was in the woods on Frasers Mountain between the old and new Merigomish roads somewhat on the New Glasgow side of “Farmer McLean’s.” The road up the mountain was altogether impassable from snow-drifts. I had to go down the little Harbour Road and up Andrew Marshall’s firewood road to his house, than through the fields and snow drifts as best I could, until I got to “Farmer McLean’s” where I left my horse, and then travelled on foor for better than a mile through the woods having no track before me and the snow between 3 or 4 feet deep, to his camp. Now if Dr. Webster or any other medical gentleman will perform that amount of travelling through the snow, take up and tie the “Anterior Labial Artery” which the poor fellow had cut, then I am satisfied. The fact is medical men in large cities would charge more than 4 [] for taking up and tying the artery itself, which is often an operation of no little difficulty and requiring a considerable amount of professional knowledge. I think that [pg. 3] This will suffice as to last year’s a/c. Now for this year’s. Michael Phillip’s Squaw the time she was sick had her camp beyond what is called the “Wash Brook” in the woods, off the “Marsh road” as you may proabably remember yourself. She was a long time sick, and although I did not visit her very often ^as the account shows^, she gave me a great deal of trouble as scarcely a day passed without her husband or some of her family calling on me for something either medicine, food, or clothing. The fact is I gave her more food and clothing for herself and family for which I received nothing, and never will, that’s what I have charged for medical attendance and medicine all together. The next charge is for visiting Matthew Paul and squaw, their camp was on the point below the narrows on the East River. They were both very ill with what is called “typhoid fever.” I attended to both, and as they were between 2 and 3 weeks sick, the necessarily required a good deal of medicine. The other two charges is for medicine given to the Indians named in the a/c, and is not higher than they would be charged for the same at any respectable druggists. The foregoing will I think enable you to give all necessary information to the committee, and I hope that this year’s committee may come to a more righteous decision that last years. I have no news of any importance to give you. Your friends are all well in New Glasgow. Joe Howe has certainly done his part well, so far this session. But he will better be cautious how he speaks in favor of the Catholics. I think he just wants far enough for the good of the Liberal Party. In his last speech, in answer to Johnson and []. He has [Pg. 4] Nothing or his party either to expect from them, so he should be very careful not to alienate the affections of many good and conscientious men, who voted for his party last election, in opposition to the Catholics and without whose support the Liberal party could not successfully win another election. The Earl of Mulgrave has placed the leaders of the opposition in a most contemptible position before the country in the official correspondence. His answer to Johnson’s Memorial is I think the ablest state paper I have ever read. It is clear, concise, and convincing. The Tories here do not like to speak of it at all. I understand the people of Barney’s River are applying to you for some money for the road on the west side of the River. And have nominated Walter Murray for the commission to expand it. I am aware myself that it very much needs it. And if compatible with the interests of other parts of the county I would be much pleased if you could grant them the prayer of their petition. Wishing you give him a good time in the capital. I remain your ablest, etc. George Murray P.S. Perhaos it might do no harm to read the portion of this letter having reference to my a/c to the Committee on Indian Affairs. I see by the papers there is a majority of Liberals on it, which perhaps may be of some little advantage to you.
