Wallingford June 6th. 1867. My dear McLean, Your letter recd. today advises me of your return, and that you have been partially successful in raising funds. Still I apprehend we are not in sufficient funds to meet our liabilities. I see nothing for it but to meet the Council and to tell them the exact state of things, the whole case lies in a nutshell our Estimated assests have not been realized - that is all there is nothing else to be said about it. As to Programe for the Council in my opinion a very simple one will suffice. The state of the whole colony is one of depression in which we participate. My plan wd. be to address the Council in that strain and to state that the time had come when some means must be adopted for raising a revenue for carrying out Public Works this in very general terms and inviting the Council to discuss and select the method most suitable to the Province. Also whether or not the Council wd. prefer to hold over it s sitting until the close of the Assembly so that advantage might be taken of any improvement in our Financial position which might arise from the Assembly's action. I should say wait until we see the tone of the Council on these points before we take action - we can soon judge and then can quickly prepare what may be necessary to submit to them. I have of course only treated of the points that appear most urgent and think the course I have suggested the only one open to us. About coming down I can't be down before Friday the 21st. but that will give us ample time to put what is necessary together to meet the Council with. See that Carter gets ready all his accounts in as clear a way as possible. Weber also ought to prepare Estimates of Road maintenance necessities - and Road works absolutely necessary. We can then judge of what will have to be done. Also what Survey works will be required during the year on these and a schedule of the necessary establishments we can very soon realize our position. The only thing is to have them all ready. This confonded flood has come just at this time of difficulty to make matters worse. Altogether the time we are now passing through is one of great general depression, but we shall weather it all right, I hope. I have not more to write you of. Always yours sincerely, J. D. Ormond. Tell Rhodes his of May 24th. is to hand only today - thank him for it and say I dont write as we shall meet so soon. J.D.O. I put a lot of letters under cover to you - the reason is - the mail is too late for the mail cart and I think they will go so far in a bunch - please send them on. I want Richardson to get his in time to reply by Tuesday's mail cart. J.D.O.