LETTERS OF REV. WILLIAM M. ROBERTS 247
grown people. So that while $88. may pay the salary of 4 children it furnishes nothing for table expenses at all. I of course refer to the estimate of Octo. 46 for I know of nothing later. Bro. Leslie is doing fairly I think for support, though he was a little involved last year. Owing to some business arrangements of other years which involved him somewhat in in debt. As to myself I desire to say I have just footed up my bills since I have been in the country and find that up to this time I am worse off in finances than I was at home, and am likely to be so unless the Board shall make such appropria- tions as will raise the allowance to the neighborhood of
per annum from July 1st, 1847, to the present time. I am doing but one work every energy is consecrated to it. It bur- dens me with solicitude for it[s] prosperity in its various departments, I am left with but little time to attend to the affairs of my family. And I am sure It is at once the WISH and policy of this Board to keep me above every anxiety and burdensome care with respect to personal support. The above remarks would not be made were they not necessary and I was not aware until a few days past but that the allowance was sufficiently ample. If at any time it should occur to you that the disproportion is too great between the supt. and other brethren the data can be immediately forth coming which ren- ders it necessary. He ought to keep from 6 to 10 horses, waggon, harness and all travelling gear in this country is im- mensely high and difficult to get and soon wears out. All these extras above what any of the brethren require for the ordinary work you may say might belong to the mission and be charge- able to Expense a/c. So I thought for a time but I find it best to have little or nothing belonging to the Mission. When- ever it is possible let every thing belong either to the Mission or myself and there is much less danger of loss or difficulty. 2 of my horses are lost and the remaining six could not be replaced for $500. But enough of this for the present. How would it do for you to get up an Edition of the Methodist almanac for Oregon City perhaps also if you find a copy of ours for 1848. There is none likely to be published here at present and if it would cost but little, to get it up, I think a small edition of from 200 to 300 Copies might be sold say @ lOc. It may not be adviseable if there would be much ex- pense involved but if it could be done cheaply there might be some good accomplished by the arrangement. Can you tell if
