; a
miserable place, Tom thought, a prison on a large scale. His friends
wrote him letters containing an abundance of good advice, all of which
he took with becoming modesty. A letter from Fraser of this character is
still excellent reading; his counsels to the young soldier have added
weight when we remember that the author was with Wolfe at Louisbourg and
Quebec and now, nearly fifty years later, was still active in the
militia forces of Canada.

_Malcolm Fraser to Lieut. Thomas Nairne_

_From Murray Bay, 7th October, 1805._

My Dear Godson,--

I had the very great pleasure of receiving yours of the 5th April
last at this place on the 15th September and as your sister Miss
Christine has wrote you I must refer you to her for the news of
Murray Bay. She left this for Quebec a few days ago and every thing
continues to go well here and I hope will do so. Your mother
improves your estate daily and if she lives ten years I am
convinced that she will make it worth double what it was ten years
ago and if after a peace, when I hope you will have a company, you
can get exchanged into a Regiment serving in this Country without
losing rank, you will by that means have an opportunity of
examining your own affairs here and it will give the greatest
pleasure to your mother and other relations and friends within your
native country, and particularly to me, should I happen to live so
long. Christine has I suppose wrote that you are now an uncle, your
sister Madie having been delivered of a fine boy about two months
ago, and I have the pleasure to tell you that she and her husband
seem to be very happy and, tho' I did not at first approve of the
match, that I am now quite reconciled to it as are all her friends
here, as well as those in Scotland as far as I can learn.

Now as to yourself: tho' I had some objections to your going into
the army so very young, yet now that you have become a soldier, I
hope you will continue to follow the military life with ardour and
Emulation as far as lays in your power and that you will endeavour
to employ your spare time in acquiring the various accomplishments
necessary to become a good officer. I would by no means advise you
to avoid such innocent pleasures and amusements as are suitable to
your age and rank. But I pray you beware of being led ast