（原文）
168 Cecil Street，Singapore，20th February， 12
Dear Mr.Machennan，
I am sorry I did not have a longer talk with you that day I met you in Australia Hotel as I am sure you would be able to help me.I don't know if I told you that I am out of employment & has been for some considerable time.I left home over two years ago & came out to this country Rubber Planting to the Penang Sugar Estates Co.Ltd.Province Wellesley (Caledoria Estate).I left there some six months ago & came down to Perak with a view to better myself but I found I had made a mistake.I found employment in Telok Anson with the Consolidate Polber Co.Ltd， but my health gave way so I came down here to Singapore to hospital & has a very rough time of it until six weeks ago when I was discharged.Well I feel quite fit now—thank goodness so if you know of anything & put me in the way of a billet you will be doing one of countrymen a great favour indeed if not your own flesh & blood.You can understand I can't afford to be out of employment much longer as the little funds I had are completely exhausted as if you should use your influence & help me to secure employment I shall be forever grateful to you.I have had good education & hold a good reference from Caledonia if you should recommend me anywhere I assure you I will not disgrace you.I have sent my application to the Tanjong Pagar Dock Board but I am led to believe that it is practically useless to apply them without some recommendation.Now I hope this letter will find you & that you will find time to answer it soon with some of your good advice， or should you have time & arrange an interview， it would be still better.I am still staying at the Australian Hotel where you saw me as if you should write & advice me where to meet you etc.I would be very much obliged to you indeed.Hoping you are keeping well.
Sincerely Yours，
John Machennan
（译文）
新加坡西塞街168号，1912年2月20日
尊敬的莫肯南先生：
我很抱歉，那天我和您在澳大利亚酒店没谈多长时间，因为我相信您能帮助我。我不知是否告诉过您，我失业已有相当一段时间。两年前我离开家乡来到这个国家，在槟城糖业公司(威尔斯利省，加里多利亚庄园)种植橡胶。大约6个月前我离开了那里，为提升自我来到了霹雳州，但我发现自己错了。我在安顺市的波尔伯联合公司找到工作，但我的健康状况不佳，所以我来到新加坡就医，渡过一段艰难的日子，直到6个星期前我出院了。谢天谢地，我现在恢复健康了。所以如果你有啥办法，把我安置一下，就是给了一位同胞很大的恩惠，即便不是您的亲骨肉。想必您能理解，我不能再失业了，因为我仅有的一点钱全花光了。如果您能利用您的影响力帮助我找到工作，我将永远感激您。我受过良好的教育，在喀里多尼亚拥有良好的资历。如果您能在任何地方推荐我，我保证不会让您丢脸。我已经向丹绒巴葛码头董事会递交了我的申请，但我相信没有任何推荐信的话，申请实际上是没用的。因此，我希望您能收到这封信，并抽空给我一些好建议，或者如你有时间安排见面将更好。我仍然住在我们上次见面的澳大利亚酒店，或许您能告诉我去哪儿见您，我真的会非常感激。祝您健康。
约翰·莫肯南 谨上