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Micheal Wallace Esqr 9th
Sir
I recieved by Capt Obrien your letter and not having time to write by him; I have taken this opportunity by Capt Darby = and the wheather not answering I had no opportunity of finding any thing on board the schooner Hunter = there was nobody cast on shore this winter = but the next day after the Hunter left the Island there was an american schooner cast on shore within two & 1/2 miles of the house = Capt Norris of schooner Fortune belonging to Chatham Cape Cod = crew all saved and vessel high & dry = and the crew was taken off by Captain Atkins schooner Nightingale belonging to Cape Cod = I have detaind the property on the Island untill I hear from you = the schooner Fortune was on a fishing voyage = there was about forty hogsheads of salt = and the sails and riggun I suppose is not worth more than ten pounds = if there should be a vessel from the States I have promised to let the property go off. Detaining the salvage one third if this should happen before I hear from you. I have sent the oil skins and cranberrys by Capt Darby which he has signd a bill of leaden for = and as for the state of the Island I am very sorry to say that it is in a very low state they have never been so low since ever the Island has been settled = there is three of the horn cattle dead and two more I expect to die every hour = I am very sorry to tell you that the mare is dead = she only about two hours sick = while she did live she was in the greatest agony in the world = I suppose it has been the dry gripes