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To the Right Honourable Lucius Bentinck; Viscount Falkland, etc, etc, etc, Lieutenant Governor, and Commander in Chief in and over Her Magesties[sic] Province of Nova Scotia, and its Dependencies etc, etc, etc,

May it please your Excellency,

To permit me the undersigned to present your Excellency with a Package of Cranberries, the produce of this barren Island, and to state to your Excellency that the Establishment here is at present in a very efficient state, and I humbly beg of your Excellency to grant this Humane and beautiful Establishment your Protection and support and to grant me your Favour and Protection, also my Sons if they are found worthy, one of which the Oldest, is in Charge of the Revenue Schooner Sisters and Three others are with me here, which with myself are doing all that we can to improve and benefit the Establishment, but I am sorry to inform your Excellency that the small claims I had last year against the Establishment for extraordinary Cart work and Boat Building, is not yet Liquidated, and as I wish to be guided entirely by your Excellencys , will I cannot take any further steps in the claim, until I have your entire approbation.
Whilst I most devoutly remain your Excellencys most humble and Obedient Servant,

Joseph Darby
Superintendent of Sable Island

Sable Island, October 1843
PS. will your Excellency please to favour the Bearer with an answer
J. Darby