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matter foreign to the subject, then speaking of my sole motive for introducing such matter was to throw as much light on the subject as I could, to benifit if possible the business in hand, and to make the profession that I follow as profitable to the government as possible, and particularly as Mr Cunard complained that you did not yet salvage enough, I wish to act up to the laws and follow them as close as I can, but some of them cannot be laws to me whilst I am kept in ignorance of them, and my soul abhors either fraud, or violence.
I have received the harness in good order and it looks well, and we have also got John Clyborne and his wife.
Your letter of the 4th conveys the information of Jacob Miller, Esqr, being appointed a commissioner.
I should not omit replying to your statement about serious charges, the acts on which those charges are made, are lawful, and not fraudulent acts, and what you say you had to reprimand me for as disgraceful to the establishment. I think you must mean my letting the people have a little liquor out of my own private stock, this was discontinued, as soon as disapproved of by you, the act was not disgraceful, but the discontinuing has been injurious to the establishment.
When I received your letters on Sunday morning the 10th the gale was then springing up and the sea rising, and before I had time to open them, I had to send the boat back to the vessel and with a touch and go [down?] getting on shore again the sea rose so quick, so that it was impossible to answer them.
And I see that I have grown like the aged [hornd?] in the fable.
Whilst I remain faithful to the true interests of the establishment.
Joseph Darby
To the Commissioners for the
Affairs of Sable Island at
Halifax, N.S.
P.S. I also send a memorial to His Excellency, humbly attempting to thow a little light on the different subjects spoken of.
J. Darby