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and my throwing obstacles in the way of saving his property is unfounded and has been shown to be untrue. The manner in which Robert Nichol was treated was strictly according to the letter of the agreement which he signed and which law was made by the commissioners.
I now beseech you Sir to consider this and not let the clamors of a few prejudiced individuals, (all of them men that has fallen out with me here on account of the duties to be performed) have the effect of depriving me of my living now in my old days and to be thrown upon the world without a provision to support me in the decline of life. It is too late in the day for me now to take up any new profession, by which to obtain a livelihood and I have not a sufficient income to support me and my family, I could do the duties of this establishment yet for a few years, if His Excellency would allow me, and if there has been any improper act done by me unintentionally, I would be most desirous to avoid any thing of the kind in future. I have devoted all of the best days of my life to this establishment, now over forty years, and now to be found fault with by men that has been here but one or two years, and that has had no great experience in any thing, and knows but little about this establishment and very faulty in other respects themselfs, is a great grief to me. I hope and trust that my long services, and the great benefit that the establishment has received from those services, in the triple capacity of servant master of a vessel & superintendent, will not be entirely overlooked by the government. I enclose this to you through the hands of the [commissioner?] with a petition to His Excellency not to be too hard on me, but grant me the high favour of carrying on the duties of this establishment for a short period yet, or else to consider me in some other way that will enable me to obtain a livelihood. Hoping I may now find some favour from your Honour.
I remain your ever obedient servant,
Joseph Darby
To the Honble
Joseph Howe
Halifax, N.S.