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Sable Island June 21st 1836

Gentlemen

I received your much esteemed favor of the 13th of June last by the Brig Maria, Cap.t Lewis and am happy to inform you that the Michael Wallace arrived here the day before, notwithstanding contrary winds, and we have been so fortunate as to get her in the lake just as the Brig arrived, and the weather since not proving very favourable, we have not got on so fast in consequence however the things are all shipped as per Bill of Lading enclosed with the exception of Two puncheons of Whisky that are stove so bad that they cannot be shipped, they are each about half full, they have been burnt and I find on trying the liquor that there is so much Salt Water got into it, as to render it useless.

We have had to keep a constant watch day and night and have had to hire one man for that purpose to assist us, but notwithstanding the watch the store was broke open on the night of the 17th of June in the side, on the 18th I observed the Sailors drunk and took a bottle of whiskey away from one of them, and commenced a search for more, found another bottle which I destroyed in looking for whiskey we found the Mate in his hammock drunk and the men that I sent to search his hammock for whiskey, he got up and struck one of them the rest pitched him out of doors, when he again attempted to strike cursing and abusing us and threaten at a great rate, I ordered