note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions

be quite impossible however to to send any this trip as our tame horses are working at the Hay and would require a few days rest before fit to chase the wild ones, but they will be all right by next trip should you decide on a shipment.

Edward [Shears?] one of the Island men wishes to leave next time the vessel comes, in consequence of his Fathers ill health and I should like to let him go, if another good man could be procured in his place. He has been a very faithful servant since he came to the Island. The cranberry crop promises well and should the early frosts keep off and nothing happen to interfere with our picking this fall I think we will ship a good many.

I remain
Sir
Your Obt Servt
P.S. Dodd

[address at lower left]
Stephen S Thorne Esq.r
Chairman Board Works
Halifax

[written vertically at lower right]
Later
P.S. Dodd Esq.r
14th Sept.r 1857