Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

Letter from James Morris Superintendent of the Isle Sable to Michael Wallace

1806. — 4 pages : 30 x 49 cm.

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Isle Sable June 21st 1806

Sir after a long lookout towards Halifax I had the Honor to receive your Letter by Capt. Darby yesterday 10, A.M. and shall obey the contents far as my abilitys will permit. I am happy to observe the line that mentions the good Healt of Sir John and Lady Wentworth but o the horrors of war. When will the corscian colossean be satisfied with power and thirst for human blood - but something tells me his fall will happen in [word?] and an agreeable surprise to gloomy Europe and trembling America ----

as Capt Darby told me last September he should be at this Isle only as possible this Spring and having no intelligence from any point since he left, we was near sailing with the new Boat for the Continent thinking some accident had hap'd to the vessel ordered here ---

all are in good health on the Island except myself which I have suffered much with a pain in the head & breast for several months, but that in the head has left me and the other a little abated ---

no fisherman on the banks this Spring - and we have not caught a fish this Spring not having a day to rescue a boat four Leagues from shore - the winter was tolerable moderate but this has been the coldest Spring I ever saw in any Latt. continual gales snow & rain & cold squaly weather yet continues - no shipwrecks since the Brig Spring, and she still in the breakers kept down by the [ever-ballard?] the other wrecks are chiefly broke up: - to save the Iron & wood for next winter which with the drift wood I lately observed will be sufficient for the three family, with economy - am very sorry Capt Darby left the Cole. the stock at present are all in good order but they have near all been pestered with the horn distemper and found no method to cure the disorder without sawing of the horn - then applying [dam?] vinegar spirits salt and pepper four or five times with a patch of tar over the stump makes a compleat cure in a few days; - 11 horns are cut of the cows and young steers - one of the oxen at the mid settlement


4 pages 30 x 49 cm

Date: 1806

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 424 number 60

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