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60 [within a circle]
Sable Island, Sept 23 1848
Sir
I received your letter of the 14th of the present month and hasten to reply to it, you say that his Excellency has been pleased at the close of the Investigation to make a Change in the Management of the affairs of Sable Island and that he will be prepared to appoint my succesor as soon as I can make the necessary arrangements for removing my Family. I humbly beg leave to state that I am sorry His Excellency has come to this conclusion. I am not sensible of having done any injury to this Establishment that I love and respect as if it was my own property, but have done it much good, and from the nature of the duties have had to do many things very unpleasant to me, and if His Excellency is deteremined on removing me, I ask it as a favour of His Excellency to allow me to remain until the Spring and I will endeavour to perform the duties in the meantime to the utmost of my power, as I am quite unprepared for removing my Family this autumn.
Whilst I remain your Honours very Obedient and truly Humble Servant
Joseph Darby
To the
Honbl Joseph Howe
P.S. Office, Halifax,