Beaufort Nov 16 1803

Dear Brother,

I sailed from Sandy Hook on Sunday evening the 6^th of this instant with a strong NW wind which lasted till Tuesday 12 o’clock when it rather increased and shifted so far to the westward that we could not lay our course and we were forced to lay to till Wednesday 9 Oct. It moderated a little and shifted to SW We stood in to get in with the land. The wind shifted to S.S.W. We again hove to with a severe gale till Thursday morning, the wind shifted to SW again & moderated so that we could carry small sail and stood again till the evening when it became so moderate that the hands were called up to make more sail but no sooner were they on deck than the winds shifted suddenly to N.N.W., all our sails were immediately handed but a close reefed foresail under which we scudded with a tremendous sea till 12 o’clock the next day. The wind then moderated but the sea continued to board us at times till sunset when it began to subside. We came up with Hatteras at 12 at night and crossed the shoals at about 2 in the morning.

Saturday the 12^th, moderate, we took a fine sea turtle which was very seasonable, had fine weather to dress a part of it which made us a most delicious repast. This was the first dinner which we were able to cook and enjoy with comfort on our passage. I had not eat any thing like a meal the whole time.

In the afternoon the wind came ahead and we beat against till Sunday morning when we saw the land about 25 Miles to the northward of Cape Lookout. The wind increased suddenly and by 9 A.M. blew a storm at S. by E., were again forced to heave too for about 12 hours when we began to be apprehensive of drifting Hatteras, but fortunately the wind moderated in season, continued calm till Monday morning when the wind shifted to the northward and soon increased to a good sailing breeze. We crowded all sails and crossed Lookout about 5 in the evening. As it was too late to get in we anchored under the banks and got under way at day light and anchored in Beaufort harbor about 8 o’clock after a most boisterous and disagreeable passage of 10 days.

Thus dear brother after combating with winds and waves, the same almighty power which seems to smile on us in the calms of quiet life, has preserved me in peace and safety, granted me once more a happy meeting with my family and friends: and laid me under new and lasting obligations to adore, love and praise him while my life shall last.

On my arrival I was informed that there was a ship to sail in a few days for New York and altho` very anxious to write I should not have had time if the weather had been moderate, but no sooner were we in port but it came on so stormy that I have not been able to land my goods which circumstance has given me an opportunity to proceed thus far.

Samuel Leffers