Beaufort Oct.18^th 1805

Dear Brother,

By yours of the 15^th of July I had the disagreeable news of brother Daniel’s unhappy course of life which I sincerely regret. Also Israel Smiths unhappy situation, have also seen written accounts in print of the wasting epidemics prevailing both in New York, Philadelphia, New Haven and some other places to the northward.

Our thanks are due to the divine goodness that general health has prevailed in this part of the Country during summer and at present there are very few cases of any thing worse than agues & fevers and other intermittence that do not prove mortal and a few instances of the dysentery of a favorable kind.

The summer & the fall hitherto has been an almost continued series of clear warm weather attended with seasonable showers and we have not had a settled rain even 12 hours duration, as I recollect, since February last. The crops of corn are supposed in general to be better than ever was known and every other production of the earth uncommonly good.

O that the goodness of God might lead us to repentance and fill our hearts with the gratitude for all his blessings bestowed on the children of men.

I have sent Samuel with his uncle Thomas Duncan, to assist in doing my business and as he proposes to make you a short visit he can inform you of every particular circumstance relating to our affairs here. I shall therefore be less particular in writing.

David Hellen has been very hearty since his arrival here and looks much better than he did, but he has received so little countenance on account of his deserting his business that he seems desirous of returning provided he could be free from Mr. Osborn for whom he seems to entertain an irreconcilable aversion. I have wrote to John Van Norstrand to know whether he could take him to himself and shall wait his answer before I put him to any other business. I found on his return that instead of improving in writing and the use of figures he had in a great measure lost what he had. I have therefore had him at school the 3 month past which has about reinstated him in what he knew before.

I hope you will have friendship enough for George to keep him in a way of improvement until something is further determined for him.

Possibly if life and health will permit I may attempt to make one visit more to native place in the course of the next summer which, if Providence permits, were{which?} I presume be my last visit among my aged relations and friends, in the mean time I consider every letter as a testimonial of friendship which may probably be the last. I therefore request you to give my most affectionate respects to all my relations and friends at and about Hempstead and let them all know that altho` my memory will scarcely retain the common occurrences of life for a month yet, I have not forgot to love my friends. My Wife and Daughters desire to be remembered to you and all relations. I remain your ever loving brother.