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Beaufort, July 20th, 1812

Dear Brother,

Through the long-continued permission of a kind Providence, I am permitted once more to inquire after the welfare of my distant but much esteemed friends. As I have received no letter from any of you since October last, you may reasonably suppose that a favor of that kind would be very acceptable. During the winter and spring, I have indulged hopes that, if health and opportunity permitted, I should have made you a visit this summer, but although my health and strength are in no way impaired, yet as no good opportunity has offered before the declaration of war, I have little hopes of ever seeing you again. It is therefore necessary, if we mean to keep alive the spark of friendship, to cherish it by a regular epistolary correspondence, which may best be effected by post, as the mail comes here regularly once a week and a letter from New York is usually received here in 14 or 15 days.

I send this by David Hellen, who is able to answer all inquiries which your friendship or curiosity may induce you to make both with respect to himself and your relations here. I recommend David to your friendly attention-his case is truly singular. He was bound apprentice to a carpenter and house joiner of the first respectability with whom he worked till within a few months of the end of his term, giving general satisfaction and sustaining a good character, at the time he was visited with a painful and wasting disease which terminated in what was termed by physicians and others to be a confirmed consumption, which progressed until it was thought to be in the last stage of the disorder when he seemed to be relieved from the very jaws of death by a speedy and severe salivation. After which a change took place-he recovered gradually, and for 3 months past no symptoms of a consumptive nature have appeared-but although he has recovered his flesh and appears to be in health, yet I fear he is so much debilitated by inward decay that he will never have strength sufficient to go through the laborious part of his calling.

As times are dull here at present,

David has determined to take a trip to New York in hopes that he may find some kind of employment suitable to his strength by which he may earn his bread until he knows how matters may terminate with respect to his future prospects. Any assistance that you or any of our friends can give him will be gratefully acknowledged by me, and I believe his character as to sobriety and honesty is unexceptionable.

I have to request you to give my most friendly regards to George and let him know that his sister Sarah was married last fall to William Brooks, a brother to James Brooks, and that she has a daughter born whom she calls Susanne Leffers. It seems to be a general time of health at present and crops are flourishing, so that there is a prospect of plenty. The alarm of war is amongst us and a battalion of the newly raised militia are to be posted here and at Fort Hampton, which is at the inland point opposite the town.

Please to remember me to all inquiring friends, and accept the best wishes of your aged brother.

Saml. Leffers

Copied from the original owned by Mrs. Aleeze Lefferts Smith, Gloucester, N.C.