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1806 - Mr. John Lefferts - Hempstead - Long Island. Paid by Capt. Dumean.

Beaufort, August 8th, 1806.

Dear Brother,

As the season approaches wherein I usually made my visits among you, like the bird of passage, my attention is turned toward you with a friendly wish to enjoy, once more, the satisfaction of social conversation with my beloved brethren, sisters, and friends. The day of life with me must be far spent, and as I advance in years, I find myself more attached to home and less capable of traveling, and therefore have but little hopes of ever crossing my native place again. It is the lot of human nature to be subject to many infirmities, and although I seldom trouble my friends with accounts of my complaints, yet as I have lately had some uncommon visitations and have had little else of consequence to relate, perhaps the knowledge I have had of my approaching dissolution may prove acceptable.

About six months ago, I went to bed in good health, and after a sleep of some hours, I awoke in a situation which I cannot well describe. I had a very unusual feeling, but on reflection found myself free from pain, although I could breathe without difficulty, yet it did not seem to answer the end of respiration. My feet felt cold, and I could perceive no pulsation in my arms, and I was impressed with the idea that the spiritual part which I call myself was in the act of quitting its clay tenement. I endeavored to raise my head but, finding it very giddy, rested it on my pillow again and was at a loss to know whether it was best to awake my wife or to put myself in a posture to die in secret. But after one or two efforts more, I raised myself and sat on the bedside, and my wife awaking, asked me what was the matter. I told her I had been thinking that the Father of mercies was about to grant the request I had often made; that is, that when it was His good pleasure, I might be removed hence without tedious pain and sickness to myself and trouble to my friends.

I was restless the remainder of the night and continued indisposed for some time, having frequent returns of the same disorder at irregular periods, which gradually growing milder, I at length recovered my health. I continued

tolerably well till about the last of May when, after a comfortable night's rest, I arose with no other complaint than a sensation of numbness in some parts of my face, which I paid no attention to until I went to wash my mouth according to usual custom when I could not sup the water, and when I attempted to discharge it, it ran down my bosom. I repeated the attempt but found I had lost the use of the muscles of my mouth and one eye and could perceive a slight swelling on one side of my face but without any pain.

I continued in this state for several days. I could not chew my food nor drink any other way than by pouring a small quantity into my mouth and holding my hand to my mouth until I swallowed it, and I could only make use of food that could be taken in this way. After a few days, the disorder removed from the right to the left side of my face and centered chiefly in my left eye. I could not close my eyelid, and the eyeball became exquisitely tender so that I could neither bear the wind nor sunshine, and I found great difficulty in covering it as the least touch was attended with pain. After continuing weeks in this state, I began to have some use of my lips, and I have been mending, but the recovery has been so slow that it is not yet complete. The disorder in my eye has been more obstinate. I cannot close my eyelids, my eye is extremely weak, and my sight is much impaired so that I read and write with difficulty.

I conclude my tedious narrative by devoutly praising the giver of all good for the use of my senses so long, for the comfortable hope of a sufficiency to answer my necessary purposes for the few days I have yet to live.

Dear Brother, I heartily wish you could make it agreeable to take George under your guardianship and endeavor to put him in some way to learn to earn his living.

This would certainly be doing a charitable and friendly act for the poor boy, and perhaps, with but little personal disadvantage, you might live to experience that satisfaction which is so often the reward of good actions. As I have several boys under my care and find myself almost unfit for any business, I thought as you have no children of your own and seem by your letters to have a good opinion of George, you might agree to this proposal and thereby greatly oblige an aged brother and an orphan child.

Here follows an [illegible] it is written on a separate paper, [illegible] friends in [illegible] to see it. I enclose [illegible] Van Mostrand desiring him, after reading [illegible] you with this. Deserving to be [remembered]

Friends, I am with sincere affection.

Sam. [Leffers][

[illegible] 13th 1806.