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Ever Dear Brother,

I had flattered myself that I should have been at Hempstead at least a month ago, but as it is otherwise ordered by the overruling providence of God, it is my duty patiently to submit and rest satisfied with the decisions of unerring wisdom. I proposed to embark the first opportunity that offered after the middle of July, and in case there should be no vessel going from this place about that time, to have gone to the Castle, as I did two years ago, to seek for a passage. But just about the proposed time, Capt. Elijah Bell arrived from the West Indies, who told me that as soon as he had discharged his cargo he should endeavor to procure a freight for New York and that I might depend on a convenient passage in his vessel. However, as he found some difficulty in getting a freight, he delayed the time so that he did not get ready to sail till the 29th of August and proposed to sail the 30th, wind and weather permitting. The weather continued fair until 12 o'clock at night when the wind, which was about NE, began to breeze, and the black clouds began to presage the coming storm. The rising wind and falling rain ushered in the morning of the 30th, the violence of which progressively increased for 36 hours, and at 12 o'clock the 31st, it raged with a violence which I cannot well remember.

Fruit trees of every description are either torn up by the roots or left naked, dismembered of their fruit and branches. Forest trees, flourishing in the height of verdure, are either leveled with the ground or stripped of their boughs and beauty, and the stately pines, the pride of Carolina, are racked and tortured-torn up by the roots or broken off like faggots and left as a cumbrous mass on the ground which they were wont to shade. Fences in general were blown down, whereby what remains of the crops are liable to be much injured. Many houses are demolished, others uncovered, and many chimneys blown down. But the greatest calamity of all on the seacoast is the tide, for it appears that no building, the

foundation whereof is on the surface of the ground, can withstand the combined force of the wind and water in those violent commotions.

There were in this small port when the gale came on a ship of 350 tons, a brig of 200, two schooners of 120 each, three small schooners, and one sloop, all of which were driven from their anchors. The ship, the brig, and one of the large schooners are overset and likely to be lost. Capt. Bell's loaded schooner, in which I expected to take passage, is driven on shore and much damaged, part of her cargo lost; the rest must be taken out, and the vessel repaired. It is therefore uncertain whether she will proceed on her voyage or not. We have accounts of three vessels that are stranded on the seabeach in the distance of 20 miles, and we dread to hear of the disasters of Ocracoke and on the coast from Hatteras to Cape Henry.

Thus, I have given you a short and imperfect sketch of this tremendous gale in this place only, not having time to learn what has happened in other places where we have reason to expect equal or worse consequences. I shall only add that amidst the jarring elements and terrifying appearances, I and my family were, through mercy, preserved in safety and have suffered no considerable loss. We had also an opportunity of administering relief to some of our neighbors who were deprived of their dwelling places and forced to seek shelter elsewhere.

I am still desirous of visiting you this fall, but surrounded as I am with uncertainty, I can promise nothing. Therefore, resigning myself to the direction of that almighty power on which my life depends, I patiently wait the opportunity of meeting you all in love. But if disappointed of that hope, this may serve as a testimony of the unabating friendship of your ever-loving brother.

Saml. Leffers

Beaufort, Sept. 3rd, 1803.

P.S. Please remember me to all my relations and friends-and keep Samuel at school till further orders.