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Ever D. Brother,

Since my last to you, I have entered the 64th year of my age with a greater prospect of health than I have enjoyed for several years past, but I am nevertheless mindful of my approaching dissolution, for although the vicissitudes of fortune and the intervals of sickness and health are various and uncertain, yet the wheels of time move regularly on, and each moment brings us nearer to our Lord. The cares necessary to our subsistence hang about us and keep us anxious and busy, greatly interrupting the more exalted duties of friendship, piety, and devotion. I nevertheless regret the lack of more frequent opportunities to inquire after the welfare of my friends who still reside in my native country, especially you. I often wish to remind you that though we are separated in body, I wish to be with you in spirit, speaking with my pen and endeavoring to strengthen the bonds of friendship which might otherwise relax into a cold indifference.

The calamities of war, which seem to rage with uncommon fury in Europe and other distant countries, staining the annals of the time with blood and courage, are a galling consideration to my peaceful temper. The raging fevers, which so frequently infest our principal towns and threaten to depopulate, fill me at times with melancholy reflection and turn my attention to that grand mystery which has puzzled the wise and learned in all the ages of the world-namely, to find out the origin of evil. Why does the all-wise author of nature suffer it to be so? Why is there a greater proportion of moral and physical evil in the world than of good, and why does the human race generally incline to do evil according to their own notions of virtue and vice?

I have thus far indulged my speculations and hope I have not erred in mentioning these things, but I cannot attempt a solution at this time. The ways of Providence are infinitely above our comprehension, so we ought not to repine when chastened but instead humble ourselves and learn to know that a cheerful acquiescence is our greatest wisdom. To use the expression of the Prophet, I do not think that God afflicts willingly, but that every national calamity is intended to answer some valuable purpose, and that when the end is answered, the rod will be laid aside.

I should be extremely glad of a letter from you to know how all friends are, as I have been informed that the fever has not only raged in New York this season but has also made unusual advances into the country. An epidemic fever has been attended with great mortality at Newborn, Edenton, and Washington in this state but seems to abate of late. My domestic family has been healthy, but my daughter Mary Ann and her family have been very sickly for the past three months, having been taken down one after another. She herself, who was the last, is just recovering from an obstinate fever which lasted with little interruption for three weeks.

My family desires to be remembered to you and the rest of our relations.

I still flatter myself with the thoughts of making you another visit, which, if I can bring about, will give me the greatest satisfaction. The foregoing part of this letter was written some months past but, being disappointed in the conveyance which I at that time expected, it has lain by me till now when I unexpectedly met with a Mr. Carman who tells me he lives on the south side of Long Island nearly opposite to Brookhaven and can deliver my letters as he passes from New York home. Nothing remarkable has happened to us since writing the first part, so I have little to say as to the situation of our affairs here. It is a general time of health, and as the crops of corn and other products have been plentiful, provisions are reasonable, and the exportations very considerable. My wife talks much of you of late, and sundry dreams she has lately had seem to encourage her to hope to see you here again, but I, who put but little dependence on dreams, can only observe that I wish I had reason to hear from you. Perhaps a little encouragement added to my own inclination may quicken my resolutions to undertake another pilgrimage to my native land, and be assured that it would please me much better than a voyage with Bonaparte to Egypt.

If any of your neighbors are friendly enough to inquire after me, please give my respects to them. My duty to all relations without exception. And please accept the respects of my family, who together with myself, are most respectfully yours. And now to change the tune once more from light to solemn, if this should prove my last, I am till death, your ever-loving friend and brother.

Samuel Lefferts

Beaufort

Feb. 24th, 1800