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Beaufort, September 20th, 1809
Dear Brother,
As the year rolls round, the season approaches when I am looking out for a conveyance to let you know that I still survive and am permitted to tell you that my health continues seemingly as well as it was 12 months ago, although I am sensible that every year must increase the load that will in the end press me to the grave. I am about to decline all business but such as will serve as an amusement to prevent the wearisomeness of leisure. I find that exercise of some kind or other is necessary as the shortest day is too long to be comfortably spent in idleness, and I cannot, without an opiate, spend the shortest night in sleep.
After so long an introduction, I proceed to let you know that the summer has been generally healthy, owing perhaps to its being more cool and wet than common. The crops, it is said, will not be so plentiful as they were the last year, but as we have had no storms to destroy them, I presume that grain will be plenty and cheap. As people are getting into the way of clothing themselves in homespun, I can see no cause to complain of hard times, although we should be cut off from some of the foreign luxuries which we have been too much accustomed to. I have been gratified of late to observe that almost all the gentlemen from Newbern and other fashionable towns appear in homespun coats on all public occasions. Although we have no manufactories and the cloth, whether cotton or wool, is worn just as it comes from the loom, every family spins and weaves for their consumption.
The complaints against the government on account of the suspension of trade seem to subside
in proportion as people find they can live without it. My little family continues as before, with the addition of George Dill, who lives with us and serves to run errands and do little jobs about the house. Betsy and Sally are industrious and keep the house and furniture in good order. They also spin and weave cloth, of which they make themselves decent clothing. Saml. is with us merely as a boarder, since he has been studying with the doctors, so we seldom see him but at mealtime.
Blessed as I am with health, I have reason to think myself as well situated for comfort as a man of my age and condition can reasonably expect to be. I have time for reflection, can see company or retire as best suits my inclination, and as I am not interrupted by anyone, I take care not unnecessarily to interrupt others. As I am hard of hearing, ever since the shock from the lightning, the young people about me can enjoy their own conversation in a low key in the same room with me without letting me into their secrets or exciting my curiosity.
The chief source of my anxiety arises from the sufferings of my daughters and their families, as they have each a number of small children and they are seldom without some complaint. Mary A. Dill has suffered extremely with the rheumatism, which has deprived her of the use of some of her fingers, but she is in tolerable health at present. Sally Brooks has had a bad time lately in childbed, was with much difficulty delivered, and her child expired as soon as it was born. She is now in a state of recovery.
You may perceive by the length of my letter that I write with less difficulty than I have done for some time past, a blessing for which I cannot sufficiently express my grateful thanks to the giver of all good. We know not how to appreciate the blessings we enjoy until we are in danger of being deprived of them, and it is indeed a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the light.
I send this by Capt. James Stanton, who lives in Beaufort, by whom I hope to hear from you and the rest of my friends. Please to remember me particularly to my sisters, to Betsey &
George, and return my compliments to all inquiring friends. I am with the highest respect and esteem,
Your brother and friend,
Saml. Leffers
