I never felt myself saffer, on account of enemies on the high seas,--I
had just entered upon the eastern edge of the grand Bank--at day
light, of the morn” of the 17^{th} I went on deck; we had a light
breeze of wind from the north, with all sails sett, that would draw,
in casting my Eye to windward, I saw a sail, to appearance, bearing
down directly for us--not having spoken any thing, I told the mate, to
back the maim yard & would speak her, we accordingly did; & at sunrise
I ordered the Insign hoisted, at the Mizen peak; no sooner were our
colours up, than his went up in the smoke of a gun, I saw that she was
a Schooner, under English colours, & that she was armed; but did not
alarm me, I continu^{d.} to lay by, she run down across^{t.} my stern,
with the usual hail, of, where from, where bound, how long out, &c
&c--& he concluded from my replys that I did not know that war
existed; he said to me, very mildly, I will thank you to continue
laying by, & I will send my boat on board--Seeing she was a cutter
Schooner with 10 brass Guns, I, of course, acquiesed, & her boat came
on board, with two petty officers, rowed by _only_ two men--One of the
officers requested me to go on board the cutter with my papers; well”
I asked the 2 officers below, while I shifted myself and got my
papers; while I was in my statroom, one of them, says to me, Cap^{t},
‘what cargo did you carry to Cadiz? Flour,’ you got a good price, I
presume Yes,’ said I--got Cash on board I suppose? No, said I, I
remitted my money, to England,’ well,” said he, You’ve a fine ship
here! Yes, toloble--what,” said he do you think she’s worth--this
question, roused my curiocity, I step’d to the door of the Stateroom,
& looking the man in the face, said to him, have you an Idea of
buying, or taking the ship, Oh, said he, Captain, you’l excuse our
inquisitiveness, it was without meaning.--When I was ready, one of the
officers went in the boat with me, & the other, remained on board the
ship--I was received on board the cutter, & conducted into the cabin,
to the Cap^{t.},--he received my papers, & looking them over, ask’d,
if I had not a Clearance from Cadiz; I told him I had, but, I did not
[know] it wou’d be required, & I had not bro^{t.} it, well,” said he,
I must have it; if you’l send your boat Sir, I will go & look it up, I
think its in my writing desk,--well,” said he, send for your desk, I
told him I was unwilling to do that, as it contained papers of
consequence to me, & by accident it might be droped overboad--oh said
he, I’ll make good all damages, you _must_ send for it. well,” I wrote
a line to the mate, to send my. W. Desk, it was brought into the
cutters cabin, & having my keys in my pocket, I open’d it, & soon
found the paper required,--my writing standing upon the Table open, &
the officers standing round, they began looking at papers, among them,
was a small bundle of letters directed to the Commissary Gen^{l.}on
the _Quebec Station_, they open’d it, & broke the seal of one of the
letters--; upon which I look’d at the Cap^{t.}, & observ’d, that this
was treatment which I had not anticipated, from the British flagg; the
Capt observ’d, you must submitt, we will explain ourselves bye. & bye
about this time, the word came from the decks, _a Strange sail in
sight_, & the Capt, drop’d the paper from hands, & run on deck.--I set
still & look’d at the officers, overhawling, & deranging my papers in
my writing desk.--after a while the Capt came down below; & said to
me, Captain; you have expressed some surprise at our investigation, at
which, I am not at all supprised, for I find, you are ignorant of a
fact, which will justify, our proceedings with you, _We are at War
with America_--now Sir, said I I beleive you are disposed to
_tantalize_, for I do not beleive it.--Well,” Sir, said he, we will
not alticate upon this subject; & he step’d to a desk took out a
newspaper, & pointed me to the declaration of War, & danced on deck
again, to look at the Strange sail.--the paper that he handed me, was
an American paper, only 12 days old--after reading the declaration of
war, I look’d it over for other news, untill the Capt came down.--He
then said to me, well Sir, what think ye now--I told him, I was
satisfied, as to _war_, but, I shou’d like to know now, whether _I_
was to be _hung_, or _drounded_.
[Sidenote: On Board the Cutter]
He smilling said, “well,” I beleive nither, _by me_.--I will now, said
he, explain to you the reasons, for our conduct toward you; I am said
he--from Halifax, bound to England with dispatches for Gov^{t.}, I
cannot take you, not having men to man you, if I had found money on
board I shou’d have taken it out, & have put one man on board, that
might not be call’d piricy & have let you have taken your chance--but
as it is you can take charge of your ship, & do the best you can--the
sail coming down, is an American Frigate, & if I can keep out the
reach of her guns, I do not fear her heals, & the sooner you go on
board the better--as soon, as you please, said I--& I crow[d]ed some
of my papers into my Desk, & tied some up in a hankerchief, & thus
went into the boat & was set on board my own ship again.--When I got
on my Ships deck, the Frigate was so near that she cou’d easyly have
sent a shot over me, & coming down will all sail set, & an American
Insign at her Mizin peak.--altho I was confidant, she was an English
Frigate; still, being compleatly within the reach of her guns, & my
ships sails all taken, I had only to lay still & take it.
[Sidenote: The Frigate]
The Frigate was down, in a few minuits & the boats was manned, & came
on board, under the command of an officer, in an american
uniform.--the usual questions, of, where from, where bound, how long
out &c &c, were ask’d, & ansered; when he thus interogated me, are you
not in fear of being taken, No Sir, said I, for I think I am _already_
taken, what’. said he, by one of your own Frigates; no,’ said I, that
is not an american Frigate, nither Sir, are _you_ intitled to wear
that Button. Well,” said he, you are about right.--that is His
Britianic majistys Frigate, the Jason, & to her, you are a
prize.--now, said he, what have you on board for Cargo; sand Ballast,
said I, _what_, did [you] cary to Cadiz, Flour, did it sell yes, it
Brought $20.00 p^{r} Barrel.--Oh, you’ve Cash on board said he, No, said
I, I remitted the proceeds of my cargo to London, & I have my thirds
of exchange, to satisfy you.--well,” said he, you have a fine ship
here; what will you give for her, & we give you, a clear passport into
Boston.--after a little reflection, I name’d $5000.00 well,” said he,
_give us the money_; Oh, I thank you said I, if it was on board, you
wou’d take it without asking me.--I will give you a draft on
London.--no, said he, _the cash_, or we _burn_ the ship.--well said I,
you’l not burn me, in her I hope,--oh, no, you may give orders for
your men to pick up their duds, & we will carry them on board the
Frigate.--You will remain on board & select yourself a servant, from
your crew, the ship is too good to _Burn_.--I accordingly selected my
Nephew, E. C. Crosby, to remain with me, my mates & crew, were all
carraied on board the Frigate,--After a while, the pinnace was sent
with special orders for me to come on board the Frigate.--well,” I
went on Board, was received at the Ganway, by a Leut^{t.}, & conducted
into the Cabin, to the captain, he, with his officers, were then
sitting at the dinner table, I was place’d in a chair by his side, &
offered a glass of wine; after which; he, the cap^{t.}, said to me!
what D--d rascal put your papers in that situation, for they were sent
to him, as I took them from the cutter, open letters &c,--why”, Sir
said I; that D--d rascal, as you are pleas’d to call him, was
Leutenant Jones, commanding his Majesties cutter the Alphea; why,”
said he, he’s broke the Kings Seal, I’ll have the fellow hung,” well
Sir, said I, you can do as you please, with your own subjects.--he
then said [to] me,” I am satisfied, on examination of your papers,
that you have not money on board, as a return cargo, but I shall now
ask you a question, which it will be, for your Interest, to answer
_candidly_, well Sir, I shall judge better, when I hear the question,!
have you money on board, on your own private account; without
hesitation, I answer’d Yes, how much said he, about $2000, … it is
safe, We, as yet, respect private property, when it does not exceed
$3000.; more than that; we think is smugled.--
[Sidenote:The King’s Seal]
finally, he observed; your officers & men, now on board here, shall
fare, as we do, & we are 6 on 4. well, Sir, we have abundant
provisions on board the prise, if you’l permit, I’l send some by the
boat that returns with me; certainly said he, & it shall be kept for
them exclusively, while they are on board this ship,--I have put a
prise master & crew on board your ship, & ordered her for S^{t.}
Johns; & I shall visit that coast, in 8 or 10 days, & will then, send
up your officers & crew, I will now send you on board, I have charged
the prise master, not to intefere with,” but, to conform to, your
regulations, in your Cabin, &c &c.
[Sidenote: A Prisoner of War]
I return’d on board, & we made sail for S^{t.} Johns as ordered;--I
found the prise Master a very pleasant man, & all things went on
pleasantly; but by adverse winds, we were 6 days before we arrived at
S^{t.} Johns.--it was evening when we arrived; the next morn” I was
taken on shore, & conducted before the Port Admiral, Sir John Thomas
Duckworth; after he had made enquiries, relative to my voyage, capture
&c &c; he told me, that I had the liberty of the town, provided, I
choose to take up my residence on shore, or, I had the liberty of
remaining on board the ship--but could not have excess, to the ship, &
shore both.--I finally told him, that I wou’d like to remain on board
the ship, untill my officers & men were sent in, after which, I wou’d
like to come on shore.--Accordingly, I returned to the ship, where, I
was allowed the same use of my cabin, & provisions, as formally, in 4
days, my officers & crew, were sent in, & on board the ship, we were
again altogether, & as we had remaining of our sea stock, a shoat, of
about 60 lb, I ordered it dressed, & a good dinner provided for, all
hands, of which I pertook; & the next day, took up my residence on
shore, at, prisiners Hall, so called, where there were about 20,
Masters & supecargoes, prisinners, like myself.--I found, that there
were 27 American vessells, in port, as prises, the Port Admiral, had
given liberty to the Supergaroes, & Gentlemen passengers to leave; &
git home, at there own expence; and provided, they went away
altogether, he would give them a protection, against capture by the
English--as I had two Brothers, on board my ship, Josiah, & E. C.
Crosby, the Idea struck me, that it was _posible_, that I might git
liberty, to send the latter, a meer boy, home by the same chance, for
they had already purchas’d a small vessell, & was then fitting her
out.--I accordingly drafted a request, to Sir John, stating, in as
feeling a manner, as I was capable, the inconsolibility of their
Parents &c &c, and waited upon the old Gentleman with it, in person;
He looked it over attentively; looked up at me, & said Yes, Yes, Mr
Cobb, send him home to his parents, & I wish I cou’d say the same to
you all I accordingly, made preparations for sending the boy home.--I
wrote to my family by him, and also, stitched 20 peices of Spanish
Gold, into a plaid, which he put into his neck hankerchief, & their
wore it, night & day, untill he got home, took it from his neck, &
gave it to his Aunt.--6 days, after this vessell had saild; we were
greeted, at a very early hour in the morn”, with the sound, “an
american, _cartile_[5] _Flagg_ flying in the harbour,--We were soon,
into the Town, & learned, that a ship had arrived, during the previous
night, under the command of an american officer, with a cartile flag;
that the officer had then gone, to report himself, to the port
Admiral,--we, fourthwith repaired to a noted Coffee house, where the
American officer soon arrived.
[Sidenote: An Exchange of Prisoners]
Altho” we were all strangers, he cordially took us by the hand, as
americans, and told us, that he was 2^{d} Leut,” of the American Frigage
C--s[6] Cap^{t.} Porter that ship, in the harbour; was the British
Sloop of War Elert, prize to the C--s, and that, through the
impertunity of the British Cap^{t.}, she had been sent in, by Cap^{t.}
Porter, with her officers & crew, all on board, to be exchanged, for
the same number of Americans.--But, said the officer, I have cause to
fear, that I may be a prisiner with you, for, said he, I left the old
Admiral, in a violent rage, at Cap^{t.} Porters proceedings, of making
a cartile, on the high seas. the officer told him, he had no terms to
make, his orders, from Cap^{t.} Porter, was, to lay there 24 hours, &
if the terms were not complied with, to proceed on to America, with
the Prise & her Crew, or, be your _prisinner_, said he, as I’m in your
power, however, in a few minuits, a note was received from the old
Admiral, saying, that upon a re-perusual of Cap^{t.} Porters
dispatches, he found that the _honor_, of the British officer was
pledg’d, for the fulfilling of the contract, & as he knew his
government, always redeem’d the pledges of their officers; he wou’d
receive the officers & crew of Ellert, he wou’d give in exchange,
every American prissiner in port (& there were 2 to 1) & that we must
be off in 24 hours.
Now, commenced a Scene of confusion, and bussle; the Crew of the
cartile was soon landed, and the Americans as speedily took
possession, & the next morn”, at about the suns rising, we weighed the
anchors of the _Ellert_, left the harbour of S^{t.} Johns, and made
sail for New York, with 246 Americans on board.--We came on, without
falling in, with any floating object, untill we were in the Longitude
of the South shoal of Nantucket when saw a topsail Schooner, running
off S. Easterly, upon which we fired, & brought her two; she hoisted
Sweedish colours, & lay bye, untill we boarded her; We found she was
from Boston, bound for the West Idies, and gave us the pleasing
account of the American Frigate, the _Constitution_, having captured
the, British Frigate the _Garreire_,
This intilligence was communicated to the _Ellert_, by the boarding
officer, and in quick time, her yards were manned & three cheers were
given, which might have been heard miles.--two days after, we arrived
in New York, and dispersed to our several places of residence.--I took
passage with my two mates, & Josiah Crosby, in a Schooner for _Bass
River_, we reached the river about the suns setting, & being but about
6 miles from my family, I could not feel willing to sleep without
seeing them--consequently myself, & my 1^{st.} mate, _M^{r.} Berry_
each hired a Saddle horse, & started for Brewster, and I reach^{d.} my
dwelling, & gave a knock, at your G. Mothers, sleeping room window,
_the same I now occopy_, about 12^{[o:]}Clock. x x x x it may perhaps
amuse my dear G. Childen, if I turn back to the time of my arrival, a
prisoner, at S^{t.} Johns, a circomstance then took place, connected
with my knocking at the window, as above
[Sidenote: Petition to the Port Admiral]
I learned, on my arrival in S^{t.} Johns, that the Port Admiral, Sir
J. T. Duckworth, had given liberty, to the American Supercargoes &
passenger, to purchase a vessel, & git home at their own expence, & he
wou’d give them a protection from British Cruseirs; & as I had on
board, two Brothers, Josiah & E. C. Crosby, the _latter_, quite a lad;
the Idea struck me, that _posibly_, by application, I might obtain
liberty to send the boy home, by this conveyance; for they had already
purchased a small vessell & were then fitting her for sea--I
accordingly drafted a petition; applying pritty strongly to the old
Gentlemans feelings, in behalf of the disconsolate Parents &c &c, and
presented it myself--after perusing the petition; the old Gen” rested
his head in his hand, for a few moments, and looked up very kindly in
my face, saying Yes, Yes, M^{r.} Cobb, _send him home to his Parents_
& I wish I felt at liberty to send every American in port home.--This,
wou’d give me an oppertunity of informing my Family of my capture, of
sending some money, spared me by the captors; and grattifiing my
relatives by sending home their beloved son.
I accordinly fixed him away; making a plaid for his neckhankercheif,
with 24 Dubloons in Gold amounting to $384 dollars, which the _dear
child_ put round his neck, in my room, in S^{t.} Johns & did not take
it off, untill in my house, in the presencs of his Aunt; and after
having delivered my letters &c--This happened, at about 8 ^{[o:]}
Clock on the same evening I arrived at Bass revir--well’, at 12
^{[o:]} Clock, as before stated I knowked at the Winder.
It appears she had been reperusing my Lengthy letter, Amegining &
revolving in mind all the horrows of my situation in an English
prisin, _after she had been in bed_, & had not been asleep, when I
know’d at the Window.
Who is there! said she--it is I, said I--well’, what do you want; to
come in; for what said she; before I cou’d answer, I heard my daughter
D., who was in bed with her say, _why, Mar it is Par_, this was
aneogh, the doors flew open, and the greetings of affection &
consanguinity multiplied upon me rapidly.
[Sidenote: End of the Voyage]
Thus, in a moment was I transported to the greatest earthly bliss, man
can injoy, viz to the injoyment of the happy family circil.
To fall of 1812--
[Illustration: decorative line]
The foregoing was written by Gen Elijah Cobb during the Year 1843,
with the intention of completing, but the state of his health
prevented.
He remained at home from 1812 to 1815 or 1816, when he made several
voyages to Europe in the Ship ‘Paragon’ built for him, and considered
at the time one of the finest ships of her day.
In 1818 & 1819 he made two voyages to Africa in the Ship “Ten
Brothers,” taking with him on the first voyage, his son Freeman.
The second voyage, there was much sickness of a contagious character,
and the ship on her return was sunk at the end of the wharf to prevent
contagion in the city of Boston.[7]
He left the sea in 1820, and after that time remained in Brewster,
Mass. filling the various civil offices of Town Clerk, Treasurer,
Inspector General, Representative and Senator, and Justice of Peace &
Quoram, also the military rank of Brigadier General.
He was a strong supporter of the Universalist church of the town, in
whose doctrines he took much interest.
He was tall & straight of fine figure his face very pleasant to look
upon. He loved children and was loved by them. Distinguished for his
sterling integrity as well as talent loved and respected by all who
knew him, he died at the age of eighty. “May our end be like his.”
His body & that of his wife lie in the new cemetery, Brewster.
E. W. C.[8]
Brewster June 19, 1857
[Illustration: decorative line]
_LETTERS_
_From Messrs. Joshua Wall, John Baxter,
Jacob Tidd and William Hayden_
Boston Nov 27^{th} 1801.
Cap^{t} E Cobb,
_Sir_,
We expect that Peace in Europe, will make considerable difference both
in the price, of the articles, with which you were to load, and also
in the demand for them, in this Country; by the time you could return;
from these considerations we think it best for you to sell the Ship
Monsoon, if you can get from Eight to Ten Thousand dollars, clear of
the Mates and People, and all other expences: if you cannot sell the
Vessel and the prices of goods ordered have not considerably fallen
you will please take a freight to any part of America or elsewhere if
to be obtain’d on terms that you think will answer, in either of the
above mentioned Cases you will place the proceeds of your outward
Cargo, (and Ship if sold) in the hands of some safe House in London,
say Tho^{s} Dickerson & C^{o} if they still remain good--in addition to
the above we have only to say that feeling much confidence in your
judgment, we leave it to you to do as you think will be most for our
Interests.--If the Peace continues we think the following articles
will not be worth more in Boston next spring than say,--
Iron--100$, to 110$.
Hemp 200$ to 230$.
Tumblers 40 Cents p^{r} Straw.
Glass 8$, pr. Box, to 9$.--
Platillas[9] no Sale unless very low.--
we are with much regard
Yours--
Joshua Wall
John Baxter
Jacob Tidd
William Hayden
[Sidenote: Orders for the Voyage]
_From Bixby, Valentine & Company, and
Humphrey & Clark_
Boston February 11^{th} 1811.
Cap^{t} Elijah Cobb
Sir,
you being Master of the Ship William Tell, we wish you as soon as you
get your cargo on board to proceed the first fair wind for Lisbon on
your arrival at Lisbon you will apply to Mess^{rs} Gould, Brothers &
Co and if you with them think it for our interest you will dispose of
your cargo to the best advantage or proceed to Cadiz or Gibralter as
you may think best. Should you proceed to Cadiz we should recommend
the house of the Widow of Morace Roberts & Co to you to do your
business if you should proceed to Gibralter we should recommend the
Hous of George Allardyce & Co but in all cases should you think best
you will value on any other houses you may think most for our
interest, after discharging your cargo you will remit the proceeds of
our goods and the amount of your freight to Samuel Williams Esq^{r}
London payable to the order of Bixby Valentine & Co in favour of
Humphrey & Clark except such amount as you may think proper to invest
for a return cargo on our accounts after discharging your cargo you
will in case it is at Lisbon or Cadiz ballast your ship with Salt and
proceed to the Havana if at Gibralter you will ballast with Stone or
Sand as you may be able to obtain, and, if any cheap Red Wine or
Malaga Wine can be obtained or any freight you will take and proceed
to the Havana with all possible dispatch, In case you get a part of a
cargo at any place before mentioned you will have it shipped as the
property of Mess^{rs} Drake & Murdock, merchants of Havana, in the
name of some Spanish House, On your arrival at the Havana you will
call on Mess^{rs} Drake & Murdock where you will find our instructions
how to proceed, our object is to get a freight home from the Havana
for the Ship with laying out what funds you may have for a return
cargo in Molasses or Sugar on our Accts. as we may think most for our
interest on your Arrival
[Illustration:
Account of Belem Port Charges of the
American Ship W^{m.} Tell Captain Elija Cobb
Pilotage inwards 6·400
Entry-autos and Pratique 1·100
Pratique Officers and Boathire 1·700
Provedor of the Health ·200
Doctor & Surgeon 1·200
Sending the health clearance to Lisbon ·200
Second visit of the Health ·
Petition and diligence & Extra Services 3·600
Waiter of the health day a 300 ·
reis each per day ·
2 Waiters of the costomhouse at Belem ·
4 days a 600 reis each perday 4·800
Belem Certificate ·240
Officers of the Castle 3·820
Vice Consul for [TN: illegible handwriting] 3·000
[TN: illegible handwriting] $320
[TN: illegible handwriting] $240
[TN: illegible handwriting] 2$970
---------
N. 29 $790
Received amount hereof in full Lisbon
the 12^{th} of Dec.^{mr} 1811
[signature [TN: illegible handwriting]
Port Charges in 1811.]
Should you at your port of discharge be able to procure to the amount
of 3 or 4000 dollars in Undoubted Bills on the Havana at 30 or 60 days
sight at a handsome discount, guarenteed by either of the houses we
have recommended you to, we think it adviseable for you to take them
and invest the proceeds in the Havana as we may think best on your
arrival there--
We should not confine the destination of the Ship after her discharge
in Europe but think it so unlikely for you to get employ either at,
Lisbon, Cadiz or Gibralter for the Ship it will be best to fix her
destination that we may be able with what we shall load ourselves to
obtain freight sufficient to fill her up in the Havana without loss of
time--
[Sidenote: Remuneration]
The voyage being different from our expectations when you left Boston,
we agee to give you for your services Thirty dollars p^{r} month, Two
pecent on the nett Sales of your Cargo and half p^{r} Cent on your
remitting Bills to England or returned Cargo and five p^{r} C^{t} primage
on your Cargo from the Havana to the United States, We believe all the
Shippers except Mr G. Snow consign their goods to you and allow you
the same commissions and we understand Mr Snow consigns to you in case
you should not sell at Lisbon--
Should the terms before mentioned meet your approbation you will
acknowledge this agreement to be the terms on which you proceed the
voyage--
Should you not be satisfied with the Compensation we offer, you will
proceed the voyage and we will give you as much as any Master has out
of this port on Such a voyage--
Wishing you a pleasant voyage and Safe return
We are yours with respects
Bixby Valentine & C^{o}
Humphrey & Clark
_Elijah Cobb to his Wife_
Prince’s Island 4^{th} Feb. 1819
My Dear Freind
We are here; & all well, _thanks to the controler of every event_, but
under circomstances, must remain here two months longer, as we have a
considerable part of our cargo still on hand, business is
astonishingly altered since last voyage, the coast is crouded with
vessells & goods of every discription, & the natives have nothing to
buy with. This circomstance is owing to the late interior war, which
has recently raged with great violence & prevented the natives from
procuring Gold dust & Ivory as formally.--my object for waiting is to
git clear of the Perishable part of my cargo for coffee, when their
Crop comes in, which is now commin[c]ing but will not be at its height
untill the last of March _or_ first april--I also calculate to touch
at one of the windward W. India Islands (on my passage home) in order
to s[ell][10] my Tobacco, Flour, Tea, & salmon; which I cannot sell
here for an[y thin]g[10]--& some Corn, which I shall receive here in
barter, so [that][10] you need not be antious if we dont git home
untill [the la]st[10] of July. we may sooner, but I think it
douptfull;--What I have sold of the cargo, has been at about as good
profit as last voyage, the deficulty is not so much in the price, as
in finding people able to purchase, Scarcity of produce is the great
complaint. This comes by Esq. Clark, via the W. Indies, he will sail
to morrow; Cap^{t} Nickerson is very sick on shore, he will leave him to
come with us if he git well, but I have hardly a hope, he is _however_
in the hands of a mercifull God, may his will be done, & the
submission of the creture sincier…. I expect our people will all write
to their freinds, another oppertunity will offer in about 15 or 20
days direct for Boston. I will then write again.
[Sidenote: Hard Times]
Pars love to all his children, he earnestly pray that his life may be
spared, & he permitted, once more to greet his little flock in health
& hapiness.
Docter will have all the perticulars respecting the Schooners Voyage
by the Esq: it is consequently unnecesary for me to write--. They have
not managed matters quite to my mind, but so it is, & prehaps for the
best.
Love & respects to all freinds
Your Affectionate Freind
Elijah Cobb
Feb^{y} 7^{th} Since the a[bove][11] _to the astonishment of us all_
Cap^{t} Nickerson has so far reco[vere]d[11] that we have taken him on
board the ship,--Esq^{r} C[lar]k[11] is very sick, the Boy _young
Kimbal_ is dead.
Feb^{y} 14^{th} He is gone--. Nickerson does not gain any Strength
wishes to go to sea & try a change of air, he is sildom himself we
have as yet kept the Esq^{rs} death from him,--such senes of distress
& death, is severely trying to me, May God preserve me--We all
continue well except Cap^{t} Mayo, he has had a slight fever, but is
apperrently doing well; I have had a smart attact of the Nervous head
ake, but have got over it,
A schooner will sail for Boston in a day or two, will write more fully
Your as ever
Elijah Cobb
[Sidenote: The Fever]
_Elijah Cobb to his Wife_
Princes Island 18^{th} Feb^{y} 1819
My Dear freind