Mr. Moses Porter, Biddeford.
This letter is the last one written by Miss Southgate to her cousin
Moses Porter. The following one from Dr. Southgate to his
brother-in-law, Rufus King, who was then living in England, tells of the
untimely death of his nephew, and its sad cause, July 26th, 1802.
Our brother and sister Porter of Biddeford have lost their eldest son
Moses. He dyed (sic) about fifteen days since of the yellow fever. He
had a ship arrived from the West Indies. On her passage the _cook boy_
dyed suddenly—the rest of the crew were none of them sick, but of those
persons who went on board, five or six were taken with the yellow fever
in about four days—none of whom lived more than four or five days. Moses
is much lamented by his family and acquaintance—this month would have
completed his law education. His talents, generous and amiable
disposition formed a pleasing prospect etc. etc. Mrs. Porter’s health is
_better_, better than I ever expected she would have enjoyed tho’ she is
now only a feeble woman.