Part 6
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
I wrote you 4 days ago by the Schooner Hope which I sent away under the care of John Dillingham 3^{d} he being the only one willing to undertake, … you may _posibly_ git this letter first, it is therefore necessary to repeat that Esq. Clark has paid the dept of nature, it was my task to close his Eyes the 11^{th} Ins^{t} after a sickness of 8 days--Young Kimbal died 4 days before, Cap^{t} Nickerson was very sick _on board this ship_, but his fever having turned, it was the advice of Every One to send him to sea, that a change of air would have a good effect; I accordingly did, but fear he never will reach America; we must _however_ commit him & ourselves to a mercifull just God, who always acts for the good of his Creaturs & happy would it be for us; if we could always bow with humble submission to his righteous dispensations.
Cap^{t} Mayo has been _very_ sick; his fever turned two days since, & the people here _who are no doupt better judges than strangers_ say he is out of danger, he _also_ has great currage, but he is very weak. & it will be a long time before he gits [his][12] strength, he is on shore, I am something unwell, & [takin]g[12] Medicine that I cannot see him to day--
Feb^{y} 20^{th} _Alas Alas_, Cap^{t} Mayo is gone; an unfavourable turn in his disorder was his passport to (I trust) realms of blessedness--I have ordered the ship amediately to sea; shall work up to the windward of these islands & pass away 3 or 4 weeks, untill the sickly season passes of.--I must then return & git pay for 3 or 4000 Dollars of goods trusted out to A. B. C. &c &c, in orders for coffee--and had I have foreseen the consequence; I would not have put it out of my power to have left altogether at pleasure altho we should have bro^{t} home half our cargo, but circomstancd as I am, we must take all reasonable precaution, and trust our lives & healths, to an alwise, aljust, & mercifull God, _who cannot err_.
The scenes of distress, together with anciety of mind, which I have had to encounter within the last 15 days, have nearly unmaned me, I wou’d write to Mrs Mayo but am not able, do afford her all the consolation in your power, & oh, may God of his infinite mercy pour the balm of consolation into her afflicted Bosom--
The crew will all write; they are well as yit, but quite alamed, which induces me to put to sea, where we shall git good air, & _I hope_, fresh sperits
I had, (previous to this last shock) written a few lines to Mrs Clark, I do not feel able to put in order by copying, I inclose it, you’l deliver it, or not, as you think proper.
My love to our little ones & all freinds--dont give yourself too much anciety, put your whole trust in God, he can releive in the greatest distress or most [imm]inent[12] danger.
Your affectionate friend
Elijah Cobb
[Sidenote: Puts to Sea]
21. Feb^{y} We meant to have got out yesterday, but we had our ship to rig _almost_ as well as sails to bend & Ballast to git--the Vessell which brings this, will sail amediately, we shall go in the course of the day--I feel nicely this morn” _as to health_. M^{r} Thatcher & M^{r} Crosby are both hearty, thank God. Myrick & Bates, complained yesterday, we gave them both a smart purge, they are nicely this morning & no appearance of a fever, the sea air will make them harty again; as I before observ^{d} Amigination in this country works wonders; As to myself I feel a sort of pleasing confidence that I am again, _to be permited_ to visit my beloved family--to offer a word of consolation, to the afflicted freind of those entoomb’d in this foreign land, but in every instance, I trust I shall be anable to say in sincerety thy will be done.
Your
E. C
_Elijah Cobb to his Son, Elijah Cobb, 2nd_
Prince’s Island 24^{th} April 1819
My dear Son
This will accompay a letter directed to you _or_ M^{r} Haven (should you be absent) containing a Bill of exchange for 300 Dollars, with perticular instructions relative therto. should you receive it before I return, you may send it to y^{r} Mar, _or_ keep it in your hands (as you like).
We are all well, shall tarry here a few days longer & the[n] proceed for S^{t} Thomases, where I hope to procure a considerable quantity of coffee. & then proceed as bifore mentioned, hope yet to reach Boston in all the month of July.
[Sidenote: The Rainy Season]
I expect before this, my letters (by the two schooners) filled with heart rending tidings to our Brewster freind have been received, my mental, as well as bodily distress, has been such, that I hardly know what I wrote in those letters (probably much incoherency) as they were dictated by the feelings of the moment, but I trust those scenes are not to return upon us this voyage, the place is healthy, frequent turnardoes, with thunder lightning & copeous showers purifies the air, all nature smiles, & the human form wears a cheerfull countenance in place of the gastly visage, which so recently presented itself at all points.--What abundant cause of greatfull praise to the supreem controler of every event both of time & eternity, more especially to us the living monuments of His mercy who for wise purposes (tho” hidden from our veiw) have been spared while so many have fallen around us, May we express our gratitude by keeping his commands.
I have written to your mar by this conveyance hope it will not be long (after you receive this) before I shall be permitted to see my little flock in health.
Your Affectionate Father
Elijah Cobb
_Samuel Swan, Jr., to Mrs. Elijah Cobb_
[Ship] Belvidere--Quarantine-- June 27th 1819
Mrs. Cobb--
Madam--
I arrived here last evening 84 Days from Africa--I left the Ten Brothers at Princes Island April 4^{th}--After the loss of Cap^{t} Mayo, the ship proceeded to sea in a very sickly state--The change of air soon produced a favourable effect; and on the Ships return to Princes in March they were all quite recovered, though still m[uc]h[13] debilitated--One man only was any ways ill during my stay, & he was again on duty when we sail’d--The ship had been on her return to port thoroughly clensed by washing with vinegar, & limejuice, and twenty four hour’s fumigation with strong charcoal fires in the hold, & between decks--During this time I was honoured with Cap^{t} Cobb’s company on board the Belvidere--
I believe, Madam, you may rest perfectly free from any apprehensions of the sickness again appearing on board the Ten Brothers--Every precaution has been taken to purify the ship--& the more immediate cause of their sickness was also removed--It is during the few weeks interval between the closing of the Dry, & setting in of the Rainy season, that the Islands are most unhealthy--The atmosphere is then heavy, & the Harbor is so situated that the little air that is in motion during the day is intirely secluded from the shipping, while a vertical sun produces an intensity of heat that operates powerfully to render the place unhealthy--After the rains commence, the frequent tornadoes which accompany that season, & always blow from the eastward, directly into the harbor, so purify the air that there is little danger of sickness with the usual precautions which all strangers should observe for preservation of health in warm climates--
[Sidenote: Good News]
As I was in daily communication with Cap^{t} Cobb, I can assure you of his intire restoration to health, except the debility incident to a severe attack of fever--
It was Cap^{t} Cobb’s intention to close all business with the utmost dispatch, & he thought to be able to sail in all April to a certainty--He will touch at Martinique on his passage to America--
I am fully aware, Madam, that the charge of presumption may be alledged against me--Indeed (reasoning from analogy) I offer no other apology for writting, than the satisfaction I believe my own family would recieve by any communication from a person who had seen me abroad, at a time when a variety of reports respecting my safety would render any news highly gratifying--
I cannot close without most respectfully offering, thro’ your family, the tribute of my consolation to the family of the late Henry Clarke Esq^{r} of your t[ow]n[14]--On my first arrival at Princes, in Dec^{r}, I found him there; & our constant intercourse, during the short stay I there made, gave me abundant cause to honour & admire him--on my leaving the place he accompanied me out of the harbor, & our last resolve, when he quited me, was, to visit each others families when both should be at home--Nothing could exceed the shock on my feelings, on again visiting the Island, to learn his lamented death--If the respect of a stranger can be acceptable to his family, I beg, Madam, you will mention my name, as one who feels proud to acknowledge an acquaintance, & friendship, with him abroad--
With regard, I remain, Madam, respectfully your Most Humble servant--
Sam^{l} Swan Jr--
M^{rs} ELIJAH COBB--Brewster--
NB. Letters from Cap^{t} Cobb, have been sent to his Son in Boston--others from people on board, will be forwarded by post office on my arrival to town.
S. S.
[Sidenote: A Birthday Letter]
_Elijah and Mary Cobb to their Son, Elijah Cobb, 2nd_
Brewster, _27^{th} June 1820_
Dear Son
Your affectionate parents fondly recolect that This Day, compleats the full time of 21 years, since the _Supreem_ doner of every thing, was pleased to gladen the parential heart in the birth of a Son; Who has since continued his existance thro” Infancy; thro” Youth, & bro^{t} him to the commincment of manhood, without suffering any action (of their childs) to wound their hearts; What abundant cause of greatfull Praise for those inestimable favours,--May He enable them to suplicate with fervency & _effect_, to continue His Mercies to them & their children, & may it laden all their hearts with a greatfull song of Thankgiving & Praise,--We recieved your letter by M^{r} Copeland & noted your observations upon M^{r} H’s enquiries, we think it wou’d be as well, to continue where you are a while, (at least) untill the Fall,--But altho” I wou’d not inculcate the Idea of taking the advantage of any ones necesity; I think as M^{r} H. has contributed so _very_ sparringly to y^{r} support during the long time you have remained with him, He ought now to give you a full support _at least_ untill you see your way clear to commince business for yourself, which time we look forward to with pleasure, mixed with a degree of anciety, naturel to parential feelings always antious for the wellfare of their ospring. prehaps the old edage will apply, _that effection is blind_, but we feel confident (from your former & present deportment) that propriety, entigrity, virtue & piety will govern all your actions,--Those virtues exercised by a finite being will receive an _infinite_ approbation & blessing--
Every advice, & every assistanc from your Parents, will at all times be cheerfully bestowed, & it is (we presume) unnecesary to ask, who is so suitable to advise a child as its fond doating parents--We will close for the present, by supplicating Our Heavenly Father, to take you into His holy keeping; to direct each gardian Angel to watch over you, that no improper action may ever sully a good name or wound y^{r} parents feelings
Affectionately Yours
E. & M. COBB
NB. Debby is favourably convalessent. wish you to inform me, if you hear any thing from Cap^{t} Tycross, or M^{r} Hathaway--
We hope Mrs Haven will come with Lincoln (expect him the next tide) we shall be highly pleased with a visit from her, & think it can be made pleasant to her.
[Sidenote: To His Son]
_Elijah Cobb to his Son, Elijah Cobb, 2nd_
Brewster 2^{d} Jan^{y} 1836
Dear Son
As our representitive will leave in the morn” I avial myself of the oppertunity to forward by him the small paper Package, which I found snugly laceed up, in the branch part, of your last package of trees. I found the mice had made a hole thro” the paper, among some small seed, when, or where it was done I cannot say, I found no other traces of them either about the package or ground where they were--I put the inverlope around them again, but shall have an eye to them frequently.
The Lyceum appear to be in successfull opperation, M^{r} Williams gave the introductory address, his remarks were bassed upon the word _curiosity_, it was good; the best production ever I heard _from him_, the follow^{g} officers were chosen--George Copeland esq^{r}, President, Joseph Sampson Esq. Vice P.--John P. Washburn, Secretary, _my humble self_, Treasurer, and Franklin Hopkins Libra^{n}--24 became members, by signing the constitution, & paying from 50^{cs} to 2.00--the members were then, formed into 6 Sections of 4 each, for discussions, by the board of managers, (the 5 officers as above) and the follow^{g} subject assigned, for the next wednesday eve” viz, which exarts the greatest influance, in a country Town, _wealth or knowledge_--the discussion was assigned to the 1^{st} & 2^{d} Sections, under the managements of the Rev^{d} mess^{rs} Conant, & Williams, the former advocating wealth, & the latter knowledge--the subject was ably & ingenously managed on both sides, but the decision was in favour of wealth. an addition of 17 became member, making now 41.
The next Wednesday Eve” we are to have an address by the Rev^{d} M^{r} Simpkins--the subject for discussion is, _which injoys the greatest satisfaction, the Rich man, or poor man_--assigned to Sections 3^{d} & 5^{th} Rev^{d} M^{r} Pratt, & Father--I expect a powerfull opponent, but cannot feel any fear upon the subject. He cannot expect much assistance from his Section, except what he gits from our bro^{r} Jo. & I have M^{r} Washburn in my Section, which I think will match Docter.--There appears an interest in the cause, among our young men, the older ones must begin, but they will soon come forward.
[Sidenote: Local Affairs]
Our high School goes on well, it is as full, as they can accommodate 46--there appears perfect satisfaction with M^{r} Washburn, the instructor--he appears to be _wide awake_, & master of his business.
We are looking hourly for the Fayette, think she will be here in the morn”--she no doubt came unexpectedly to you, but she must have had a fine time, and our shore is now clear of Ice for her return.
My eyes are somthing better, but very weak, I am obliged to deny myself the pleasure of reading, altogether, and I am in agony with writing thus much, altho” I have had 5 or 6 spells at it.
Grandfather wishes the children all, _a happy new year_, not as the compliment of the season, which is in the mouths of the multitude, but in sencerity of heart.
FATHER
_Elijah Cobb to his Son, Elijah Cobb, 2nd_
Brewster April 3^{d} 1837
Dear Son
Your last p^{r} Patriot, gave general directions about placeing manure &c &c, all which, Father thinks, manifests agriculturel judiciousness. Freeman commenced work March 27^{th}, but anticipating your injuntion, relative to sea-weed, & a fine oppertunity presenting last week, he did very little else--we shall have, by night, anough up by my salt works, to replenish your Barn Yard--a noble lot, of excell^{t} seaweed came on shore, directly below my landing, while the other parts of the shore was quite distitute--I hireed an extra team, & extra man to pitch one day & we have secured, a fine lot of it. F. & Joshua are at it to day, I have tried to git another team, but have not succeeded, there is still abundanc on the shore, & I shall keep the boys at it, as such a fine chance, sildom offers, of so good a quality.
I expect you intend to lay down, the peice of land you planted, back of the barn, if so, you’l want grass seed for it,--I shou’d put on it, ½ bush^{l} herds grass, ½ bush^{l} red top, & 8 lbs of red clover--Oats, we shall have anough, between us--you have not many, but I have a plenty.
[Sidenote: Townsman and Farmer]
The Patriot will go Wednesday Eve”--I hope you’l be able to return with her, ab^{t} Saturday night--I am writing now, (morn”) as I shall be engaged thro” the remainder of the day--the Towns committee are coming to settle the accounts of the Treasury for last year; & in the afternoon a Town meeting of importance--a Poor house in agitation, herring fishery to be new moddleed, _suplus revenue_, &c &c.
in haste
FATHER.
_Elijah Cobb to his Son, Elijah Cobb, 2nd_
Brewster Sept^{r} 12^{th} 1838
Dear Son