I then engage my passage for Boston, in the ship Caroline, Cap^{t} Cutter, and after two or three days, the ship hauled out of the bason, and stopped opposite the custom house, and within Six rods of my Lodgings; having free exces to the ship, at all times, I soon decided, in my mind, how to dispose of my money, not, contained in the two belts; and in a short time, it was safely & secretly stowed away on board the ship. On the morning of the day, on which the ship was to sail, I made interest with the ships Steward, to put one of the Belts round his waist, by the promis of a guinia, & wear it, untill we were clear from the peir head, the other belt, I secured to my own person,--and thus curcomstanced I had to submitt to the scearch of 8 french officers at the head of whom, was an old experi-^{d.} Scearcher, who strongly suspected that there was money on board.--But notwithstanding all, I got off clear with my money, and after a passage of 35 days, I had the satisfaction of delivering it to my owners in Boston. On my return home, I found that my pertner, in lifes voyage, had run me in debt, for a cape Cod farm; and as the place was distitute of a suitable building, for the accommodation of our little family, it was thought advisable to proceed to errect one, the following season; I consequently, felt myself under the necesity of declining business, in the sea-faring line, and attend to that of a more domestic nature, for a while--I remained at home, from August 1798--untill Sep^{t.} 1799--and, as the events of this year, are something remarkable, I will name a few of them. This year 1799, the beloved Washington, the Father of our Country died,--this year, our first son was born--this year I took possession of the farm, built my house, and the family moved into it on new years day 1800. In Octo^{r.} 1799 I took charge of the Brig Mary, went to Savannah, in Georgia, from that to Lisbon, from thence to London, to Rotterdam, Copenhagen, S^{t.} Petersburg, and back to Boston--and performed the voyage, in 8 months & 4 days-- [Sidenote: Commands the Monsoon] After remaining at home, a shot time, I received a letter, offering me the charge of a new ship called the Monsoon, I accordingly repaired to Boston & took charge of her--she was owned by the following company; Mess^{r.} Hayden & Baxter, M^{r.} Joshua Hall, & Jacob Tidd, they put on board a valuable Cargo, & ordered me to find a Market for it in some part of the north of Europe, but as I had, in the cargo, a quantity of American Rum, they recomended that I shou’d touch into Ireland, upon the supposition that if I cou’d obtain permission to land it that it would command a high price.