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. [Illustration: Ivory, Coffee and Palm Oil: a Typical Bill of Lading.] [Sidenote: The Rainy Season]