Roxbury, Aug. 17th, 1850.

My dear Boy:-

My last letter to you I find, was dated April 10th, 1848. How time escapes. You are a great boy, now, and can read and write and cipher; know a good deal of geography, ete., etc. Your father tells me you are quite interested in my autobiography, and wish me to continue it, and as I am desirous of redeeming my promise, I will try to continue from the place I left off at, with rapid speed up to the present time.

About a week after the affair of the Gun-boats in the Belt, we arrived safe in Wingo Roads (Gottenburg) where we found a large fleet of merchant ships waiting to join our convoy. After a delay of several days, we sailed for home with a fleet of vessels numbering three or four hundred, with a number of line of Battle ships, frigates, sloops of war, and gun brigs, to protect the fleet. - Two days after sailing from Wingo Roads, I parted with the convoy, off the Naze of Norway, and shaped my course for Fair Isle, which I passed a few days after, and found myself once more on the broad Atlantic, making the best of my way along towards home. It was quite a relief to get clear of the trouble of being under convoy with a large fleet. I was now clear of the land, with sea room enough, a blessing that seamen only know the value of. It being late in the autumn, we had to encounter heavy gales and high seas, and the prevailing wind from the westward, we consequently made very slow progress on our way. On the 29th of October 1810, we struck soundings on George's Bank; on the 3lst saw Cape Cod bearing N.W. by W. 8 leagues distance; November 1st at noon Cape Cod light-house in sight bearing west about 4 miles distant, the wind light and variable. - On the following morning while running for Cape Ann, we encountered a violent snow storm, which compelled us to take in close reefs, and the gale increasing with snow so thick that we could not run for the land, our only chance was to get out of the Bay or go on shore. Now all hope of getting into port is given up, and the brig put upon the larboard tack, The wind at about E.N.E., the gale still increasing, the vessel leaking badly. It still blows harder and we are obliged to take in the close reefed topsails. - We were now under reefed fore-sail, main star-sail and double reefed try-sail, drifting to leeward very fast. My only hope was as the wind inclined to the northward, that we should weather the Cape and escape ship-wreck; but this hope was blasted, at about half past eleven at night we found ourselves in the surf on the back of Cape Cod and soon after our keel struck the same, and at the same moment I had both masts cut away which relieved the hull and prevented her going to pieces. The sea continued to make a fair breach over us from stem to stern during the remainder of the night. After a night of great peril and suffering, when the day dawned, we were greatly relieved from the anxiety in regard to our lives, as we found our vessel so high up on the beach that at low water we could go on shore without difficulty, which we did about eight o'clock in the morning. I say, without difficulty. This is true as relates to every one but myself. I was saved from being drowned by aid from the shore. We now found ourselves safe landed, but wet, cold and weary; the nearest habitation was in Provincetown about three miles distant from the place where we landed, to which we made the best of our way through the sand-hills, and arrived there in safety at a house kept by Daniel Beas. We were very hospitably received, a good warm breakfast was soon provided which we partook of with thankful and grateful hearts. My first duty was to make arrangements for saving as much, as possible, from the wreck. This I attended to. I engaged a strong gang to unload the Brig as soon as possible, which they succeeded in doing by landing the cargo on the beach. I then engaged teams to haul it to Provincetown. After my cargo was all safely stored, I engaged a gang of men to get the Brig off, and bring her round the Cape into Provincetown Harbour, which they succeeded in doing. I then went on board, rigged up "july masts " and sailed for Boston, where I arrived in safety during a thick snow storm. The next day the weather cleared up with a southwest wind, which we took advantage of and sailed for Gloucester, and arrived there in safety. This ended one of the most unpleasant and tedious voyages I ever made.  

Your affectionate Grandfather,

Epes Sargent.