Roxbury, Aug: 21, 1850.

My Dear Epes :-

Yesterday morning your Father and Mother, and Brother Charlie left us for their home, and will be with you, I have no doubt, when you received this. We all felt very sad at parting with them, and we miss them very much.  Your Uncle James was ill when they left us; he is now much better, so much better, that he walked out today and will take some beef for his dinner. The rest of us are all well. - I suppose I may as well fill this sheet with a continuation of my autobiography.

It was in the month of December 1810 when I arrived in Gloucester with the wreck of the Brig Cincinnatus. I found my wife and our little Amelia recovering from a severe illness. Our meeting, as you may imagine, was a joyous one. I soon recovered from the fatigues of my perilous voyage, and in a few weeks after my return, we were all hale and hearty, enjoying all the blessings and comforts of domestic life. Then the winter passed away. On the return of spring I began to be anxious to be doing something for the support of my family, an idle, unproductive life was always extremely irksome to me. So I called on Messrs. William Pearce & Sons, the owners of the "Cincinnatus" to see what they intended to do in the way of giving me further employment. They appeared satisfied with my conduct and shortly after bought a large Brig called the "Gossypiun” which they gave me command of, and on the 15th of June 1910 I sailed for Baltimore to take on board a cargo of corn for Lisbon. I arrived safe at Baltimore, took on board my cargo and sailed for Lisbon, and after a moderate and pleasant passage, arrived there in safety, sold my cargo at a moderate profit, took my pay in Spanish dollars, took on board a cargo salt and sailed for home. It was the bleak and stormy month of November when I arrived in Boston Bay. Shortly after I got sight of Cape Cod it set in a heavy snow storm which placed me in a very dangerous position, and I might have been again stranded had I not profited by the experience of my last voyage. The information I then obtained respecting Barnstable Bay, enabled me to run with boldness, for Provincetown Harbour, where I anchored in safety during a thick snow storm. My old friends in Provincetown were very glad to see me and treated me with a great deal of hospitality. After the storm abated, the wind came round to the southwest, and I weighed anchor and sailed for Gloucester where I arrived in safety after a few hours run. The date of my arrival I have forgotten, but it was in the early part of November 1811. I found all well at home. John O. Sargent (your uncle John) was then about three months old, having been born during my absence, and a prettier or finer babe than he was I never took in my arms, and what is better, he always proved a good boy and has become a respectable man, beloved by all that know him.

Now, in the bosom of my little family, my happiness for a time was uninterrupted. The winter past away, the spring returned and the time drew near when I was again to part with all that was dear to me; yet, I endeavored to enjoy the present and as much as possible to look on the bright side. My wife and children were well, and I was strong and hearty, and able to buffet the storm for their sakes, so I "girded up my loins" for another voyage and on the [date missing] 1812 sailed in the Brig "Gossypium" for Bergen in Norway. At the time I sailed upon this voyage, the prospect appeared exceedingly unprofitable; an embargo was laid by the Government prohibiting the departure from port of all ships and vessels in the United States. Had I remained in port one day longer, I should have been prevented from prosecuting my voyage, but the news came by express from Boston with the information that the embargo was put in force there, and being all ready, I immediately sailed. War with England was expected soon to follow the embargo. However, I had but little fear in regard to my passage to Bergen, but how I was to get home in the event of war taking place was a question not easily answered. My owners, in anticipation of war, advised me in the event of war taking place not to sail for home until midwinter, and to keep well to the northward to avoid capture by British Cruisers.

The prospect ahead, as you may imagine, looked gloomy; however, I pushed ahead and arrived safe in Bergen, after an anxious, unpleasant passage. Herman D. Janeoz & Son was the name of the house that I employed as my agents in Bergen. They were very kind, friendly, hospitable people. - Bergen is a small place in the northern part of Norway. Their exports are principally stock-fish, salmon, goat skins, mops, etc., etc., imports, rice, rum, tobacco, fleur, hops, dye woods, etc, etc. My cargo consisted of tobacco, rice, rum, corn meal, flour, dye wood, coffee, sugar and soap.

The custom at that time was to advertize the cargo to be sold at auction, giving ample time for people to come from a distance to attend the sale. Now, as part of my cargo consisted of corn meal, which the inhabitants had never seen and, of course, knew nothing about, it became necessary to present it for sale, in such manner, as they may see and know the use of it, so we nad a large kettle of mush made and served up at the auction. The consequence was, they liked the article very much and bid up liberally for the corn meal. I sold most of my cargo pretty readily, at fair prices, except a large part of my tobacco. That, being of inferior quality, I could not obtain a fair price for, so I left it unsold, a circumstance that proved very favorable, as soon after the news of war between the U. S. and G B., the article ran very high; so high that what I left unsold, valued at about $3,000., sold for over $13,000.

For my return cargo I purchased 1800 barrels of Cod liver oil and a quantity of stock fish. The inhabitants looked with astonishment when they saw me taking on board this cargo, said I could not be going to the United States, as it would be like carrying coals to New-castle. - The circumstances in relation to this cargo need explanation. It certainly was a strange cargo to bring to this country, and such a one as never was brought before, and perhaps will never be brought again.

About the time I commenced this voyage, it was difficult to find any place to go to with safety, where a good voyage could be made. - From a friend that had been in Bergen I obtained information about the trade of that place and from the fact that all the ports in Europe that they were in the habit of shipping their fish and oil to were, and had been, for a long time, under strict blockade by the British, I came to the conclusion that they had no means of getting clear of the surplus accumulation, and that there must be an uncommonly large stock of liver oil on hand. I communicated my views, and the information I was in possession of to Messrs. Pearce & Sons, in regard to a voyage to Bergen, which they fell in with and dispatched me on the voyage, with instructions leaving me at liberty to do what I thought best for their interest. - When I was about leaving I said, "Gentlemen, you have said nothing in your instructions about a cargo of oil. How high a price may I pay for it, provided I find it?" Their reply was, “you may venture to go as high as ten dollars per barrel", I succeeded in buying my cargo for about seven dollars per barrel. - After my vessel was loaded and ready for sea, a report arrived in Bergen that an American Pilot Boat had arrived at a port in the south of Norway with news of war between the United States and Great Britain. This, however, for the day was only a rumor tomorrow. I had no doubt it would be confirmed, but I did not think it worthwhile to wait for a confirmation. If I had, I should have felt bound to stay in Bergen till winter, and grope my way home in the dark, this being the plan of my owners in the event of my nearing of a declaration of war before I sailed, Now, as I could not say I had heard of a declaration of war, and did not want to wait for winter, I thought best to get under way at once, and sail for home, which I did, with a fair wind that soon took me clear of the coast of Norway. I shaped my course to go a long way to the north of the Shetland Islands, kept well to the northward all the passage, saw but few vessels and spoke none until I arrived within about 20 leagues of Cape Ann. Then, I was running with a southerly wind for the Cape late in the afternoon; a fishing schooner was in sight, quite near me. I spoke him; he informed me that it was war and that he saw a British Frigate that morning off Cape Ann. Now it was war, sure enough. and what was the best thing to be done. I went immediately below, took a look at the chart, and soon saw that the best thing to do was to try and get into Portland. The wind being quite fair for that place, so I ordered the yards squared and studing sails set, and shaped my course for Portland light, on Cape Elizebeth, determined, if possible, to get into Portland harbour. At about 12 o'clock, midnight, we saw a light which I took to be Cape Elizebeth light; immediately after we saw the light we saw the flash of a gun and soon heard the report, Shortly after another gun was fired. What was now to be done was difficult to say. An enemy was doubtless near us. I soon came to the conclusion that the wisest thing under the circumstances to be done was to lie still with the Courset hauled up, and the main topsail to the mast. The wind was now dieing away, and it was setting in quite foggy. - This was, indeed, a tedious night. As the day dawned, a large sloop came in sight running down upon our weather quarter. While I was looking at the sloop, the man at the helm said he saw a boat at anchor on our lee bow. I cast my eye that way, and sure enough, there was a fishing boat at anchor. I filled my main top-sail and run down and spoke him, It proved to be a pilot boat belonging to Portland from which I obtained a pilot, and from him I soon obtained all the information about the war, the capture of Qures by the Frigate Constitution, etc. etc. - I asked him if he heard the guns tnat we heard, He said he did, but the light we saw, he said could not have been the light on Cape Elizebeth. He said there had not been a British Cruiser run off Portland since the war, and if the weather continued thick, he would get us in safe. - The weather did continue thick, and late that afternoon we came to anchor in Portland harbour.

I immediately went on shore, did all the needful at the Custom House, etc., and started in the stage coach the next morning about three o'clock for home. I arrived home the following morning about two o'clock, called immediately on my old friend Col. Wm. Pearce, and informed him of my safe arrival in Portland. The old gentleman was quite delighted, said I was one of the cleverest fellows in the world. They had no insurance and were going to Boston the following morning to effect insurance, for which they expected to have been obliged to pay at least fifty percent premium, so this was all saved, as a few days after, the "Gossypium" was safe along side of their wharf in Gloucester. This cargo yielded an immense profit, selling during the war, at from 25 to 45 dollars per barrel, the cost of which was only about seven dollars per barrel. I returned to Portland and brought the Brig to Gloucester with the assistance of Sayward, the Gloucester pilot. We armed with four cannon and a number of small arms to protect ourselves on our Way from Portland to Gloucester, but did not have to use our armament.

Thus ended the voyage. I found my family all well and rejoiced to see me.

Your affectionate Grandfather,

E. Sargent.