1816 July 28, Cape May, to Father

              Cape May July 28th 1816

My dear father

To prevent any anxiety which you may feel on our account, I embrace the first opportunity which offers since our arrival to inform you of our welfare.  We arrived at Newcastle on 6th day evening about 7, supped there, went on board the packet-boat at 10 & got under way about two in the morning.  During the day the wind was light & generally ahead.  At twelve last night we were within four miles of this, when the appearance of the weather indicating a squall, we were obliged to come to anchor.  We had a pretty severe thunder-storm from the n. [--] but not accompanied with much wind.  It was however, sufficient to alarm our [-------] a good deal & make them all very sick.  William & one other gentleman had a slight attack which sent them on deck; the rest of us experienced no inconvenience.  The storm did not continue much more than an hour, & by five this morning we anchored within half a mile of our landing place.  A boat immediately put out to us & conveyed us safely to shore, under a pretty high swell.  Four miles riding in carriages brought us here an hour before breakfast.
We found the house nearest the water completely occupied.