U. S. Schooner Boxer at Sea

December 5^th 1832

Lat at noon 37^o 44π S

Long do 2^o 20π East

Dear Father,

A few hours ago we made a sail on our weather bow, and from the way she is standing (to N^o & W^o) we suppose she may be going home. I therefore write these lines, in case she may be bound to the U.S. We can make her out to be a whaler, from her boats.

We are now 32 days from Rio de Janeiro, having had head winds nearly all the way. A few days ago, we had a very heavy blow from the N^o & E^d after it was over the wind shifted to the S^o & W^s, so we have now a fair wind and for some days past have been going along quite smart. The Capt. is of opinion he will put in to Cape Town, as he is uncertain whether our bread & water would hold out, should we not touch there, but to proceed on to Bencoalen. He is however yet undetermined. I hope he will. We are now about 6 days sail from it.

I wrote you 3 letters from Rio, one by the Brig Mary for Baltimore, one by the Jane for the same place and one by the Globe for the same place. I mentioned in the last that Cap Page had left us (thank God) and Cap Shields, took command of us. I like him very much. I have had several conversations with Purser Stockton about Lancaster in the last he asked me what had become of Lydia Moore. I told him she was my mother, he said she had been to school with him, and he remembered her very well, also my Aunt, and great many other persons. Our Doctor was formally from Lancaster. His mother was an Ellicott, now a Kennedy, Mr. Stockton was also at school with her in Lancaster. I have had very good health all the time we have been out. All the Officers and crew are well. Should we touch at the Cape, I will write again from there, from Bencoolen, I do not know where we shall proceed next however, we go to the Red Sea before the cruise is out, which I expect will be in one year, that is until we get back to Rio.

We spoke the English Transport baroque, Franciss Charlotte a few days ago bound to Van Dumuns Sand. 70 days out from London. There were a great number of Persons aboard, the greatest proportion Females. I suppose they were immigrants. We out sailed her considerably and soon left her. It is to me a beautiful sight to speak a vessel at Sea, to look round, and see a dreary mast of blue water and a boundless sky, in the midst of which you behold a vessel pursuing the same or perhaps a different [ ] track with yourself, riding the waves like a duck and performing the necessary maneuvers with a gracefulness not to be equalized by any living animal; and the eagerness which all hands listen to the word which pass between, when hailing; the look of joy on every [countryman] should she be bound home, producing the letters lowering the boats & wishing her a safe & speedy passage to her distant port, Amen. I say all this is a pleasing sight to me.

RAH

Remember me to all my friends, my best love to all the family & yourself, & May God bless and preserve you all in the prayer of [ y ]

Your most afftec Son

W^m Reynolds

John Reynolds Esq

Lancaster

Pennsylvania

U. S. America