Washington February 19th 1821
My dear friend,
I have waited with great anxiety to receive
letters from home, which have not yet arrived, proba-
bly from the badness of the roads. And fearing that
the same cause may prevent a letter, written by
me after to day, reaching you next week.
I therefore, to prevent you from all unnecessary anxiety
on my account, write a few lines assuring you
of the continuance of my health, and that if your
letters shall arrive in season to give any chance for
an answer to reach you next week, I will write
again. Samuels letter received last week give me
an account of his health, & of yours, which has given
me great concern. I have been very much at a loss
whether I ought not to get leave of absen [absence] and return
home - and if the Session was not so near a close I
would do it- On the fourth of March I shall be on
my return I have engaged my passage in a stage.
The members will generally remain a day or two
longer to see the inauguration of the President which
will take place on Monday- But I shall not tarry
my feelings and duty urge me to return home as
fast as possible, and to relieve you as much as I can
from the burden which my absence has imposed upon
you. Everything seems to have conspired this winter
to impair your health- Anxiety for Samuel, with
fatigue and loss of rest, and perhaps some concern for
me, during the sickness at this place, I fear may
prove too much for your constitution. I pray you
may not sink under it.
We have buried another member of our house since
I wrote last. But lest your allarms [alarms] be increased
on that account for my safety - I think my duty to
mention the circumstance, and also that Mr Burwell has
for a long time been in a very feeble state of health- &
with but one exception, none of those who have died
this winter, came here in any thing like sound health.
In general those whose constitutions were good have
enjoyed their health as well as in common years. But
it has proved very mortal to such as came here with
infirm or broken constitutions.
My love to Samuel & Mary - may God preserve
them and you.
I am as usual your sincere & most
affectionate friend
Samuel C Crafts
Mrs E Crafts
S.C. Crafts
Feb. 19. 1821