Washington Dec. 11
My dear Friends, It is almost a fortnight since I left
home, or heard from you. I have got no letter to day from you
altho' your letters written on Mondays were usually here on the
Sunday morning following, during the last summer; perhaps it will
require longer time, at this season of the year. I have writ-
ten twice since leaving home, which letters I hope you have
received, as they would remove all anxieties you might feel
about my journey at this uncomfortable and stormy season of
the year. The sudden change from moderate to severe weather,
and particularly the snow storm of Wednesday the last day of
November, which extended into North Carolina, and perhaps further,
rendered it extremely difficult for the members of Congress to be
here in season. There was no quorum in the Senate until Wed-
nesday, and even then but two or three over. The Kentucky Senators
were frozen prevented by the ice from asscending [ascending] the Ohio, and
were obliged to leave the boat at a place where there were no
regular land conveyance, and were obliged to hire waggons [wagons] and
other private carriages to Wheeling, having been obliged to walk some
thirty miles of that distance. I think at this time there are
not more than three quarters of the Senators arrived. Judge
Phelps is not here; he is detained by sickness at home, and I
hear that he is confined to his room, so that it may be some-
time before he will be able to bear a journey to this place.
I have attended meeting in the city to day, and have
the celebrated Dr Nott, President of Union College, Schenecteday [Schenectady]
New York. He is quite aged, probably over seventy. I have seldom
seen any person appear with more case and dignity in the pulpit.
His language was very fine, and his gestures were few but very pro-
per, and,
he was
occasionaly extremely eloquent. I was sorry I could not
have been personally with you on Thanksgiving day. I thought
of you frequently during the day. It was not particularly on ac-
count of the eating part of the festival that I wished to be with you,
for we were comfortably supplied with eatables here, but on account
of the friendly calls and visits which usually are made that day:
besides I should have liked to have heard Mr Halls Thanksgiving
Sermon. Thursday was a very rainy day here; I believe there
was no intermission from daylight in the morning to nine o'clock
at night. If the storm extended to Vermont, I suppose it was snow
with you. The weather has been rather moderate the past weeks,
so that the snow which covered this part of the country when I
arrived here, has all disappeared, and the ice which began to
obstruct the navigation of the Potomac is all melted and gone.
Our family of boarders, at Mrs Spriggs, consists of Governor Mor-
row of Ohio, formerly a Senator, now a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives, Mr Giddings of Ohio, Judge Henry, wife and young daughter,
from Pensylvania [Pennsylvania], Genl Irvine, wife and young daughter, Pen. Mr Russell
and Mr Ramsay both from Pensylvania [Pennsylvania], Mr Gates and son from the
State of New York, Mr Loyd from Hartford Connecticut, besides two
or three others, belonging to the city, who are steady boarders, and Mr
Slade and wife, who are here at present, but on account of Mrs Slade
have engaged lodgings in the city near Genl Mattocks' boarding
house. Mr Young boards in the city. I have hardly seen him
since his arrival. Notwithstanding his agreement to accompany
me by Boston, if the weather should be unpromising, he took the
route by Albany, and found so many impediments to rapid travel-
ing that he did not arrive here until monday morning, the 5th inst.
having travelled all sunday and Sunday night, whilst I arrived
here Saturday evening.
I remain in good health. I shall continue to send you the
Daily Intelligencer, which I have forwarded during the last week,
and such other papers and Documents, as I shall think will interest
you, and I believe I shall be able to supply Mary with the
Huntress, I have not yet seen Mrs Royall, but expect to soon
as she has sent me one of her papers, which I consider to be
avant-courier. this paper I send to Mary.
I have not yet made any calls upon the great folk. I have
supplied myself with cards and intend to perform that part of
my official duty the present weeks.
Accept my best love, and my sincere prayers for
your continued health and happiness.
My love to Mr & Mrs Corbin, Mrs Clark, and other friends.
very affectionably
yours &c Saml C Crafts