Washington May 16th 1824
My Dear Friend,
I have no doubt but you will be disappointed 
in receiving a letter from me dated so late as the mid-
dle of May. But I intend, thro' the blessing of Heaven,
 to leave here before another week shall pass away. It 
is not very probable that Congress will adjourn so soon. 
This circumstance will not alone keep me here - I had
 made my calculations when I wrote my last to have 
set out for home on tomorrow morning- But, as evil 
luck would have it, the bill for the encouragement of do-
mestic manufacturers, which has consumed so much of our 
time, and which is considered by our part of the country 
of so much importance - will detain us two or three 
days longer. And it has unfortunately happened that 
Congress has been so equally divided on the subject, that
 by the absence of one member at a decision - the whole 
measure would be defeated - and if it should be lost by my 
absence, nothing short of the most imperious necessity, 
for the circumstance,
 [     ] 
would exculpate me. I know, as well as feel, the necessity 
of being at home at this season of the year, even if you 
were all in good health - and much more since Samuel  


is so unwell, & your health so precarious- I know also that
 the boys will find it difficult to plan and perform the work 
necessary to be done this spring- Altho' I have no doubt they
 will do all they can, and with that I ought to feel satisfied. 
By Samuels letter of the 27th ult, which I received five days 
since, I learn with pleasure that they had so far, not 
only been attentive, but had been successful in the business 
entrusted to 
thier [their] 
case-  As I intend to be at home soon after
 you get this letter, it will be unnecessary to say anything 
more on this subject. If my last letters have been received 
the boys will learn what my wishes were about the work.
 Samuel informs me that your health continues bad- I 
grieve to hear it- And if it should be my good fortune 
to meet you, in as good health as I enjoy at present, I 
will do my best to relieve you from the cares and fatigue 
you have been subjected to since I left home, and which 
I fear has brought on your present feeble state of health. 
I am yet rather undecided whether to return by Hart-
ford or Burlington - this will depend in some measure 
on what day I can get away- If the stages and steam boats 
shall happen to favor me, I can get home sooner, as well as 
cheaper, by Burlington - which way I think I shall return.    
Give my love to all our friends, and particularly to 
Samuel & Mary - whom, as well as yourself, I most ardently 
desire to meet again- Most affectionately yours &c
Saml C Crafts
Mrs E Crafts
S. C. Crafts
May, 16, 1824