Washington City
Feb 7. 1848
Mary,
Your kind letter, mailed Jan. 30th was
recd. & I was sorry to hear of the suffering of
my dear Franky, but you say she recovering and a
letter I have from William, dated Feb. 1st, says
she is better.
You say that Ellen has a wish to go
away to school. So far from this being un-
pleasant to me, I am pleased to hear that
such is her wish. I feared she would remain
unwilling to go. To whatever school she
may wish to go, that is acceptable to you
I am willing you should send her.
I have also recd. a kind letter from Harriet
and am pleased to hear that you have felt
disposed to avail yourself of a mild winter
to go out occasionally. Do so as often as you
can do it with any degree of pleasure and
give my love and respects to all and par-
ticularly to Mr & Mrs Wright.
Last Tuesday evening who should come in
but Edward Dana. He had been here through
the day and was in the gallery when I had delivered
a speech in the house that day. I took him round
and showed him the sights, as he stayed only
Tuesday and Wednesday. He says he is going
soon to Woodstock and will see you.
You know when a set speech is made what
comes next. I was kept out of the house, but su-
cceeded in two days & nights in writing out my
speech, which you know is pretty quick for me,
but there yet remains the great work of
[hauling] directing and sending off about two
thousand of them. It is in the printers hands
and will be out in a few days..
There are no new sights or curiosities
here except it is Powers Statue of the Greek Slave.
I have been to see it over & shall go again
when I will write you my impressions of it;
but you know my taste or admiration of
statuary is not much.
I entertain an intention to make
a visit home in the spring if possible, about
the first of April. The case on which I went
to Montpelier last fall is for argument
about that time & they wish me to be
then there & Mr Peck on the opposite side,
here wishes to pair off with me, and if
the public business will permit me shall
so do. Providence permitting.
I have nothing further to communicate
to night but my love to you and to ours and
my gratitude and prayers for them.
Good night
Your affectionate
Husband
J. Collamer