Washington Jany. 19. 1823
My dear friend,
As I do not intend to keep
a debtor and creditor account of corres-
pondance with you, I will not ask how
the balance is between us. But I will
write to you whenever my constitutional,
or if you please, habitual indolence will
permit.
I have to day written to your friend
Mr. Pickering, and transmitted the
Indian vocabulary, which he was anx-
ious to obtain. I hope it will meet his
expectations.
I told you before so freely and fully every
thing relating to myself, that you must
expect to find a super abundant por-
tion of modesty in this letter. No incident
has occurred to me, worth communi-
cating to you. I can only perceive,
that I am about a year older. I am
compelled at times, in fact oftener than
the men of the north, south, East and west
meet on common ground. Shall I never
find you here? If I do not, I shall despair
of ever seeing you again, as a visit to my
natale solum seems not within the limits
of possibility. I find a number here, who
knew you, and whose conversation forcibly
renew scenes long since gone by. There are
associations in my mind, connected with
Exeter and it's academy, which can never
be broken, till my hold on life is broken.
It is wonderful how indelibly impressed
upon the memory are the scenes and
companions of our childhood.
There is nothing in this vortex of politicks
worth giving to you. Our gossipping papers
say all and more than all. In fact the
even tenor of our government furnishes
little food for idle curiosity. Unexpected
occurrences seldom take place, and
great national movements are preceded
excitement prevails here respecting the
Presidential question, but much less than
I expected to find, and I am strongly
inclining to believe, that the effect of
sectional differences is diminishing through
the Country. Men from every quarter
of the union appear to harmonize
together,and I cannot but think that
the people of our republick hold their
government by a long and secure ten-
ure.
You must write to me, and say every
thing, that occurs to you. All will in-
terest me, personal and domestick.
By the bye, I have had an accession
of one to my family, since wrote to you.
Give my best respects to your wife, and
believe me to be now and ever
your friend,
[Subscription (recipient's name at foot of page):] L. Saltonstall Esq.
[Endorsement]
[Address]