Washington Decr 5. 1838.
My Dear Wife,
You will see by this beau-
tiful paper, that I am in
Washington.
It is difficult for me to realize it
my passage has been so rapid -- & it
has been fortunate, throughout. I went
from the Court House to the cars, &
started at 35 minutes past one -- ar-
rived at the
Providence depot, near-
ly half an hour before three -- arrived at
N. York at five on
tuesday morn-
ing, & started at six for
Philada.
which
City we reached soon after one -- star-
ted at 2 o'clock for
Baltimore & at
half past nine, I was at Bar-
nums Hotel altho' we were detained an
hour for the express to pass. I left
Baltimore
at 9 this morning, & at 10 minutes past
11—was in this City, short of 46 hours
since I left
Salem! It is perfectly
astonishing. I have been to this place
three times before, & was never less than
a week on the journey --& I believe eight
or nine days usually. I came all the
way on rail roads, except from
Sto-
nington to
N. York, & from
N. York
boats. I went to the
House, over the "giant steps of the
Capitol", as Mr. Cushing calls
them, just before the time of its meet-
ing, 12 o'clock, & sent in for Mr. Reed,
the oldest member of our Delegation.
He introduced me to the Speaker, & as
soon as the journal was read, he in-
formed the Speaker & the house, that
I was present, and ready to be quali-
fied. Mr. R. then conducted me to
the Speaker's chair, where the oath
was administered. I kissed the book --
& so ended the first lesson. Immedi-
ately after, notice was given of the death
of two N. York members of Congress,
since the last Session, and then the
House adjourned untill tomorrow.
I felt much more at home, than
I expected -- finding myself in a few
minutes surrounded by the members
of the Masss. delegation --
Govr.
Davis,
Mr. Bell, Mr. Graves,
Mr. Manifee
& others -- and Govr. D.
introduced
me to several of the most distinguished
Senators, Mr. Crittenden,
Rives &c &c
apparent cordiality to Congress.
The next thing was what arrange-
ment to make for a boarding place -- &
here again I have, I trust been very fortu-
nate, owing to the kindness of my Friends.
Govr. Davis
informed me that his mess
had saved a room for me, in hopes I should
take it, at Mrs. Awl's. The mess consists of
Govr.
D., Mr. Evans of Maine,
Mr. Sibley of N. Y.
(both very gentlemanly & agreable as well
as respectable men) & myself.
Mr. Sibley's
wife is here also. He took the house, & asked
the other Gentlemen to take rooms. My
chamber is rather small -- but I am told
of very good size for this place, & I am
now writing to you, in it, by a good fire,
so that you see I am quite at home
here -- as much so as I shall be any
where, untill I am at my own dear
home again, in Chestnut Street. I have
a bureau & a closet
too -- a wonder in
Washn.,
and my cloths are put away, in the nicest
order. By the way, I intend to keep them
so, so that if you should suddenly call in
at any time, you shall find every thing
just as you would like. It is the least
I can do, after you have prepared every
perfect a manner -- my dear Wife.
How my thoughts wander & will
wander to my distant, my beloved
home -- to my dear, domestic circle, &
to my Sister and her children. I
was sorry not to see Lizzy -- I called
to kiss little Willy. Give my love
to Caroline & the
children, and tell
them how much I shall think of
them untill we meet again.
I shall write something, very
often, & shall expect to hear from
home, as frequently. Tell the chil-
dren not to stop 'till they can make
out a letter -- they must remembre
that I want to hear from home, &
that every line that comes from home,
will give me great pleasure. Let them
deal a little in gossip too -- you know
I have been Mayor of our good little
City, & shall be glad to hear of almost
anything, except about Mr. U.'s warfare
--
(don't read the last line to any body).