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[This page also includes some notes written in pencil listing topics discussed in this letter.]

City of Washington
Wednesday Feby. 9 --1825

My Dear Wife,

I arrived here today, just in
season to attend the balloting for President of
the U. States and it was a most interesting &
imposing scenescene. I was fortunate enough to find
a good seat in the gallery. I did not expect to feel
any considerable interest, but it increased as the
ceremonies advanced, & before the declaration of the
vote, there was a breathless expectation on the part
of the whole assembly. After the returns of votes
of the different States had been examined, the Pre-
sident of the Senate declared that there was no
election of President and that Jackson, Adams and Craw-
ford had the highest number of votes. The Senate
then withdrew from the House, the Speaker (Clay)
took the chair, & the representatives of all the States
were placed in order, beginning with Maine, and bal-
loted. Then duplicate certificates of the votes of the States were
put in boxes, and a committee of one from each
State was chosen by the representatives of the States to
examine them. They divided into two committees
of which John Randolph was chairman of one

& Mr. Webster of the other. Randolph put his long
fingers into the box & took out the votes and put them
into three piles, & then I saw him take up the votes
of each to examine them, & as he took them up I per-
ceived that there were 13 votes in one parcel. This was precise-
ly the number necessary to a choice. Altho' I felt sure
that no one there was a choice, still I could not tell who
was chosen. Soon however Mr. Webster rose to make the
report, and a moment of deeper interest I can hardly
conceive, and as he uttered "John Quincy Adams has
thirteen votes and is elected Presidt. of the U. States"'
an acclamation began in a part of the galleriesy at which
the Speaker ordered it cleared. I could not but feel
gratified that Adams was chosen, altho' I wish it
had been a better man, & if Jackson had been successful,
it would have been a great consolation that a better no better
man than Adams was his rival.

We left New York on friday morning in
the steam boat for Amboy, and with great difficulty beat
thro' the ice, expecting every moment to be obliged to return.
But we reached Philadelphia before ten in the evening.
We were advised to go to Baltimore by the way of Lan-
caster and were obliged therefore to stay in Philada.
untill Monday. We started at 4 in the morning 15

in one stage & arrived in Baltimore last evening,
after the most fatiguing ride I ever took. Nothing but
the excellent company in the Stage rendered it tolera-
ble, particularly the last days jolting from York to Bal-
timore. We left Baltimore at 5 this morning -- and
here I am -- wishing I was at home. But wishes are vain.
Tomorrow I shall endeavor to ascertain, as well as
I can when my cause will come one.     I was ex-
tremely sorry to find Richard's wife, very much out of
health. She looks wrechedly-- poor woman -- has not been
out of the house & scarcely below stairs these three months.
It is most unfortunate for Richard. Their boy is very
healthy & appears to be a fine child. I staid there only
a few minutes, & slept at the Hotel, as we were to
leave early in the morning.

I heard Mr. Furness all day at Phila. &
have seldom been more pleased. He preached delightfully
& administered the sacrament for the first time in a most
interesting manner. The Society has increased conside-
rably -- the house was well filled & I have no doubt
Mr. F. will have a very good Parish. They are per-
fectly united in him.     Love -- love -- love to our
children.     I write in haste to save the mail -- am
anxiously waiting for the servant to come from the
post office, hoping to hear from you. My Dearest wife --
my thoughts rest upon you -- my morning & evening meditations
are upon you.

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