Washington Sunday. Sept. 12 [1841]
My Dear Wife,
The end of this protracted -- trying -- anx-
ious -- laborious -- (fatal) Session, is
close at hand. Congress will rise
tomorrow. Mr. W, & I shall pro-
bably go to
Baltimore, tomorrow
evening. I may stop at Wil-
mington on Monday Tuesday afternoon
&
go from there to
N.Y. on Wednes-
day. I expect to go from N.
Y. to
Stonington or
Norwich on Thursday
afternoon -- but don't be disappd
at not seeing me at a particular
time. I feel as if I shd like to tarry
in a lodge "in some vast wilderness"
a week, or untill the excitement
at what is taking place here, &
which keeps us all excited & anxious
& some of us distressed, here, is over
[w?]
or abated. How much I shall have
to talk -- how many questions to
answer -- As to meeting crowds --
going about from place to place
&c. -- I cannot think of it. I would
must excite all sorts of passions & emotions --
wonder -- indignation -- exultation -- dis-
appointment -- hope -- fear -- rage --
joy &c. -- &c.-- Granger (poor fellow)
resigned yesterday, & most reluctantly --
but he thought he could not stay & be
in a position, in which he must take
sides (as the expression is) with Tyler,
against his Colleagues. What a
disappointment to him & to Miss
Adell! Will Webster resign? is now
the question on every one's lips. It will
be a cruel thing to him & his Son,
so comfortably settled here -- Fletcher,
by the way, has conducted himself
extremely well & most agreably. I
like him very much. The resigna-
tion of Mr. W. will be a great mis-
fortune to the Country at this particular
moment with regard to our rela-
tions with G. Britain. If he does
resign, it will be from a sort of ne-
cessity. The Presidt is anxious (I believe)
for him to remain. What can he do?
How thorny -- how difficult -- perplexing & beset with troubles, and dangers, is the
path of politics -- now carrying one
to a lofty elevation, gratifying his ima-
gination with splendid prospects,
from which the descent is easy to the
vale below, from which "a lower
deep seems opening to devour".
Clay, I am told is in fine spirits.
He probably sees the crown &
[spe?] sceptre
so long the objects of his eager gaze -- his
ardent aspiration, now within
his reach -- near his grasp. "There's
many a slip" &c. An ambitious
man may receive many admoni-
tions in vain. The seeking passion
seldom abates as age advances, &
is strong in death.
With all the troubles of
the Session, I have one blessing &
that among the greatest of life -- to be
grateful for -- & that is, the enjoyment
of uninterrupted health, & the continu-
ed health of my beloved family. Let
us feel and acknowledge from whom
the blessing comes -- that it is from
him -- that good & bounteous being,
us, while we have been seperated &
who will, I confidently trust, soon
bring us together again in peace.
thanks for their many affectionate
letters to their absent Father, I ammy dear wife,
Your affectionate Husband,
[Postscript]
I do not expect to write again
either from
W or on the way.