Teusday March 26^th
My dear Sister,
I received your letter from Canandaigua
yesterday – so you went home before Fred came
I wrote to Aunt Clara saying he was coming at the
same time that I wrote to Frances – I cannot imagine
why my letter to Frances stopped at Auburn I cer –
tainly thought I directed it to Canandaigua –
I am glad you are to be in Auburn when I come
home I should not feel that I had really come
home without seeing you – The uncertainty about
Augustus makes it impossible for me to say at
what time I shall leave – otherwise I should
commence my preparations next week – If I stay
I am likely to have quite as much company
as is desirable – Henry wants H– Ward to come
and has invited Mrs Bowen and Mrs Blatchford
both to come here when they come to Washington
which I believe is to be sometime next Month
I tell them all that I am going home the middle
of April – I do not think Frances lost any thing
in the way of fine weather – the last week has
been very unpleasant and nearly as cold as any
weather this Winter – Our house seems solitary to me

since Frances and Fred have gone – Caroline is home
spending the week – I have to furnish her wardrobe
for the Summer before she returns to Georgetown –
Mary has been quite sick the last three days
I moved her up stairs – have not been able to get
any one in her place – Abbey is cooking – unfortunately
Dennis left just at this time – I had the
promise of a girl to come the day he left – She
disappointed me – Dennis left Monday morning –
he thinks he will take a cousin of his with
him from New York – who is to live with me –
I wrote this to Clara – I can hardly tell when
I wrote last to you – or whether I wrote to you
or Fred – Clarence & I called at Mrs Brooks reception
morning – Mrs Brooks said many kind things
of Frances – We also went to two or three Hotels
and Hyatts, – I invited the remainder of the New
York delegation to take tea with me Friday morning
including Mrs Silvester – I had the usual
number of visitors Friday and in the evening
the above mentioned ladies – Mrs Scammerhorn
was not well and did not come – Mr Spaulding
went in pursuit of a carriage at ten (as it rained)
so the ladies waited here some time – As it was
levee evening he did not succeed in getting a
carriage, returning with Mrs Spauldings overshoes

and an umbrella – I gave my india rubbers to Mrs
Gould and Mrs Silvester walked home in their shoes
I was thankful that it rained all day Saturday that
I might stay quietly at home – To day we have
a snow storm – I have two or three visits from
strangers to return among others Madame de Boislecompte
the wife of the French Minister – then I shall go no
where except to Church – I spent Wednesday
evening with Mrs Meredith whom I esteem highly
We were invited that evening to a party at Mrs
Winthrops – I will send Frances her invitation
Henry and Clarence went late – about 6 o
there – no dancing – Madame de Boislecompte
speaks no English – Sparks was here the other day
I wish he were here to go with me -
I have been trying to make the estimate you ask for Mr
Miller – Our expensive mode of living is a poor guide
I think a small family might live here on $1000 per
annum but this includes only the houserent and
the necessary expenses of housekeeping & servants wages
allowing 2 servants – I do not think board could
be obtained for 2 persons and a child for less than
$20 per week – but I have no means of ascertaining
precisely – it is more economical to furnish a house
yourself than to hire furniture – it can be done here
at less expense – I shall be glad to give any
information I possess to Mr Miller– I have just enquired
of Henry who thinks they might yet board at some places
for $15 –

I commenced this letter Tuesday it is now Thursday
I only waited for that long letter which I
knew was on the way – it came this morning
I hope you will get a girl before you get sick –
I know Fred was disappointed finding you gone –
He wrote me the day after he reached home – among
other funny things he said he judged from the
noise over head that Willie was “receiving” –
This week has been nearly as cold as any we have
had this Winter – with more snow than we
have had at any one time – I went to Church
yesterday morning in the rain & snow – shall
go again tomorrow – No reception at the White
house tomorrow evening– Good Friday –
I make no visits until Saturday – Tell Frances
there is another Assembly next week – I have a
ticket – the managers are not the same – Clarence
intends to go – Mary is better but has not been
able to do any thing this week and I could get
no one in her place – She has had a very bad
throat – I wrote yesterday to Gen Scott to get some
light on the subject of Augustus furlough
You will not wonder at my impatience – he has
been gone nearly three years – I wish you could see
the innumerable letters of congratulation Henry has about
his speech – from all quarters – I am going to keep them
for a book – Mr Benton and Foote had some
altercation yesterday which is disgraceful in the Senate
I like Col Benton & was sorry he allowed himself to get
angry with Foote – Dear little Fanny is much pleased
with her letter – Love to Frances

[right Margin]
tell her every body I see enquires about her
Your own
Sister