Washington Mar May 2 ^Thursday,^
My dear Sister,
The time of my departure draws
nigh still Augustus comes not – I am nearly
ready to leave next week Monday – Henry still
thinks he will be able to go with me to New York
In that case Henry Fred will be obliged to meet
me there of which I think he will be informed
by Telegraph only – You know without my telling
you how much I am disappointed to go away
without Augustus – Two young ladies talk of
coming with me – Miss Carroll & Miss Hobler
I shall try to get their decisions before I
send this – I went last evening to Miss Ewing
wedding party – She was married at ½ past
eight – we did not witness the ceremony
which was performed by a Catholic priest —
The party was not crowded though both
rooms were full the ilite of the Town —
I must reserve particulars until I see you
only telling you that I was for the first
time introduced to Sir Henry Bulwer and

distinguished by considerable attention from him
he went with me to the supper room
talked with me some time after supper
and concluded by asking me if we would
come and dine unceremoniously with him them
Saturday – I said yes – When he left me
he said “you must not forget your promise”
of course we await a renewal of the invitation
in as much as the Lady had not been consulted
and no hour was set – I like Sir Henry —
he is not a ^very^ common man neither does he
look like one though I have been twenty
times told he did – He is about the size
of our Henry – erect and a little stiff in
manner – Henry says it is only English manner
– not by any means a brilliant talker but shrewd,
observing, and I should think of a kindly
spirit – Like Lord Monfort & Sir Charles
Bagot – he is refined and delicate in his
attention to women – Lady Bulwer was very
polite and friendly as she has ever been
they both called yesterday morning but Charles
with his usual perverseness refused to admit
them because it was not reception day –

Capt. Sherman the groom was in full uniform
Miss Ewing looked pretty, and young which she
is not – Mrs. Ewing was feeling sad as she
well might, her daughter has made for her all
her visits and assisted in receiving all her
company this winter – Mrs Webster was there – very
handsomely dressed – and very elegant in her
manners she certainly is – though I never hear
any one say so – She took a seat on the sofa
beside me cordially extending her hand as she came
up – Mr Webster has not returned from the North
You may have seen the attack of Mrs Swisslehein
the editress of a paper in Pittsfield e upon Mr
Webster – it was coarse in the extreme – her other
letters were very amusing – Mrs Webster told me
last evening that she also had been personally
introduced by name into her paper – I said as
I thought that, that was outrageous – Public
men are public property – but I was ashamed that
a woman should employ such means to express
her disapproval of one of her own sex – even
had she cause for concern – Mr & Mrs
Meredith Mrs Seaton Mrs Badger and many
more agg acquaintances made the evening
pass agreeably – I promised Mrs Meredith an evening

though I do not see when it is to be found –This evening we
are invited to Mrs Carrolls – the bridal party of Miss
Griffith – I shall go for half an hour to introduce
Clarence – tomorrow we go to Baltimore & Saturday
evening to Lady Bulwer’s – On account of taking a dish
of strong tea before I went, I slept none until 4 oclock,
cake, ices, lemonade & punch were passed about
continually before supper – Mrs Sherman leaves
town this morning. I did not learn their destination
but she expects to be no more with her mother —
Capt Sherman has recently returned from California
has a 6 month furlough – He looks as though he
had seen some hard service – Fanny and Abbey
have gone to the G Congressional burying ground this
morning –Miss Hopkins is to visit Mrs Morris
Mrs Morris wrote for her to meet her while in
New York – Tell Fred Mrs Com. Ballard enquired
very particularly of him when I was there Teusday —
She is a warm hearted woman – in which respect
the Southern people generally have the advantage
of those at the North – at least so it seems to me —
Saturday evening – The Telegraph message
from Canandaigua saying Augustus was there came
this afternoon – I cried an hour and am yet
unnerved – no one can know all that I feel
but a mother who has had the same experience —
How thankful I am that my child is once
more safely at home – I am all impatience for
Monday morning to come that I may be on my
way home – Your letter came this morning
I am glad all are well – I am all ready to set
out.

[right Margin] 1849