Washington December 11th
My dear Child,
Fred has just forwarded me your
letter from Genoa dated the 6^th of November –
I had been looking for a letter some time when
last week your 2^d letter from Berlin came having
been nearly 2 months on the way – Mr Blatch-
ford had one from Clarence the same time –
The letter you speak of from Frankfort has
not reached us yet but I think it will
one of these days, it probably took some
more circuitous route – Your letters afford
us all, great pleasure – the descriptions are so
graphick that I seem to see the country you
pass through – Fred says he and Aunt Clara
have traced it all on the map – We came
from Auburn the 22^d of Nov – Fred accompanied
us to Owego where we took the Erie rail road
and joined your Father who had been two
weeks at Goshen – We spent Sunday at
Gosh – drove over to Florida where we found
all the relatives well – We heard that

Augustus Seward was well though I did not
see him – Your Father had been at his house
We spent three days in New York – one
night with Mr & Mrs Bowen , at their
very pretty cottage at Hastings – One
night we stayed at Philadelphia for
the purpose of seeing Mrs Meredith – We
reached here Saturday the 30^th – Abbey
and Mary having preceeded us and opened the
house, it was quite comfortable and home like
Owing to the unpleasant state of the weather
my arrangement of the house has been considerably
retarded but we are getting in order and
the business of the Winter visiting & receiving
visits, has commenced – I have payed my
respects to the Presidents family and called
upon the wives of all the Judges of the
Supreme court etc. etc. Your fathers
health has improved since last Summer he
walks every day to the Capitol & back
which he finds beneficial – Fanny and Willie
are with me – I teach Willie 3 hours every
morning – he is studying as well as his
eyes will permit –

Aunt Clara and Mr Mc Lallen went up to
our house a few days after I came away
they will remain until we come home in the
Spring, which will be early in March –
Matters in Congress go on very quietly –
I believe the Southern States have concluded not
to dissolve the Union this year though
South Carolina still complains of aggravated
wrongs – Mr Giddings of Pennsylvania made
a speech against the fugitive slave bill
a day or two ago, but it has produced little
excitement – Every thing at the North
seems quiet since the Election – We do not
hear of the capture of any more slaves – If
any are taken, previous experience has taught
the captors the necessity of privacy –
Mr Clay Mr Webster and Mr Filmore
all expect the nomination for the Presidency
in 52 – perhaps they may all get it – I
suppose there are many others equally assured
but they are the most prominent Whigs – I
ought perhaps to include Gen. Scott –
15th – My letter has remained in this unfinished
state three or four days – I have been waiting

for an hour when I might be at leisure, but
no such hour seems to come except on Sunday –
Since I commenced this letter your Father
has given a supper, we have attended Mrs
Filmore’s evening reception, and I have done
any amount of visiting – The reception was pretty
full though not so crowded as later in the
season – I saw Gen. Scott & his daughter
among the guests – Tell Clarence that the “pretty
“Ada Smith ” came to see me the other day and
enquired about him with a very charming blush
which indicated some interest – She says he prom-
ised to come and see her very often & then did
not come at all – If he has any apology to
make for this faithlessness it is best to send it on –
Tomorrow evening Jenny Lynd is to sing for the
first time in the old Theatre which has been
repaired for the purpose – We are going to hear
her – Caroline is to come over and go with
us – Thinking we are to dine at the Presidents.
I have frequent letters from home where all are
well. Aunty is coming down some time next
month – Willie and Fanny are very happy
in the posession of a squirel which their
Father bought for them the other day – All
send love – Mr Wilder is here as secretary
for the present – May God preserve you both
your affectionate
Mother