Wednesday night
April 23^d—
My dear Sister,
I sat up to night (though
not very well) on purpose to
get that good long letter which
you wrote Monday – and it
came just as I hoped it
would – We feel as if we wanted
to see dear little Frank very
much – I was in a state of
considerable despondency when
I last wrote on account of
the departure of our son Will –
how we do miss the
creature – I should like
to know whether he is at
Albany or Auburn to night –
You ask dear sister what
I am going to do when I come
home I can only say as
weak and stupid people

generally do “I dont
know” – I cannot
determine to open the house &
keep a house of entertainment
which is a necessary con-
sequence – I will do what
you and Clara think best
but I have told every body
that I am not to keep
house this summer –
There are so many ways of
living here in Washington
without having the cooking
done in the house that
I have some how or another
fancied I could live in
that way too – and yet
when I come to scan it down
make it quite [ s ]
plain – Fannyand I do not
eat meat but two or
three times a week – we
miss the milk so much

that it seems to us now we
could almost live on that
alone – If Catherine stays
could we do any thing with
her? or could eMarie
or Harriet get our dinners
for us at their own houses
and send them over? This
is the way Gen Webbs table
for 19 persons is supplied
I shall wish to be at the
house which would prevent
my boarding with Clara
though the others might if
she is willing to have the
trouble of them – You and
I will be together wont we?
I may not be home more
than two months – possibly
much longer – it is
quite uncertain when
Congress adjourns – I wish
to be here and have the

house cleaned during the
adjournment if I can –
Sarah Hanse was to come the
1^st of September to take charge
of Fanny & I wish I had deferred
that a month later — Beside
all these things to be considered
Henry has dive[ rs ] & sund[ r ] y plans
which as they depend upon
political machinery I do not
think it worth while to
include in our calculations –
I have not yet written to Dr Jayne
in relation to a seaside visit
but it has been suggested that
it might not be safe for me.
If the mountain air is considered
preferable we can go to Bethlehem
which is on the way here
you & Clara inclusive – Now
if all this is intelligible after
you have both talked it over
let me know what you advise
I have been better since Fred
and Anna left than since

last fall – I am sick to day
in consequence of talking to
Tom Miller who came yesterday
morning – talking affects my
throat and chest just as it has
done for three years past –
but my nerves are less
irritable for which, I thank
God – I cannot look back
without a shudder – it
was very dark some of the
time – Still there was much
to be thankful for –
Tom Miller went to Richmond
last night to return tomorrow –
George Griercame about
the time he left – Henry
went this evening at 7 to drive
with Mr Crampton at
9 or 10 he and George Grier
are to go to eMr Corcorans
to an evening party –

"Mrs Nathaniel Banks Jr"
gives three [ soirie ] this &
next month – I think
Will, has one of her cards
To night come cards from
eMrs Aiken for next week –
so they go on here – I
cannot write you any thing about
Mrs Stowethat would be
satisfactory – Henry thinks her
the most agreeable of the
Beechers – She was too fashionably
dressed for my taste – h
but that is a venial offence
here – Mrs Bailey had her
bonnet nearly as far on her
neck though not so loaded
with trimming – Mrs Stowe
did not incline to talk much
to me, which is not surprising
as Henry was in the room and
very sociable – There are a thou-
sand items I can give you when
we meet – Prof. Stoweis a
very respectable & Charles Sumner

^says^ a learned man though rather
overshadowed by Mrs Stowe
just now – They took tea
with us but were not here
over an hour – Friday Charles
Sumner was here to dinner and
after dinner we talked awhile
Saturday Mr Draperdined
here – I also saw him after
dinner – while he was with
me in the drawing room
Matilda Webb came – She
& Louise have just returned
from the burying of their
mothers youngest sister Mrs
Le Roy – they are grieved
by her death – Mrs Webb
and Mrs Fish are both to
be confined this month I
am told – I doubt it so
soon with Mrs Fish though
as she is still visiting – Mrs
Webb does not sit up –

I want to hear whether Watchie
knows Will – Tell Will
that we miss him just as much
as we expected – Green is not
able to be here being with Mr
Pike who has the varioloid
so Henry is without a Secretary —
George Grier & he are to devise
some plan for George Seward
and his family who are
still at Polydores in sufferance
I did not tell you how
bad Walter Cary looked —
Wilkeson thinks he has a pulmonary
disease – Did you read in
Monday’s journal Wilkesons
account of our visit to Miss
Muir's school – I did not
say just that – but that
is unimportant – it being only
a variation of phrasology – Wilkeson
feels right & strongly – I did
not think I should fill two sheets
but here they are though on
many pieces – Love to Clara
your own Sister