My dear Son,
I am thinking that you may
defer writing until a short time before
you leave and then a letter from me
would not reach you at Baltimore –
so I write now – I have letters from
Frederick but he says nothing of coming
here for the present – there is so much
trouble with money matters that my
body seems needed at home – I hope
Fred will come before he loses all the
health he gained this Summer –
Frances and her family went home last
Saturday – Thomas Miller came Friday
was detained here by sickness until
Tuesday when he went to N. York leaving
his mother and two children with us –
They go to Rochester when the Rail
Road is again passable – a break in
the canal, occasioned by the late

heavy rains, has washed away the
track in two or three places between
here and Rochester, which it will take
some days to repair – Such heavy and
continuous rains have never been known
before in this part of the country –
Much damage has been done here by
the overflowing of the basements of houses –
Aunt Clara’s basement has been submerged
the water standing 3 ft. on the floor –
Some persons have lost much of their
winter stores, tea coffee sugar sweetmeats &c
The rain has ceased for the present
yesterday was a fine day the first we
have had for 2 weeks – We improved
it to by going to make the long promised
visit at Mr. Sackett’s – Aunt Clara
was not able to accompany us owning to the
state of her house, which somewhat marred
the pleasure of our visit – We had an
agreeable time Father Aunty Fanny & I
went over in the cars after dinner
returning at ten the same evening –

Mr and Mrs Stanton were invited to
meet us – I have been long wishing to
meet Mrs Stanton – She is a woman of
great A abilities – and now that she
has laid aside the bloomer costume is
womanly and attractive – though she
still has some rather ultra notions
on the subject of the education of
women – I should judge her own marriage
not to be of the most fortunate kind –
it was in opposition to the wishes of her
Father, Judge Cady . She and Mrs Wilkeson
are sisters – Mr Stanton told me that Mr
Wilkeson was far from well yet –
Aunty and Frances spent two or three days
at Pisgah – Frank enjoyed it exceedingly –
he worked o out in the field, with Patrick
feeling quite large, and rather contemptious
towards his nurse –
Will writes me that he is well – has little
work at this time – all business is dull –
the poor of the large town are beginning to
make themselves felt – I am thankful

that with all the pecuniary troubles
there is no scarcity of food in the
country – it will I trust be distributed
somehow – Father is quite well now –
he talks of going to Orange Co next week
and from there to Washington – I shall
not go until February – I wish to attend
to Fanny’s studies here – I think Aunty
may go with Father though it is not
settled yet – Catherine writes from
Philadelphia I suppose she will go to
Washington some time this week –
Aunty Clara Aunty & Fanny send love
God bless you
Mother–
Let me hear of your arrival at Key
West as early as possible –