Friday, Jan 19^th /66
Washington.
My dear Will,
This morning I received
your two letters of the 16^th & Jenny’s
of the same date. I learned
of Julia Warden’s death Wednesday,
a paper containing the notice
being sent me from Oshkosh.
Yesterday morning your telegram
came — I sent at once
for Gutman, who came
back in an hour to say
that he had procured twenty
days’ leave for James Warden —
had telegraphed him to that
effect, & was going to telegraph
you. I suppose poor
Mrs Warden is in Auburn —
Aunty & I have this morning
sent letters to her there.

Just before the De Soto left we
were talking of letters of introduction
etc— & Fred explained to Aunty
& me that it was against
the rules of the Department
for any one in it to write
them to our ministers abroad.
The rule was made because once
some improper person was intro-
-duced at Court by that means
and came near involving the
country in serious difficulty. It is
so strict that it does not
allow Father to write a private
letter of any kind to our minis-
ters abroad. So I return Miss
Smith’s letter — regretting that you
should be disappointed in doing
her a favor.
I am so sorry to hear of the
trouble you have had with
your finger — but glad to hear
that it is so much better.

Do be exceedingly careful of it —
Erysipelas is such a dangerous thing.
Aunty’s cough gives her considerable
inconvenience yet — but seems
to be stationary. She is getting
very anxious to be at home
again — & will doubtless
be better and more comfortable
there. She is very kind
indeed to me — almost too
much so — making herself
anxious & exaggerating my symptoms
till she becomes uncomfortable.
I have not been quite so
well for two days — the conse-
-quence of over exertion I think —
but I am able to be about —
& to take my drives which
do me a world of good —
Do allow yourself some time
to be out in the air — it
is a wonderfully exhilarating
medicine, if one guards against

taking cold.
We have a good many callers —
Two nights before last first came Henry
Seward — then Judge Peabody with
a Capt. Mc Clure — then Baron
Gerolt & Mr Rosing. Judge Peabody
asked very particularly about you.
Baron Gerolt was complaining sadly of
a cough — for which I suggested
“Paregoric & Squills” — which he called
“Paraguay & quills” — & when I informed
him that squills were not pens,
he said “they must be squirrels then,
little things that run up trees.” I
sent him a bottle of the mixture
yesterday, but have not heard of
the effect. The next evening
Mr & Mrs Speed called — then
Mr Pomeroy who gave a favorable
report of you all — then Hollis
White — here at a convention of
collectors concerning the prevention
of smuggling — (he asked about you)
then Governor Morgan.
We have mild, moist weather, with
a moderate amount of sunshine. There
has been a good deal of snow, & some
poor sleighing — but it is thawing cons-
-tantly now. Love to Jenny & thanks
for her letter. Very affectionately your sister
Fanny