Auburn O^ct 14^th — 1850
My dear Son,
Your impatiently expected letter came
yesterday (from Paris the 14^th Sep) – after first
making a visit at Washington — We all
left Washington the 1^st day of October, your
birth day — shutting up the house during our
absence — We stopped one day in New York &
one at Florida to attend the Examination at
the Seward Institute — a very good examination
it was — All our relatives at Florida were
well — the shortness of our visit did not
allow us to see Augustus & his family —
We came to Newburgh to take the evening
boat but as no boat stopped there
were obliged to wait until the next
morning and take a day boat to Albany —
There we took the express train at 7 oclock
in the evening and were all night coming
here — we found ourselves at the depot at
6 oclock half frozen — I shall not attempt
another night ride — Fred stopped at
Utica for the purpose of visiting Charly
Williams as he had engaged to do — he
remained until Friday — Aunty who was
here when we returned hastened home to

prepare for Frances wedding which comes off
Thursday the 17^th— Some of the invitations
are issued — there is to be a large party
the same evening, the marriage ceremony
to be performed at the Church — We all
go over Thursday morning and return the
next day — I believe Fred is to be groomsman
with Catherine Chesebro bridesmaid but I
am not quite positive on that head —
I shall invite them here to spend a part
of next week but shall not give a large
party — your father disapproving — with some
other reasons — It is not possible for your
Father to be at the wedding — he was sick
last week, and this morning was obliged to
go to Chatauqua on business — When he returns
from there he goes immediately to Orange County —
we have now but about 5 weeks left
before the meeting of Congress — of course have
much more to do than we can accomplish
in that time — Caroline Canfield and
Augustus came to Washington a few days before
we left — Caroline returned to the Convent
Augustus accompanied us to New York — then
returned to New Jersey — He wishes very
much to obtain some situation in some of
the departments at Washington — this your
Father disapproves – I saw Mrs Bliss the
last time I visited Baltimore — She was

very sad and pale — They all go to Louisana
some time this month — Col. Bliss has
received or is expecting orders to join the
Army — He applied for orders feeling that
a change of scene was very essential to the
health of Mrs Bliss — I shall probably never
meet her again but her sweet face will
never fade from my mind — I loved her with
the affection of a new relative — A change
came over the Senate after the passage of the
adjustment measures — The latter part of the
time most of the Senators evinced much cordiality
towards your father — Most of the nominations
which he desired were confirmed – Mr
Benedicts name was withdrawn by the President
when he ascertained with certainty that ^Benedict^ he would
not be rejected — this is said to be personal pique.
You may perhaps get some account of the proceed-
ings of the Whig convention at Syracuse — I will
relate it briefly — After the nominations were
made the Convention split upon the Resolutions
more especially upon a resolution approving in strong
terms of your Fathers course it in the Senate —
As the majority were in favour of the resolution
it was retained, whereupon 40 of the delegates
withdrew including Mr Granger the President
of the Convention — Mr William Duer is said
to be the mover in this affair — he has
since published a letter and an address