Washington Jan 31^st
My dear Sister,
Your good long letter came in just
time to cure a fit of despondency to which
I have yielded, partly because I was sick
and partly because I had not heard from
you Henry or Augustus– I have now
letters from you all and though not
entirely well am in my usual spirits–
Augustus letter was written at the Brazos
dated the 20^th of November– it is a long
time ago– Allowing two months for a
communication to reach its destination
Augustus has not yet received his orders
for the Coast Survey– He says nothing
of any letters from me– desires to be
remembered to you and Frances I have
written to Clara telling her of this letter–
I have been suffering with Neuralgia
for a week past– kept my bed Wednesday–
I cannot sleep nights for pain but
am better during the day–

I was quite sure you must be sick
and was devising means of going to you–
Henry writes that he is in the midst
of the vexations of his business at Goshen
Polydore's wife has a young child
and George is to be married so soon
as he gets the small portion of his estate
left by his executor into his own
hands– Henry does not speak of his
amiable & christian nephew the Rev
Augustus Seward– A day or two after
Henry left a letter came from the said
div, threating to force the execution
of his grandfathers will ^by law^ if a settlement
was not immediately made– George
Grier is to come home with Henry
to finish the business which cannot be
concluded there for the want of time–
Mrs Schoolcraft sent me a very flattering
invitation to spend the day with her
yesterday. I compromised by going to tea
at 6 and came home at 1/2 past 8
that being as long as I felt able to

be away from home– I had a very pleasant
visit– Fanny went with me– ^I met^ Mr
Schoolcraft & his daughter for the
first time– He was very agreeable
his daughter is pretty & modest– has
no indication of her Indian extraction–
Mrs Schoolcraft talked much less than
usual– She has a little slave girl of 3
years old that she is training for a her
maid who was in the room the whole
time and seemed to think Fanny a
wonderful affair– She kept close by
her the whole time Fanny for her part
wanted me immediately to buy one for
her, to be free– I do not venture
to go to see any one unless they are sick
or by special invitation– I have made but
two calls one on Mrs Willard & one on
Kate Nelson who has been twice to see
me– but this has given offense to some
whose visits I have not returned–
As Mrs Truman Smith cannot go out
I went Monday to see her– she was

very glad to see me & hoped you would
be here this Winter she was so much
pleased with you– There are of course
enquiries about you by many persons but
I mention hers because they were so hearty
and sincere– Your dress maker says she
wishes you would come– that she never
became so much attached to a stranger–
This was saying a great deal for Miss Ross–
I went the same evening to bring Fanny
home from Mrs Halls– Mrs Hall was
sick– I spend 3 hours every day examining
Henrys letters and disposing of them– clipping
from some 30 or 40 newspapers such
articles as I think he will miss &
wish to see– John Davis and Charles
Sumner have both made speeches in the
Senate which I have lost– I regret it
more for the man than the matter
which was not particularly interesting–
Mr Sumner is lauded for natural style–
Mr Green says I must tell you that he thinks
Mr Sumner a "great boy"– You can take his
opinion for what it is worth– He says Mr
Schoolcraft e