Washington Nov 19 1820
Dear Samuel,
I have the satisfaction to inform you that
I arrived at this place on the evening of Saturday the 11th
instant, without any material accident, & in good health.
In our passage from Albany, at which place I wrote to you,
to New York, the Steam boat got aground and detained us
about six hours, which brought us at New York too late for
any to the South on that day - But as we have
met with no further embarrassment in travelling, we arrived
here in season - The weather was unpleasant through the
whole journey, and on the 11th, it snowed all day so that the
ground was covered with snow when I arrived at this place.
I have since learned that the snow
storm
was very extensive -
it fell 6 or 8 inches at New York, and much deeper thro Con-
necticut & Massachusetts, so that there has been good travelling
by sleigh from Boston to New Haven & perhaps to New York.
I expect to hear that Vermont has received her full share.
You will learn by the papers which I send you that
we [have had] considerable difficulty in electing a Speaker, in
the place of of Mr Clay, who is not here, but has sent in his resigna-
tion - having spent two whole days in ineffectual trials, and
not being able, on the third day, until after several trials - This
difficulty did not arise from the want of qualifications in sev-
eral of the candidates, but from a Northern & Southern jealousy
of each other, which has its origin in the slave question, which
which so much agitated Congress at the last session, and which
will probably consume considerable of the time of the present session.
The constitution of Missouri is before us, and they have chosen
their senators and representative, who are here waiting to be admitted
to their seats - This constitution has not only admitted slavery
and prevented the Legislature from ever freeing them, but it has
gone farther than any of the Slave states have gone - it has prohib-
ited free negros and even molattoes from residing in that [ ].
There are very serious objections to the constitution - and I am rather of opinion
that Missouri will not be admitted until she new models her constitution - This,
confess, is conjecture, for I have not yet learned the opinion of the members generally
on that subject - I had written thus far when the Northern
Mail for this day arrived, which brought me your letter of the 11th & one from
your Mama of the 8th, by which I have the satisfaction to learn that
both you & the family are well - I find by the postscrip [postscript] to your letter
that the great snow storm, I have mentioned, reached Burlington, &
very probably has extended all over New England - I think however
as it has fell so early in the fall, it may probably go off and admit of
a few weeks of pleasant weather before winter sets in in earnest.-
I would like to know before hand at what time you expect to return
home, as I shall furnish with the Intelligences while you remain
at Burlington - for your amusement - I send them home regularly as
usual, where you can continue to read them after [ ] return there-
In my next I will forward you a few dollars [ ] your ex-
penses to Craftsbury - where, as well as at Burlington, I wish you would
write often, & be particular in mentioning the occurrences which shall
take place, & particularly some account of the weather -
I am very affectionately yours &c
Saml C Crafts
Mr. S P Crafts