Washington Jan. 9th 1825
My Dear Friend,
Altho' I have heard nothing from you since I wrote
my last letter, I hope I have no occasion to [ ] unfavorably
as to your health on that account. Yet I should feel much better
satisfied if I had the assurance under your own hand that you
was both well and happy. I presume however, excepting your
separation from your immediate family, there is no situation,
in which you could be placed, better calculated to restore
improve
your
to health, and promote your happiness. I have just got a letter
from Mary, in which she represents herself as perfectly well, and
as happy as a separation from her parents will permit- She informs
me that she had written to you, which if you have received it, will
probably give you a more particular account of herself and the
concerns of the family, than I have the means of doing. I have
lately heard nothing from Mr Paddock, nor of Mrs Shaw - I presume
from that very circumstance that they are both living; as Mary or some
other person from whom I have had letters would have mentioned it,
particularly Pliny, from whom I have just received a pretty length-
y letter-- As to any interesting occurrences at this place, I have
witnessed none that are worthy recounting. Yesterday being the anniversa-
ry of the battle of New Orleans, a numerous party assembled at General
Browns, amounting, of gentlemen and ladies, to between four & five hun-
dred - but as I was not there I can give you no particulars. I suppose
however there were enough attended to constitute a Jamb - which is the
highest class of modern, or fashionable, visits- In order to constitute a real
Jamb, there must be such a number of both sexes attend
ing,
as will com-
pleatly fill every room in the house, when the chairs tables &c are all remov-
ed, so that the guests have hardly room left to turn round, much less to move
about. I had the honor yesterday to be introduced to General La-
fayette- I called with part of our delegation to present him a resolution
of the Legislation of Vermont, requesting him to pay that state a visit be-
fore he returns to France - which he has promised shall be made the en-
suing summer- He has received invitations to visit most of the
states, and proposes to commence his tour to the South before long,
and after proceeding as far as Georgia to cross over to New Orleans &
to return by the Western States, and along the grand canal to Albany,
from which place he proposes to pass through Vermont & New Hampshire
to Boston, where he intends to arrive by the middle of June next.
A pretty long journey, and I should suppose a sufficiently fatiguing
one to be performed in so short a time by a person of his age.
My health continues good, and the only inconvenience I expe-
rience is the want of my usual exercise - for a week past the
ground has been covered with snow, except the roads, which by being
travelled with wheels, are quite muddy - so that I have been obliged
to give up walking - an exercise I am unwilling to be deprived of
and which from, my habits, I find is necessary to the preservation of
my health.
Present my best respects to the Doctor & family, and
accept my best wishes for your health and happiness
S C Crafts
P.S. I wrote you last week & a few dollars which I hope you
have received - when you want more please to write - and in
Jan. 9th 1825
SCC to EC