Washington, July 31st 1842
My dear Friends, For the first time for several weeks
I have no letters from Vermont, at the usual time. I hope
it is owing to the carelessness of the mail, and nothing more
unfavorable. It is now the last day of August
July,
and I am here
yet, and what is worse, I cannot tell when I shall be able to
leave this place. I am however in good health, and so far
I have been able to stand the hot weather much better
than I expected. For several days past the heat has been
oppressive, the Thermometer in the shade being some of the
time 99, and perhaps more. The nights too are extremely warm.
I have slept on a straw bed, with windows open, and much
of the nights a sheet would be uncomfortable; yet I am as well
as I have been during our summers in Vermont. Notwithstanding
the great heat, it continues healthy. We have for some time past
had a great plenty of fine large peaches, pears and apples; and
to day for a depart we had some fine watermelons, nearly as
large as pumpkins. We have had a great variety berries and other
fruit for more than two months past. I wish I could enclose
two or three dozen of these fine large peaches which are so plenty here.
I attended meeting to day as usual at the Capital. Mr Moffit,
one of our chaplins [chaplains] delivered an [a] eulogy on the death of the Revd
Mr Cookman, a former chaplain of Congress, and who was lost
in the steam-ship, President, last year. There was an immense
concourse of ladies and gentleman present. The Representatives
Hall was full to overflowing; - thus could not have been less than
five hundred ladies in the body of the Hall; all the alleys and galleries
were filled with gentlemen. Mr Moffit is an attractive preacher; but he
has too much action to please me. I have forgot whether I informed
you in my last letter, that I had received one from [ ]
Mrs Todd.
She men-
tioned in it that she had not heard from you for a long time.
I wrote an answer since my last to you.
The Senate have spent most of the past week in discussing
the tariff bill. We have not yet made any alterations to the bill
as passed by the House; and I think we shall not make any.
Although in several particulars it is thought it could be altered
for the better; yet such is the general feeling and irritations on that
subject, and being but barely carried through the House, it is thought
by the friends of protection, in the Senate, who are but a bare ma-
jority, that it would jeopard the bill to make any material alteration.
I think we shall pass it during the present week, and retain
the distribution clause. And after all we expect the bill will
be vetoed by the President. This we are promised by the Captain
gard, as well as by the Locos who go in a solid phalanx against
the bill; one alone in the House excepted, and I expect none in
the Senate. The Southern Whigs generally against protection and
against the distribution of the avail of the public lands. Thus you
may well conceive of our situation. With scarcely a majority in
either House, we are obliged to proceed with the greatest caution; yet
it is believed we shall yet effect something to benefit the country
before we adjourn.
I was at the State Department on Friday of last week, and
was informed by a son of Mr Webster, that a treaty had been con-
cluded between the U S and Great Britain, and would be submitted
to the Senate during the present week. I made no enquiries as to
the subject matter of the treaty; it is however understood to settle
the matters of boundaries, as I wrote you in my last.
I am very anxious to hear from you, and shall expect
letters from home by every mail, until I get some. I hope you
will lay bye the speeches, &c. which I send you, when you have
read them, if indeed you have time or inclination to read them.
Give my best love to our relatives and friends when you
shall see them.
I remain most affectionately
yours,
Saml C Crafts