Washington Decr 1st 1823
My dear Friend,
I have at last arrived at the end of my journey, and
in season. I wrote you while at New York, and gave a short account
of my journey to that place. I left new York on Saturday
Friday
and lodged
at Trenton, from there we traveled all day & all night and reached
Baltimore some hours before day, on Sunday morning, 145 miles of
this was by water and about 20 by land - at New York I met with
6 or 8 members of Congress who had been detained on the road; and
at Philadelphia, we were joined by some 10 or 12 more, among whom
I found Judge Palmer, and several of my former acquaintances.
We reached this place a little before sun down last evening. I am
now at my old boarding house, (Mrs Hamilton) and have concluded
to room with Judge Matson, from New Hampshire, a member of
the last Congress. Messrs Palmer, Seymour & Rich from Vermont
have also taken lodging at this house- Congress will meet in
the capitol this day at twelve o'clock to organize the house &c -
and choose a Speaker and other officers. But as yet I have hard-
ly seen any person except those that came with me- I have
found the weather in this country colder than I expected at this
season of the year - and it is considered to be the coldest fall that
has been known for several years. The ground is frozen as hard
here as it was at Craftsbury when I left home, and the small
streams are covered with ice - perhaps & it is very probable that
you have had colder weather since I left home than before.
I hope that I shall get a letter from home before long, and
I shall hear that you are all as well, if not better, than you [were]
when I parted with you. I feel very desirous to hear from you
and particularly how Samuel is, whether the pain continues as
severe in his hip and groin as it was before I left home.
I have a few dollars in Burlington bills left, which are [not]
current South of New York, which I inclose to you. I wish [that]
Samuel would hand about 3 dollars to Mary Gilman - and charge
the same in my account book - the remainder apply, or keep
as you see fit. I have promised some money at Craftsbury,
which I will forward as soon as I can receive some, which
I can do in one or two weeks hence- I have not yet purchased
a [ ] - having made but a short stop at New York, and none
at all at Philadelphia - not having time even to land there from
the steam boat-
Judge Allen left Washington with his wife the day before
I got here, so that I have not seen his lady- I have been inform-
ed that she is a fine woman - somewhat advanced in years and
but little short of that age which gives to unmarried ladies a
new appelation- This is certainly very proper in Mr Allen
who has been long a member of a fraternity some what [
]-
I pray you to write often and let me know the
state of your own health at that of Samuel & Mary - and
also to believe me Sincerely yours
S C Crafts
My love to Saml, Mary, & other friends
Mrs Eunice Crafts
Dec. 1. 1823
S. C. Crafts to E C