Washington Feb. 20 1920
My dear Friend,
I have the satisfaction to inform you that
I still enjoy good health, but begin to grow extremely
tired with the everlasting sameness of the objects and sub-
jects before us here. We go to the house every day regurly [regularly]
at eleven o'clock, and after attending to some little miscellane-
ous business, which lasts for about half an hour- we then
commence upon the Missouri question, and after sitting
four, five, & sometimes six hours, to hear some long, tiresome,
tedious speech, upon a subject, on which every man here
has made up his mind before the debates commenced;
and on which the people of the United States have also
long ago formed their opinion also- we then adjourn for
dinner- which we commonly eat before dark. This has
been the uniform course of business for about four weeks,
during which time we have had about 3 dozen speeches,
some few have taken two days- on one day we got
thro' 11; but generally we average from one to two; each
day. The last letter I have received from
home
was
dated on the first of February- when Samuel informs me
you were all in health, I am rejoiced to hear it, and
most fervently pray that it may be continued to you.
S C C to E C.
Feb. 20-1820
I am sorry to hear that my letters do not arrive with
more regularity. A letter ought to arrive in about eight
days, and I have been particular to send them by the
way of Burlington, as the most expeditious route. There
is no doubt, that owing to the badness of traveling, the
mails frequently do not arrive at particular places, in
season to be forwarded by the parts, who are obliged to start
at particular times, whether the mail has been received
or not; and in this way they are detained. We have
had some warm days during the week part so that the
snow is all gone, and the river is now free of ice, and
the roads in the city are nearly dry. But yesterday and
to day the weather is again cold. I expect you have had
a cold winter and deep snow- altho' I have heard nothing from
home on the subject, I was told that the snow has been
nearly four feet deep near Albany- also in New hampshire
& in Maine-and considerable deep in Connecticut. I have
had no letter from your brother-
My love to Samuel & Mary, and be assured, that
neither time nor distance will lessen the affection
which I have ever felt towards you
Samuel C Crafts
Mrs. E Crafts