Washington City
Dec. 25 1856
Mary,
I entirely agree with you
in the opinion that if the gas cannot
be entirely relied on, if you must still
keep yourselves provided with other
means for lighting, & especially for all
parties and company, then it is very
much better to be without it. I should
myself submit to but very few such
annoyances before entirely cutting
off the whole matter& a return to
that on which we can rely.
It is now what is called the
holy day, that is entire suspension of
business in Congress, & really of great


dullness in the city. There will be 
nothing done for the week to come
& I shall take the time to frank off 
the Documents I have now on hand.
I have 700 Agricultural Patent office
Reports to Send off I have only sent
about 200. I wish you to tell
William that i took the names of
the Three Brewsters of Woodstock to
send & have lost it & I want him to
ascertain their names & send to me
immediately & any others in addition
which he thinks proper. 
Peverdy Johnson told me a few days
since, that Mrs. Bliss came with him
from Baltimore & was at Dr. Wood's & 
that she mentioned to him that she
wished to see me. I yesterday called
at Dr. Woods but did not see her.
The servants reported she was out.


So I doubled down the corner &
left my card & suppose I have done
my duty. I would say by the way
that Dr. Wood occupies a large new 
house a short distance from Mr Macount
on the Same Street. I was in th par-
lors & they are the most splendidly
furnished of any private parlor I have
seen in the city.
Mr. Foot went to New York for his
wife last week & they arrived here
last evening. So we have now three
ladies at our house, Mrs. McLam, Mrs
Foot & a Mrs. Wade of Ohio.
I go out but little except to the
Departments occasionally on business
 I am quite well for me.
Love to you & to ours
Affectionately
Your Husband