Washington City
Jan 24. 1847
Mary,
I wrote William three days since
and have no recent news to communicate.
Geo Phelps is still here and cannot tell
when he can go. He is here endeavoring
to get a law passed in relation to the
copper lands on Lake Superior in which he
is interested but Congress is so engrossed with
the war that it is very difficult to get anything
else done or attended to.
The session is more than half expended &
very little done but the house has resolved to
meet now at eleven o clock and they will sit
until four but at my present boarding house
I go out to dine at two o clock & return in
20 or 30 minutes.
I have been to see Judge Phelps at his
quarters to day, as he is sick. I found him quite
unwell and the doctor with him but I see nothing
alarming in his care and preference he will be
out again in a day or two.
Mrs Foot has not yet come on from New York
I like my quiet quarters quite well and have
made very few calls or visits this winter. I am
at home alone in my room every evening and
read generally until about twelve o clock. I
sleep better to make long evenings and my health
is quite comfortable most of the time.
My letter is quite too much occupied with my
self.
There is exhibiting in the rotunda of the capitol
a very beautiful scene from the book of Ruth.
It is Ruth cleaving to Naomi. (Ruth Chap 1. 14 to 18.)
The background are camels and men prepared for a
journey. In front is Naomi a very fine commanding
Jewish matron of motherly and aspects and
with an arm around her such is Ruth, of Singular
beauty and amiable countenance. Near them
and departing is the other daughter in law, leading
a little boy and looking back, with regret. The
figures are the size of life and the whole seems
to me as of great exaltation. This with the
painting of the landing of Columbus, of which I
have written home, is all I have seen new
in Washington this winter. Our man
Mr. Whitney of machine shop village Woodstock
and our man from Washington in Orange County
are all the persons from Vermont that I have
seen this winter and the is passing off
quietly and without incident, except the constant
din and excitement in Congress in relation to the
war and its incident subjects. We are now in
expectation that the administration to raise a
[senate] and direct public attention from themselves
will now open a fierce attack on Gen. Taylor
for not having already conquered all Mexico &
in this Gen. Scott will probably be included. Mex-
ico will not be so easily conquered as they expected
and the war seems but begun.
I have nearly resolved to attend the
next drawing room or at the Presidents
to see if I can notice anything with which
to garnish a letter home for I know not
how else to make one interesting.
By the way I wish you would say to William
that I have recd. from Burlington another letter
pressing on me to address the next com-
mencement & marking a definition and
I want he should say (sincerely) whether I had better
undertake it.
I regret to learn by your mothers
letter, which I shall soon answer, that Mrs. Wright
is so much unwell. Tell your mother to present
to Mrs. W. my respects and kind regard and
to my good parson too may I be remembered. With
love to you all. I remain
Your Father
J. Collamer