Washington City
Feb 24. 1856
Mary,
Sunday evening has
again returned to me and sitting
alone in my chamber my mind
is of course with you, & though I
have nothing of interest to write
you I wish still to speak with you.
My health is much as usual.
You know I have occasionally
some bad days. Yesterday & last
evening & night my stomach and
bowels were painful, but I am
much better to day & have been
to meeting & this evening I feel
as well as usual.
The weather moderated here
last Thursday & has been tolerably
pleasant since. Mrs. Hall gave
a party Thursday evening and
Mr. Foot being unwell I went
with Mrs. Foot. It was a pleasant
party, more particularly because it
was not crowded. Their house ac-
commodates a tolerable sized party
very well. I gave your respects to
Mrs. Hall, as you wrote. Mrs. Montgom-
ery was there & made inquiries for
you.
I have an invitation to dine
with the President next Thursday
& shall of course attend if well.
I have been to none of the receptions
of the President or Cabinet this
winter except that of the Postmaster
general.
I have been compelled to buy
me a dress coat & a vest, & I shall
have also to get another pair of
pants as I have but a single pair.
You was entirely write in rela-
tion to my cloak. It is of great
service to me. The new overcoat
I had I find very heavy & warm
& in a mild day, though not warm
enough to dispose with an overgar-
ment, I find that coat quite
too much.
I regret to hear that D. Thayer
does not succeed. We need him for
the Success of our school. I have
had a curiosity to know who would
occupy the Henry house & have
thought it possible Dr. Thayer might
prefer to come into our street.
Charles Chapman will now, when
Whitney leaves the Hotel, of course
go to Poughkeepsing & it is possible
he may take the Hewey house.
I am at present much occupied
with the disturbing topic of
Kansas business, it having been
the
referred to ^ Committee on Territories
of which I am a member. It is
more unpleasant as I am the
only northern man upon that
committee.
There is here to me an unexpected
subject of annoyance in one of
members from Vermont. Much
to my astonishment I now find that
Mr Meacham is a habitual
private tippler and is often in
such a condition from drink
as to occasion general notice
and remark in the House. He
is unwell & depressed & has now
been several days without drink
and has had Dr. Lindaby. Mr. Mor-
rill has labored much with him &
I believe his wife is sent for and it
is possible he may be reclaimed but
I fear not. Is it not wonderful
our state has had a long list of
such members, Mallory, Nole,
Buck, Phelps, &c.
But Good Night
& love to you & ours.
J. Collamer