Washington City
Feb 14th. 1849
Mary,
I this morning recd. yours of the 5th inst.
and read it with much pleasure. It was a genuine,
pleasant family letter and of the true epistolary
style; telling me in a familiar and colloquial
way all about home and the neighborhood.
I cannot but think of the quiet stillness of the
house when for hours no one there but yourself.
May I be able soon to join you and enjoy or relieve
your loneliness. At any rate it will be a relief
for a time from the bustle , care & confusion of
the House of Representatives.
I recd. a letter from William a few days since
and will write Mary again soon as you say
you think she regards her present residence as rather
dull.
You suggest that perhaps the discourse at the
funeral of Mr. Marsh might not have been entirely
satisfactory to the near relations. It is very possible
they may have expected an unqualified eulogy in-
stead of a funeral sermon. It may be true that the
near friends of Mr. Marsh may not know the actual
estimate which the community around us placed
upon him. He was long regarded as a very able
lawyer and of great influence with the most in-
telligent men in the church and the world, but as
a man in the private walks of life in his general
intercourse he had more of the respect than of the
love or attachment of men.
Tell Mr. Johnson that I have recd. his line as
to Mary Johnson & tell him too that I wait for
information from Mary Johnson as to Miss May
and desire that she or he will write me the
earliest intelligence on that point.
I was much pleased to learn that Frances
was so well this winter as to be able as well as
willing to do as you say she does. I look forward
with pleasure to the time when I may see all our
children whom God has so kindly spared to us all
around us again & that before long.
I shall probably stay until after the inauguration
which will be on Monday March 5th. As there will
a great crowd it is probable I shall not be able
to leave until Wednesday but I will not so
early on this attempt at what precise
day I shall learn here or reach home.
The city is filling up and already all spare rooms
are being taken in advance. It is really as-
tounding & almost disgusting to see the hungry
avidly and passing importantly for office.
I sicken at it and desire home.
So I see they had a great celebration in opening
the Rail Road to Windsor. I intend to return through
there. The rail road from Hartford is now finished up
to Brattleboro and if a price of 25 miles was made
from there to Bellows Falls more than 200 miles would
be saved between New York and Woodstock instead of
going through Boston, as we now do. I shall ascertain
whether the stages connect those points in season.
It is now past nine o clock in the evening
and I must now go to work documents.
So with my love to yourself & our children &
my respects to inquiring friends.
Good night
Your Affectionate Husband
J. Collamer