Washington City May 15. 1858Mary,

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I think I can now say that the bad boil on my hand is well. I did not finally take off the salve from it until yesterday.

It is cold & very wet here ruining almost every day for two weeks past. We have nothing new from the season except that the asparagus is better here this spring than I have before seen. Today we had green peas, but they were brought from the south & not very good. It has been rainy today and I have been to the Capitol to hear a very good sermon to a very thin congregation.

Up here on Capitol Hill I know very little of what is going on at the west end. I think the company of ladies at Willards is pretty much gone & all seems very still in the city. Music in the Capitol grounds was to begin yesterday afternoon, but the rain defeated it. Now it is to commence in Presidents grounds tuesday evening.

There begins to be serious talk, and notice was given in the House on Friday, that a resolution would be presented to rescind the resolution for adjournment on June 7th & to extend the session. You know it requires the assent of both houses which it will be far from easy to obtain, but it may possibly prevail. I hope not.

The affair as to Mr. Cochran & his daughter, continues to occasion

considerable gossip & remark. There are now several Vermonters in the city on business who have called on me & whom I must introduce to the Secretaries &c. Burrows of Windham Co. who is attended by Mr Kellogg of Brattleboro, son of Judge Kellogg, Gov. Robinson of Bennington & Mr Stark.

No news to write. My health is much as usual. I have some poor days & then feel depressed and unhappy but most of the time I am able to attend to my duties with a good degree of health & resolution.

I have franked off a thousand speeches & documents but have many on hand. Tell William to have James carry all documents which come home for me, from Post office to my book room the Bank.

AffectionatelyYour Husband