Washington March 3d 1822Dear Samuel,

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Your letter of the 14th of February has been received since I wrote last week - and it gives me great pleasure to learn by it that the family continue so well. I have waited thro this day hoping to receive another letter, as this is the day for the letters from Burlington to arrive, but I now learn that the mails has again failed, which has often been the case of late, owing to the extreme badness of the roads at this season of the year. I have concluded therefore not to [    ] waiting longer, lest my letter should not reach you at the usual time.

You will see by the Intelligencer that the Senate has lost another of its members the week past. This circumstance I hope will excite no alarm for the rest of us; for I assure you that it has been uncommonly healthy here this winter; and so far as respects me, I hardly remember a winter, thro' which my own health has continued so good. This I impute to the fever I had in the fall, or rather to the medicines I took while sick, which evidently cleansed the system. I hope the same beneficial effects has been experienced by all those who had the fever at Craftsbury last fall.

We have had one week of pleasant and moderate weather, something like the middle of April in Vermont; the snow and ice is all gone, and the frost nearly or quite out of the ground, but the roads in general continue very miry. To day however

the wind is in the North west and cold, and will very probably continue so a few days. It is impossible to say with certainty when Congress will adjourn. Some believe we shall adjourn early in April, and a Resolution to that effect is now before the Senate. I think however that it will be impossible to finish the necessary business so as to adjourn before the middle of April or perhaps the first of May. I wish you to tell Conant to be particular to take my share for sowing this spring, in boards, and reserve them for me, as I shall want as many at least as my part of the sowing will come to - if these should be more, they can afterwards be sold.

You mention in your last that Harvey Scott for some reason has not brought his new partner home. I hope no unpleasant circumstances have arisen in his family in consequence of this connexion, for so far as I can judge I think the connexion to be every way a good one. Perhaps I did not rightly understand your letter. I am very sorry to hear that James is as [        ] at the date of your last, I sincerely hope he has before this time recovered his usual health.

Give my best love to your Mama and tell her from me that she is seldom out of my mind, and I trust never will be.

Remember me also to mary & the rest of the family.

Mr S P Crafts

believe me to be, with sincerity, YoursSaml C Crafts