Washington Jan. 9th 1825My Dear Friend,

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Altho' I have heard nothing from you since I wrote my last letter, I hope I have no occasion to [     ] unfavorably as to your health on that account. Yet I should feel much better satisfied if I had the assurance under your own hand that you was both well and happy. I presume however, excepting your separation from your immediate family, there is no situation, in which you could be placed, better calculated to improve your health, and promote your happiness. I have just got a letter from Mary, in which she represents herself as perfectly well, and as happy as a separation from her parents will permit. She informs me that had written to you, which if you have received it, will probably give you a more particular account of herself and the concerns of the family, than I have the means of doing. I have lately heard nothing from Mr Paddock, nor of Mrs Shaw - I presume from that very circumstance that they are both living; as Mary or some other person from whom I have had letters would have mentioned it, particularly Pliny, from whom I have just received a pretty lengthy letter. As to any interesting occurrences at this place, I have witnessed none that are worthy recounting. Yesterday being the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, a numerous party assembled at General Browns, amounting, of gentlemen and ladies, to between four & five hundred - but as I was not there I can give you no particulars. I suppose however there were enough attended to constitute a Jamb - which is the highest class of modern, or fashionable, visits. In order to constitute a real Jamb, there must be such a number of both sexes attending, as will com -

pleatly fill every room in the house, when the chairs tables &c are all removed, so that the guests have hardly room left to turn round, much less to move about. I had the honor yesterday to be introduced to General Lafayette. I called with part of our delegation to present him a resolution of the Legislation of Vermont, requesting him to pay that state a visit before he returns to France - which he has promised shall be made the ensuing summer. He has received invitations to visit most of the states, and proposes to commence his tour to the South before long, and after proceeding as far as Georgia to cross over to New Orleans & to return by the Western States, and along the grand canal to Albany, from which place he proposes to pass through Vermont & New Hampshire to Boston, where he intends to arrive by the middle of June next. A pretty long journey, and I should suppose a sufficiently fatiguing one to be performed in so short a time by a person of his age.

My health continues good, and the only inconvenience I experience is the want of my usual exercise - for a week past the ground has been covered with snow, except the roads, which by being travelled with wheels, are quite muddy - so that I have been obliged to give up walking - an exercise I am unwilling to be deprived of and which from, my habits, I find is necessary to the preservation of my health.

Jan. 9th 1825 SCC to EC

P.S. I wrote you last week & a few dollars which I hope you have received - when you want more please to write - end

Present my best respects to the Doctor & family, and accept my best wishes for your health and happinessS. C Crafts