I despatched a letter to you yesterday, dearest Nicholas, and in the evening Mr. Van Buren informed us of the defeat of Brother Jeff. & Mr. Rives. The news came to him in a letter from Mr. W. Rives, who says the belief is that when a scrutiny of the polls takes place the number of bad votes...

I believe My dear Sister that there was some thing like a tacit agreement between us that you should take me as men do their wives for better for worse, though as a correspondant I am afraid the “better is still to come.” I have been I think rather worse than common this summer. in the early part...

Washington April 18th 2 o’clock in the morning Friday Saturday To my five daughters I wish to bequeath my property in the funds. To Benjamin & Lewis the two negroes now in Benjamins possession. my five remaining negroes Emily I wish liberated as soon as you break up house keeping here; Martha...

Your letter of April 8. reached me this morning, dearest Virginia, and my children being all in bed I shall at least make an attempt to answer it, although my hand trembles with fatigue and my head aches from the same cause. My nursery woman left me to day upon a notice of twenty four hours,...

Presuming that you have already been informed of what has occurred between Miss Martin and myself, I venture to address you as a mutual friend and solicit your advice on that subject. I requested and received from Miss Martin, a mere consent on her part, provided my suit met the entire...

The mournful subject of this letter dear Nancy will excuse the delay in answering your last. I have had the affliction of again losing one of my dear and excellent children. my poor James who no doubt you remember, whose quiet gentle manly manners you remarked as a boy and whose manhood fulfilled...

Its ...

I must try & make out to write a short letter to my dear Virginia although I am tired & indisposed to write. Lewis has had a fever & headach for the last two days; Mama has not yet thought it necessary to send for the doctor; she would have done so this morning if he had not been...

I came to town yesterday to try & hear of other lodgings as I find those at Newton entirely insufferable and your letter was put into my hands. I write to inform you of the sale of the pictures which took place a few days ago—the proceeds when all expenses are paid, the...

I recieved your letter dear Sister just as I was preparing to leave Boston to spend a week or 10 days with My Cambridge friends, thinking that I should not return to Washington till the last of May or the first of June but to my great surprise and disappointment the day after My return My escort...