Washington February 19th 1821.

My dear friend,

I have waited with great anxiety to receive letters from home, which have not yet arrived, probably from the badness of the roads. And fearing that the same cause may prevent a letter, written by me after to day, reaching you next week. I therefore, to prevent you from all unnecessary anxiety on my account, write a few lines assuring you of the continuance of my health, and that if your letters shall arrive in season to give any chance for an answer to reach you next week, I will write again. Samuels letter received last week give me an account of his health, & of yours, which has given me great concern. I have been very much at a loss whether I ought not to get leave of absen[sic] and return home - and if the Session was not so near a close I would do it. On the fourth of March I shall be on my return I have engaged my passage in a stage. The members will generally remain a day or two longer to see the inauguration of the President which will take place on Monday. But I shall not tarry my feelings and duty urge me to return home as -------------------------------- Page 1 -------------------------------- fast as possible, and to relieve you as much as I can from the burden which my absence has imposed upon you. Everything seems to have conspired this winter to impair your health. Anxiety for Samuel, with fatigue and loss of rest, and perhaps some concern for me, during the sickness at this place, I fear may prove too much for your constitution. I pray you may not sink under it.

We have buried another member of our house since I wrote last. But lest your allarms[sic] whould[sic] be increased on that account for my safety - I think my duty to mention the circumstance, and also that Mr Buswell has for a long time been in a very feeble state of health. & with but one exception, none of those who have died this winter, came here in any thing like sound health. In general those whose constitutions were good have enjoyed their health as well as in common years. But it has proved very mortal to such as came here with infirm or broken constitutions.

My love to Samuel & Mary - may God preserve them and you.

I am as usual your sincere & affectionate friend

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