Transcription
Washington Feb 6h. 1853.
My dear Sarah
I have this morning (Sunday) received a letter from Kate, which, among other things tells me that Angeline has taken a heavy cold and has been ill for a week[.] I beg you to have her taken care of in the best manner–Let the physician attend upon her frequently–She must not expose herself to the weather, by going to and from her mothers in this uncertain season of the year. Do not let her sleep in the attic of the tower, while she is indisposed, but have her near you where you can have an eye upon her. Though she appears to have been gaining strength within the last year or two her constitution is too fragile to stand any severe shock
I wrote to you all the day before yesterday and have nothing new to relate. Yesterday we had
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a large diplomatic dinner at home; at which some of the foreign Ministers and their ladies were present and some members of the Senate–Mr James Hamilton was likewise a guest, having arrived at Washington the evening before. I find from him that Dr M Vickar had had some difficulty with the 〈bui〉architects of the new church from deficiency of funds; but that the matter had at length been arranged, probably with the assistance of Trinity church. I think that is doomed to be a “church militant” fighting against all kinds of difficulties
I see by the papers that Mr Dakin has died suddenly. This of course puts an end to the huge chateau which he had commenced to build. I hope it will not prove disasterous to the architects and workmen employed. I never had any confidence in the stability of his fortune. He seemed to be a speculative builder of air castles.
I am sorry to hear from Mr Hamilton that Angelica has been unwell with a severe cold.
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I had hoped to have seen her by this time in Washington. This soft thawing weather is very treacherous–I am myself suffering from a cold which keeps me coughing half the night, but I have a tough constitution that withstands every thing of the kind–
You must not get out of patience with my prolonged absence. I find so much here to consult, in the Archives, and so little leisure to devote to it, that, were I to cut short my sojourn I should have to make another visit to Washington, and that, at a time when I would not have the peculiar advantages which I enjoy at present.
Give my love to all the family
Your affectionate uncle
Washington Irving
P.S. I wish Thomas or Robert, or both, to paint the hen houses–also the farm waggon
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[PAGE 4 BLANK]Transcriber
Marisa CalderioLanguage
EnglishNotes
Washington Irving. Letters. Volume IV, 1846-1859. Aderman, Ralph M., Kleinfield, Herbert L. and Jenifer S. Banks. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1982, pp. 369-370.
