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104 whom I had a slight acquaintance in that State. He is a very learned man; has large library of books and newspapers from every part of the Union. He is wealthy and does not take boarders, but took a fancy to me and invited me to come and live with him. I have a fine room to myself and all my wants attended to. I never did live in a more agreeable family in my life, and it is close to our office. I have never as yet been to hear any of the debates in Congress. It is a mile from our office to the Capitol. We are closely confined from 9 in the morning till 3 in the evening without anything to eat till about 4 o'clock, which is our dinner hour. I generally take a biscuit in my pocket and eat it at about 12 o'clock with water, which refreshes me very much. I do not know how such close confinement may agree with me when the warm weather sets in. Old Uncle Samuel McClure died on the 15th Dec'r last, at a very advanced age; upwards of 90. There was a short obituary notice of his death in the papers here. With the light that brief notice gave and what I knew of the old man myself, I, with the aid of a friend, have written out a more extended obituary and sent on the manuscript this day to the editor of the Kentucky Gazette at Lexington for publication in that paper, and I have requested the editor to send a paper containing the notice to the post-office at Lexington addressed to you as a relative of the deceased, and also a paper addressed to my Brother Andrew at Nicholasville. I have made mention in the above notice, of the names of our venerable father and grandfather, who have long since been numbered among the dead. I want you by all means to see what we have written.

I heard from home the other day; all my dear children were well then. Has Amanda written to the girls? She promised me pointedly she would. Have the boys send on the salve for William. Write or let William or the girls or James write. I should be glad to hear from you, for next to my own children you stand highest in my affections. I have no news but what you have in the newspapers. There will be no war. Give my respects to all the