Daniel Webster letter to Ezekiel Webster, 29 December 1824

Washington, December 29, 1824.

DEAR EZEKIEL, I have not heard from you for a long time, nor had much leisure to write since my return from Virginia. The information which has reached me from home 1 must have reached you sooner. I think of this loss with great grief ; but I think also that you lost all your little boys ; and I hope to sustain myself with the consciousness, that my blessings are still much more numerous than my afflictions. I wish you would sometimes write to my wife, it would give her great pleasure, as I think her affection for you is pretty much her first feeling out of her own family.

I had a pleasant journey, on many accounts, in Virginia. Saw many things and some men, and had a pretty fair opportunity of learning what Virginia is. In the ensuing month, I must pay some little attention to the public business. There is nothing of great importance or peculiar interest in which I expect to be concerned. February must be devoted to the court, and early in March I hope to be home.

I have seen your legislative proceedings through. You have come out about where we expected, except that having got unexpectedly half the " committee on the change of names," you unexpectedly, I should think, failed to get one more.

Every thing now depends on the new House. If that remains firm and strong, no matter who the Senators are they must come in. I do not see but you must go once more into the House, though I regret it, as I had laid out for a journey next June. Constancy to Mr. Mason seems to require it. I should like to know what you think of your congressional chance.

Does the law confine the votes to you and Mr. Healey ?

Will this struggle for Senator make a pretty active election, and will that help or hurt you ? You have districted the State. Does Merrimac County form precisely one district ?

I wrote you, some time ago, for your and Mr. Mason's opinion about Bunker Hill ; you have not given it to me. In hopes of hearing from you soon, I am, Yours,

D. WEBSTER.