Daniel Webster letter to Jeremiah Mason, 26 December 1827

Washington, December 26, 1827.

MY DEAR FRIEND, I cannot write you now a political letter, but must tell you something about me and mine. I came here the 17th, pretty free of rheumatism, but have since had a violent and obstinate cold, which finally has brought me to keep house. It is now, I think, better ; but it will be two or three days before I shall be well again, at best. Mrs. Webster, as you know, I left in New York, quite sick. She has been perhaps, on the whole, from the time of my departure to the date of my last letter, a good deal more comfortable and free from pain than for the fortnight I was in New York. I cannot say that her substantial cause of illness is better ; but Mr. Paige writes on the 23d that he thinks more favorably of the future progress and final result of the complaint than I did, when I left New York. It is a tumor of rather anomalous character, and the best surgeons look upon it with much fear of consequences. It seems to have a tendency to break out ; this they dread, and try to disperse it ; although its real character, perhaps, can only be fully known when that shall take place. I would not alarm myself or my friends, unnecessarily ; but, to say the truth, my dear Sir, I fear the worst. I shall leave here, if I am well enough, on Saturday, for New York. There I expect to meet the Judge and Mrs. Story. Whether I shall return hither with her, or stay at New York, or endeavor to get Mrs. Webster home, must be decided by the state of things which I shall find in- wli.-n I get there. If it should be probable, which the surgeons somewhat incline to suppose, that my wife may remain for a considerable time without essential change, I do not see that the superior duty of being with her must not lead to the vacation of the situation which I fill here. I should be very glad to hear from you, directed to New York, care of Dr. Perkins, Fulton street.

I am, dear Sir, most truly yours,

DANIEL WEBSTER.