Washington City Thursday Nov 27. 1845Mary,

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I arrived here yesterday and am quite as well as usual. I found my name which I had entered on seat was erased and the name of another who had reached here before me entered in my place. My arrival was however so seasonable that I was able to secure another seat nearly or quite as good; so that I think I have secured the object I had in reaching here a few days in advance. There is much exertion to secure seats and I think more than half the members have already arrived.

I have as yet settled on no boarding place and it will probably take a week to form the messes for the session.

I have little to say in relation to my journey. I reached Boston Friday evening near six in the evening & after supper I on invitation, after went to the Chinese Museum & was much gratified. It is a very large room, a church Marlboro Chapel, entirely filled up & filled with Chinese affairs. Rooms are formed & filled up with Chinese furniture & wax figures of the Chinese family in their proper clothing. There are Chinese stories, shops,

idols, school rooms, courts, agricultural tools, dishes, lamps, vases, pictures all attended by two native Chinese in their national costume, one of them played on their musical instruments and sung. It is wonderful to observe among this ancient -people all our arts in their simple and original form.

I left Boston Saturday morning and arrived at New York about eight in the evening. Sunday was rainy and I did not go out except to go to meeting and half the day to hear Dr. Spring. Monday left New York & reached Philadelphia in good season. Here I fall in with Mr Cressor for whom I had a letter from Mr Marsh. I had staid one day, having never before stopped any time in the city. I on Thursday visited the Girard College, the grandest marble building in America & perhaps in the world. It is not completed and a great number of men are now at work upon it. I visited the famous Fairmoah Water Works for watering the city, and also their great Penitentiary, an extraordinary establishment & I also looked at other curiosity. Mr Peters showed me these matters and I dined with him & in the evening I went with Mr Cressor to the annual meeting of the Ladies Liberia School Society. It turned out to be no great matter.

On Wednesday (yesterday) I came here. All here is in confusion, all are at the hotels unsettled and much crowded. I have a room with a fire but it is an ordinary affair. I am however pretty well, which is a great blessing.

It is Thanksgiving day in the city & I think the inhabitants regard the day as most of the stores and shops are closed.

I have nothing further at present to write.

I have thought much since I left home of your own health. You told me was going home for a few weeks. I beg it may be as short as possible. My fear is that you will attempt your house work yourself & going on the same symptoms as last winter. Avoid it.

With love to you all & especially to Francy I remain

Affectionately YoursJ. Collamer