Charles R. Douglass to Frederick Douglass, July 14, 1867

Washington D.C.

July 14^th 1867

Dear Father

I arrived safely in this city in company with our Club, last monday morning. I wanted to see you before leaving Philadelphia; but I could not do so without being too late for the night train.

I wrote to Libbie to ask you to have her a couple of boxes sent up to the house that many of our things that will be useful to us here, might be sent in them here to me. I have engaged rooms here at a pretty low figure $12.00 per month, and I find it will be cheaper for us to board ourselves than to board out. I cant board Libbie and myself for less than $60, per month $30 each where I have to board out; but if I board myself it will cost

me much less. All our things can be sent here very much cheaper than I can buy in this city, and what I would like for you to do for me is to have all our things carefully packed and sent to me by freight, it will not cost much. As soon as you can do this for me, notifying me before hand when they will be sent and what the cost will be I will immediately send the money. If you can spare the time to do this for me I shall regard it as a great favor.

I have had a day's holiday and am satisfied with that, now I am agoing to stick to business. I am situated so now that I can save a little money; but if I keep boarding I wont save so much. Genl Howard is giving me a fair chance, and from all appearances he is well pleased with me. One of the officers here told me yesterday that when the clerks found out that I was coming here as a clerk they seemed to be displeased, and Genl Howard heard of it and told them if they did not like it they might leave and he would fill their places with colored men; but as yet they all like their wages better than standing by their principles and consquently [sic] all are here and everything goes on smoothly. The weather is quite warm here again. On my arrival here from Phila. I met a lady who said she saw your brother and family on their way to Rochester, how is it have they arrived? My love to all

Aff. Yr. Son

Charles R. Douglass