p.

there are many things that I can
not understand - they are so mysterious -
among other things is Freemont's case -
& why this vast army of the Potomac
are lying still this winter, when they
can not go south in summer - it seems
to me that the whole country must be
ruined - - sickness is cutting off many
more than the sword - all is [underline]sad sad[/underline]-

Our [lectures?] are coming
off from week to week very finely, Dr.
Richardson gave us a capital one last
fifth day evening - it was really practi-
cal & excellent - the best there has been
I think - - the attendance, however,
was not as large as usual, on account of
the new years ball at Hammets the night
before - Our remnant
of the new years gatheirng met according
to rotation at J.G.P.'s we had as pleasant
a time as we could expect - Charles &
Howard were all the young folks -
both of them were rather sorry they

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left their school - I hardly think
however that Charley will go much
longer - he begins to think there is
not much profit in it - I am very
sorry, for he is no hand, thee knows, to
study of home - he says he don't know
but he had better help Thomas get up wood.
T's eyes have been so weak he has not [learned?]
a great deal as yet - but they are getting
better we hope - - I think thee may
safely write to Jane - I believe she
will get it - I miss her pleasant quiet
little ways very much, but do not really
need her work at present - thee had better
write to her [underline]not[/underline] on the back of mine,
as we each wish to keep our letters -

Uncle & aunt A have been home a week
we get along nicely - I think he will buy
another place - perhaps in the east village.

James came home 6th day night - on
a visit - the weather has been cold but pleas-
ant - three of them came down - but the
one that found [horse?] got one about like