6 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1838, 



last week or two. I will send them, with this, to-mor- 

 row ; so look out for them. I have not heard from 

 you since I wrote you a pretty long epistle. 



On the 10th instant I tendered my resignation, or 

 rather requested to be left out in the new arrangement. 

 I supposed that it would have been accepted and no 

 words made ; but instead Mr. Poinsett sends me word 

 to come on to Washington and have a talk with him, 

 to learn more definitely what their plans, etc., are, 

 and thinks he will be able to remove my present dis- 

 satisfaction, and if not says I may have leave to with- 

 draw, but urges me not to insist upon resigning 

 without coming on to Washington. Dana and Cou- 

 thouy are also invited to come on, Pickering being 

 already there. Though this request reaches me in 

 such a form that I cannot claim my traveling ex- 

 penses, and probably shall not get them (which is just 

 like this nasty administration), yet I suppose I must 

 go on. The only difficulty is that I am afraid they 

 will ply me with such strong reasons as to prevail on 

 me to hold my situation, particularly as their new 

 plan has the advantage of leaving home all the block- 

 heads and taking the best fellows ; and moreover some 

 other very promising offers that I had have not been 

 brought to bear very directly ; in fact I see that I 

 should get nothing satisfactory from them for a year 

 or two. I intend to set out for Washington to-mor- 

 row afternoon. I shall endeavor to make a very short 

 stay, and if I come to any determination there I will 

 try to let you know. 



I have scarcely time to write another letter; so 

 please send this up to my father, who has not heard 

 from me in a good while. 



Yours very truly, A. G. 



