
          Washington D.C.
 355 I St
 June 20 1857


 My Dear Doctor


 I suppose that it may have
 reached you by a slight paragraph
 that I have been shiloed here
 by being appointed to a place in
 the patent office (applicant Exam
 in the Chemical Department) made vacant
 by the death of [Tyssouski?]. I have been
 just a week in office & I suppose I 
 can form some idea of it. It is very
 much in arrears & the business favors too
 much of clerical habits to be very palatable
 & could I have been free to choose
 I should not chose to hold it but the
 augusta (very augusta indeed) [?]
 compelled me to look for it.
 My inability to do any business here either
        