
          impossible! Yet so it is-- & yesterday, had
 you been with us, you might have seen our
 dear, kind old friend, [Francis] Boott, dandling the infant-child
 of your loving-- though unworthy--
 correspondent! Truly, it sometimes happens,
 that "facts are stranger than fictions." I think
 I remember writing to you that 12 months ago,
 we had a boy-- born dead, & prematurely, and
 this is the only cloud which has passed over the
 18 months of my married life-- which has been
 & continues to be most happy! My dear wife
 is all the world to me, & tho' 30 years younger
 than I am, is the prudent & faithful depository
 of  every thought of my heart. If I ever think,
 with anxiety, on the great disparity of our
 years, it is only on her account. For myself,
 there is nothing left to desire, but I should like
 to think that I had a probability before me,
 of more years during which I might lay up
 provision for my dear wife & child. But, 
 I am conscious (tho' turned of 57) of more
 vigour, & far better health than I latterly
 enjoyed in New York. Indeed, I scarcely ever
 ail any thing-- &, if not robust, am certainly
 more healthy than most men of my age--
 eating, drinking & sleeping, as well as ever,
 & finding no occasion to "take care of myself"
 or to be prudent. We are not by any means 
        