
          as can be expected in a world
of as much [care?] trial and
wickedness as this we inhabit.

There is nothing going on in
Washington of which you do not
hear in New York and therefore
I need not give you the News

Dr [Scoresly?] is here and I have
got up a lecture for him indirectly
connected with the
Smithsonian The affair is
to come off tonight and I hope
he will have a respectable
audience.

I have got into a small
room in the patent office which
I call my office and find
myself very much occupied
for several hours each day
in attending to the correspondence
and other business of the Institution

We have heard melancholy
news from Princeton the death
        