General Scott, Daniel Webster, John Crittenden, and Millard Filmore
Author
Recipient
Date Written
June 24, 1852
Joshua Bell Fry was 40 years old when this was written.
The recipient, Mary Montgomery Bell, was 33 when it was received.
Joshua Bell Fry died 18 years, 1 month, 24 days after writing this.
It was written 171 years, 3 months, 9 days ago.
It was a Thursday.
Washington City
24 June 1852
My Dearest Wife,
I am now at Washington and find it as dull as ever. Its very vanity is monotonous.
I saw Mr. Filmore yesterday he expressd his warmest gratitude to the Ky. delegation for their constancy in his favor.
Mr. Webster is very much dissatisfied and is yet sulky.
I called on Gen. Scott yesterday. He remembered me very well and took occasion to say that he had no dissatisfaction toward the Ky. delegation for voting for W. Filmore. I explained that we had very steadfastly adhered to the fortunes of Mr. F. but that we haven’t now adhere to his cause with the same direction. He seemed satisfied. I am now in Mr. Crittenden’s office. He looks well and is cheerful. I hear nothing here of the confounded & silly rumors and these we declared them as false.
The feeling in favor of Genl. Scott is cross Bet [?] a King & very hearty, $10,000 war but yesterday, as ever
I'm & only
Joshua F. Bell
[I have not been able to transcribe the last two lines accurately, but fairly sure the original was not coherent either.]