I am off tomorrow & of course very busy, but I can no longer ^endure^ the self-reproaches I have experienced from not writing you for the last few weeks. My only consolation, is, that I have offended against one whose indulgence to his friends is proverbial, & who knows what the winding up of a session of Congress, & particular of an administration too, is. A beaten man gains little by professions of contentment, but I cannot avoid saying to you from whom I have no reserves, that if there is a single man in Washington as content to stay, as I am to leave it, he does not stand in need of the commiseration, or even the sympathy of his friends. You will see my views of the future truly set forth in a reply to the Legislature of Missouri which will appear in a few days. It is due to our friends in Congress to say, that I havee never known them to separate under a better state of feeling, or apparently under a higher stimulatus of resolution and hope. The Whigs on the other hand are desperate from distractions for office, & disappointment in the value of those which can be obtained. I had an opportunity to put a man on the Bench of the Supreme Court at the moment of leaving it ^the government^ who will I am sure stick to the true principles of the constitution, & being a Democrat ab ovo is not in so much danger of a falling off in the true spirit. The Federalists have rallied about the selection of our old friend Daniel of Va., but that did not distress me as much as some supposed it would do. The violence in debate which has for so long a time disgraced Congress is at last likely to lead to a fight between Mr H. Clay & W.R. King immediately after the adjournment of the Senate. They are both bound over not to fight in the District, but the affair is of such a nature, as, in the opinion of most persons to be ^make it^ impossible to adjust it. Still that may be done. The extra session is finally decided upon. The proclamation for June, will certainly appear in a few days. It must do them much harm as there is no real necessity for it. Mr. Woodbury made his debut in the Senate this week with great success. He accompanyed his resignation with a statement of the state of the Treasury at the close of the session which will be published. I am sorry to say to you that my son Martin has for some weeks been quite indisposed. He is now however I hope out of danger & I leave him in Mrs. Blairs hospitable hands. Blair & Rives have you will see been decapitated, thus adding an other to the long catalogue of Whig inconsistencies.

I shall remain in Nyork several weeks & hope to hear from you there.

Remember me affectionately to Mrs Jackson, & to all the rest of your & Major Donelsons Household, and believe me to be