Washington Friday Feb’y 13th 1863.
A Beautiful bright pleasant day with the atmosphere so pure and braceing that I could not resist its influence but took a long walk before going to the office. We have so much wet fogy weather lately that the change is doubly welcome. We have warm (or rather Mild) pleasant days but not till today has it seemed a real luxury to inhale the air. I have not been on the Ave today. On leaving the office at 3 o’clock I took another long walk before dinner up to the “Stone Hospital” being three miles up and back. My little hero Robt White who lost his foot recently, or rather had it amputated recently, I found doing extremely well to all appearances. I sent him (the first of the week) caned fruit and currant wine which he was very grateful for. This evening I have spent with Mr & Mrs Schram on this Street (12th) a couple of squares above me. His Mother is spending a few days with him, a very fine looking lady of about forty eight years with long silver curls. She is a quaker lady and and [sic] a fine specimen of the Class. There is no particular news in the papers today. Tom Thumb and his wife are just now creating more excitement in the City than anybody else, a married couple 28 inches high, and both together weighing some 70 lbs. There are many other “notables” in town. The Country Bank interest is well represented.