Washington Monday March 2nd 1863.
With a bright day the spirits of everybody seem to rise and counten[an]ces look brighter than for the last fortnight. I wonder no suicides have been committed, it would have been an excellent time and would not have created much surprise. I got a fine Gold Pen out of “Uncle Sam” today $2.75 (Silver holder), am writing with it now. I got almost everything in the way of Stationary out of the old gentleman. Rcd letter from my friend J T McKenzie. Glad to learn that traitors are so scarce at the north. Spent part of the evening at Charleys. Mr Lieb & Lady were there, the lady who came home from Boarding School to spend the Holydays, and got married New Years night, unbeknown to her friends. The lady that was reading a novel to her Father during the week previous called the “Missing Bride” (one of Mrs Southworths Novels) and had nearly completed it much to the old Gentlemans gratification when She was herself a “Missing Bride.” This was a singular coincidence but litteraly true. We are still waiting for news, little of interest afloat today. No Movement of any moment noticed in the papers. No Movement of myself yet. I do so hate to pack up and take new quarters. I might not suit myself any better, and rooms and boarding houses are scarce yet.