I received your answer to James' last, and forwarded it immediately. Enclosed I send a letter from Madisonia, and am glad to find she is doing so well. Mrs. Crittenden has returned some time from Philadelphia, and brought back her son, for whom she procured glasses to suit the eye upon which there was no operation performed. She has had a good many friends with her at different times, which has prevented my seeing her as much as I should otherwise have done in the manner I desired, which was alone. As soon, however, as Mrs. Ashley and her daughters (from St. Louis) leave, she will spend the day quietly with me, when we shall have a great deal of satisfactory conversation. Yesterday the good people of Congress received another veto. Mr. Tyler is becoming more and more unpopular [torn] it is said he will soon decide himself a Loco-foco. There was a rumor last night that he was shot, but we soon heard it was without foundation. The 4th of July will be handsomely celebrated, from the preparations going forward, and we shall be here, but not to witness much of it; for, exclusive of the _melting mood_ (anticipated from past and present experience), it is the _ton_ for the ladies to remain with closed doors during that day in Washington. This evening our next-door neighbor has a dinner, but it is too warm for me to sit up in style, so I shall spend it sociably with one of Mrs. Pearson's daughters, who is a near and lovely little neighbor. Mary Cutts dines with Mrs. Tayloe; Richard has gone to the North, and Walter to the West on business. Anna unites with me in love to you and all. Ever and truly your affectionate sister. D. We purpose going home in a week or ten days, and fear it will not be in our power to visit you on the way, having been kept too long here on my unfinished business, and believing that the roads and the heat will be too much for me at this season. In more auspicious weather I hope to be with you. To Mrs. Lucy P. Todd, "Meg Willis" near Charlestown, Jefferson County, Virginia. James and Madisonia were Lucy Payne's children by her second husband. All her boys were educated abroad, being sent there when very young. Madisonia, the daughter, seems to have been at school. This letter,[65] like so many of Dolly's, was undated. It has her frank mark upon it. It was probably written in June, 1842, when Tyler vetoed the tariff bill.