Washington City, June 1, 1834

            Dear brother.—I take this opportunity of writing to you, to let you know that I am well at present and hope that these few lines may find you all in the same state of health. I have neglected writing to you for a long time, in fact I have been so busy at work for the last two months that I have scarcely had time. I kept putting it off from one Sunday to another, and still as the Sunday came I was obliged to work, so that this is the first spare Sunday that I have had for two months. The last letter that I received from you, you informed me that you were an applicant for the postmastership of your town, and requested me, if I had any influence with the postmaster general, to exert it in your behalf, I am sorry that I could not be of any service to you, having no acquaintance with the postmaster myself, and men of high standing and influence that I could have got to speak a good word for you, would have done you more injury than good, in as much as they are opposed to them in politicks. If a man wants a favor of this rascally administration, his most important qualification must be that he is a good Jackson man; under these curcumstances, and knowing that the appointment would be of but little benefit to you, I thought it not worth my while to trouble myself about it. During the winter, I think some time in February last, there was a gentleman called in the office where I/was at work, late in the evening, and introduced himself to me as being from your place. I think he said his name was Bartholomew, and that he was well acquainted with you all, I was very glad to see him, and here that you were all well. I had but very little conversation with him, being very much hurried with work, and at the time that he was in the office was preparing to go to supper, thinking that before he left the city I would have time to call at his lodgings and see him. I accordingly called at his lodgings the next day, but he was not in at the time, and I had not time to spare to hunt him up. I wish you to give him my best respects, and give him this as my apology for not paying more attention to him while he was in the city. I am afraid, perhaps, he may think hard of me.

            Dear brother, I have enjoyed very good health this last winter, and have had a good situation. I left Duff Green’s office at the commencement of the session, and went to work for Gales & Seaton, where I am at work at present, and I have a prospect of work all summer, and I think if my health remains good, it is probable that I shall remain here, unless I can better myself some place else. I should like to see you all, and I think it is likely I shall take two or three weeks in the fall and pay you a visit. If I had a good horse, I think it would be the cheapest way of travelling, but good horses here are very hard to get, without paying a double price for them. If you can come across a good young horse about the last of September, I wish you would buy him for me, and I will pay you for/him when I go on. If you do, you might have him left at Mrs Chapman’s in near Blairsville, to which place I could go in the stage, and from that go across to Brookville, and when I returned to this place sell him at a good profit. However I don’t want you to do any thing until you here from me again, when I shall have my mind made up.

            Congress is still in session, and I think it is likely they will be here for some time yet. The House has passed a resolution to adjourn on the 30^th of this month, but I don’t think that the Senate will agree to it. They have had a hot time of it in Congress this session about the United States Bank, and they are not near through with it yet. In the Senate they have passed resolutions censuring the President, and saying that he has violated the constitution but in the House there are a small majority of Jackson members, and they wont pass the resolutions, or if they did they would have him impeached and turned out, but they are turning so fast against him, that I think they will do something before they adjourn.

            I have nothing more to communicate at present, but hope you will let me hear from you as soon as possible. Please to give my love to father and mother and cousin Betsy

                                                Your affectionate brother

                                                                        Michael Rodgers

 

Mr. William Rodgers

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