(Washington June 28th 1838)

My dear Sister,

Your letter has just come. I suppose I am to

believe you have been to Bangor, but really, I have had much

difficulty in ascertaining the interesting fact; the way in which

you speak about it, is most obscure.

I shall go to George Town in a few days, and endeavour to be

particularly amiable & agreeable.

I think I have mentioned my trip to Mount Vernon, since that,

I have been constantly employed at the obsy. night and day,

helping to make experiments & observations: we remain until after

4 generally; the stars then become too dim, and about that time

we have counted a sufficient oscillations of the Pendulum. The

nights pass most swiftly & pleasantly. Every thing is so inter-

esting & occupies the attention so entirely that time flies.

I breakfast at the fashionable hour of 12.

Last night I went to Miss Gale's wedding, the rooms were

crowded, for the rain kept us all in the house, had the weather

been clear, we should have been out of doors, the woods would have

been illuminated, & tents spread on the lawn, you must know

"the situation" is in the country, and a most charming one it is.

Near Brentwood & similar to it, in its picturesque beauty.

Well, the weather in the house was fine enough; the Ladies,

many of them were lovely, some, perfectly so, the Museum Band

at a distance & invisible made sweet music; there was waltzing,

and I passed a happy, no, that is not the word, a very pleasant

evening. I met & renewed my acquaintance with Miss Laura

Pleasanton, but I received a scolding for not calling on her, I

shall take time to do so now.

This day is clear, this night, there will be a fete

Champetre at Mr. Gale's to which I shall certainly go,

If you will let me know how much money you will require

for the things you have purchased, & for the making them up, I

shall be the better able to make further arrangements: Write

to me very soon, & tell me when you can have all ready.

A Cadet whom I met yesterday says John is doing very well,

& conforms to the regulations with military exactness.

It is possible that I may be sent to New York in a few

days. If I do go I will see John, & very likely go to Boston

for a day to see my friends, & to get some clothes, to do which

latter, I can find facilities in Boston, that are not to be met

with elsewhere, there is only a possibility of my going, however.

I shall not be home until the middle of July & then but of

a brief period.

I have written all I can think of, except that as 4 of us

were returning from Mr. Gale's last night, the carriage capsized

going down hill & spilled us out. We were delayed in righting

the carriage, but happily nothing was injured, and we arrived

home safely. Mr Walsh's carriage with his wife & sister in,

turned over at the same spot but a few minutes previously to

our mishap, and with the same good fortune, no one hurt.

Tonight we will try another road. I shall hope to have a

letter from you in immediate answer to this one

from your affect Brother

Wm Reynolds

Miss L.M. Reynolds