Palm Beach
Florida
March 6th 1800
My dear Maggie
I was
sorry to [leave?] home without
seeing you but the weather
was bad and hot since, I
thought perhaps Ham would
be out, but I know he is
busy at this season. I hope
you are all well and may
keep well,
As you know we
left Pittsburgh [Pittsburg?] on Thursday
night some minutes late
got into Washington City
at 9 something next
morning took breakfast and
went out to sight see
We spent most of the
morning in the Congressional
Library which is the finest
in the country We migh [might?] have
spent a week at it then not
have seen it all. We went
from there to the State
Capital on Congress Hill. I got
tired and sat down while
the rest went on and into
the Senate Chamber and
heard some of the debates
After dinner and resting
awhile [Fannie?] took a Cab
and drove for two hours
and saw all the handsome
residences and the prettiest
part of the city, drove up
to the White House but
not go in. it was after 5
Pm and the doors are
closed at 4
We had very nice rooms
[communicating?] and bath
room between. We were
on the 8th floor Frank
has been as nice and
good as can be in
shewing [showing?] all the attentions
that we we need We left
Washington at 11 Am
Saturday and after traveling
two days and a night
we arrived here at 10 Pm
We missed one connexion
and that delayed us two
hours at Jacksonville. So
Frank took a carriage
to drive around the city
meaning to go through it
but the boy drove around
on the outside of the city
We had a lovely drive
on a level smooth partly
along the St. John river. We
just go minutes before the
train left.
This is one of the
lovliest [loveliest?] places I
ever saw We walked a mile yesterday
on as smooth and clean
a walk as you could find
in any [parlor?], The walk from one
hotell [hotel?] to the other is linked
on either side with different palms some
coconut with the nuts on them, the
Palm, clematis and hibiscus grow on
each side of the walk and make
a close hedge. We have had good
weather since we left home, I wish
you could all see this place it
is certainly the most beautiful
spot I ever saw, we sat under the
coconut trees yesterday and heard
the band play, I thought of the
queen of Sheba when
she saw the grandeur
of Solomon the half
cannot be told
but I must stop here
with a kiss to the kids
and love to Lizzie and
with love to you
and Ham. Fannie
and Frank send love
I cannot say how long
we will be here, we have
not heard from home
yet good bye your
affectionate
Aunt Dollie.
