my ever dearest wife

     I received yours of the 28th Ult. March the 2nd and March the 3rd all in good and proper time. I am surprised you did not receive mine of the 28th immediately after my arrival. It contained all the particulars of our trip. I have forwarded you a paper every day and wrote you again on the 4th Inst. I knew you would be uneasy and wrote on Sunday morning the Same date of your first letter. I Sent you a paper yesterday giving you Grants cabinett. All sides and all parties were disappointed. Elihu B Washburne of Illiniose Secretary of State, Alexander T Stewart of New York Sec of the Treasury. Adolphus E Borie of Penn

sylvania Sec. of the Navy Jacob D Cox of Ohio Sec. of the Interior. A J Creswell of Maryland. Post Master General, and Eben Rockwood Hoar of Massachusetts Attorney General. Gen Schofield retains for the present the office of Secretary of war. I will mail with this letter a paper containing all the proceeding of Congress on the Subject.
I did not go to the Inauguration Ball. I found it was a humbug. and worse than a humbug. One was in danger of being Suffocated. Several women were carried out fainting from Suffocation. Col Temple and daughter went and the Col told me the only way he could get out was by declaring that his daughter was fainting and by that Means he succeeded in getting out. Indeed I expect his daughter was very near fainting.
One gentleman told me he had given ten dollars to get in and five to get out. The men lost hats and over coats the ladies bonnetts, furs shalls and came away without them. The men tying their handkerchiefs around their

heads, and the women doing the best they could. The night was very cold. It is said the managers of the Ball made about $20.000.00/00) twenty thousand dollars. I saw no one that went but what was mad and felt they were swindled.
In regard to the election in Tenn. I will be a candidate for Circuit Judge. I do not want Dewy and Salsbury to nominate me for Chancellor as I would not run against Judge Lucky [i.e., Seth J.W. Lucky] I do not think there will be any trouble in being elected Judge in our District. Evans may be a candidate but I think I can beat him easy.
You can say I do not desire the position of Chancellor now. but will be a candidate for Circuit Judge.
I am very glad my dear wife you have kept me posted on this matter. It is kind and right. It make me feel at home and abroad that we have but one interest one cause and one end.
I will be home in a day or two. Think I will start on Sunday the 7 Inst or

on Monday the 8th Inst at farthest. I may not start until Monday.
We are now having while I write quite a Snow Storm.
I do hope ere now you have received my letters. I cannot see how they have been delayed. I feel though they have reached you ere this.
     I will close. Good by dearest wife for a few days when I will be home. Love to all the children and Lizzie tell Willie [i.e., the author's son, William M. Meek (b. 1866)] pa will soon be home
     I remain ever yours

devotedly
James M Meek