On christmas morning, In attempting to rise, I found myself completely nullified, and almost as stiff as a statue, in the body. I had for some days felt a slight pain in the back, which had now almost impreceptibly ripened into quite a severe acute rheumatism, that rendered every attempt at motion excessively painful. In the course of 36 hours, the stiffness disappeared; but I had to confine myself about a week to my chamber, and this, added to previous causes of debility, (such as taking no exercise, & sitting up reading newspapers, thinking & writing till 1 or 2 o’clock) threw me into a state of feebleness, bodily & mental, not a little annoying at such a time as this. Our children too have been sick since, and have much disturbed me at night. My vertigos have come upon me, and my head won’t work. This is part of the reasons why I have not acknowledged the receipt of your last favor. The weather has now changed to very cold, from a long spell of very warm, and I already feel braced by it; & as soon as the wind lulls a little so as to enable me to resume the rides I had begun, I will soon be set to rights again. Towards the close of this month, should the weather be clear and not too windy, I hope to be able to get away for a week or ten days, and to visit you on horseback.

The political horizon is, I think, brightening up. No doubt of a considerable reaction already in S. C. With affte. souvenirs to Mrs Madison & friendly respects to Mr. Todd, Yrs