1862 January 18 Richmond

Mr [Alexander H. H.] Stuart

I sent you on yesterday today
a copy of Confederate acts, by
Dr. Walker, of Augusta (Bro. of "Maj.")
who promised to deliver the book
to yourself, if possible, if not,
to leave it at the office of the
Va. Hotel. The price is $1.25cts.
I had already called on your
hat factor, more than once,
and on this morning he made
a solemn promise to send
it to you, certainly next week.
Said it had been impossible
to have it manufactured sooner.
Ex-Prest. Tyler died last night
rather suddenly; he was taken
sick last Sunday, but was
not considered to be dangerously

[page 2]
so, the congress and Legislature
have adjd. to day, in consequence.
We have no news of importance
The Legislature is exercised over
the militia bills--in great per-
plexity. We have an unusually
intelligent, & well-dressed body, but
a poor working one. Oratorizing
is rather its forte.

The Senatorial election is still
obfuscated. The motto of our
friends is "non nobis tantas com-
ponere lite &c" The impression
is prevailing that none of the
three--Hunter, Barbour, & Preston--
are very acceptable to anybody
but themselves, & their special
friends: but they are conceded to
have the "ins." We confound the
confusion much more by the
policy of making numerous
nominations. If we scatter the
vote, the weakness of the three

[page 3]
aforesaid will become more apa-
rant. Special difficulties are al-
leged to lie in the way of electing
any-(except Preston always)--one who
has been obnoxious to the democracy
as an influential Whig politician,
like Ro. E Scott, yourself, Rives, Bald-
win, &c &c--hence we suggest, Judges
Thompson, Daniel, Robertson, Wil-
loughby, Newton & such, to show that
we may go outside of the political men
in both parties! So the trouble is
still troublesome--and the cauldron
is about to oil over. It is hinted
that the Hunter men are disposed
to let him go and take up Seddon
and that possibly the Barbour men
may agree to that compromise! on Sed-
don also: but I do not believe it
practicable. It is very hard now
to prophesy the result. The death
of Mr. Tyler, on whom many would
have been willing to compromise

[page 4]
makes the question still more
difficult to settle.

The Prest. & Secy. of War gave
our joint com: on West Va defense
a very satisfactory assurance of
their determination not to aban-
don that interesting portion of
our moral (?) [sic] vineyard. Troops
are to be sent to its strategic points
rapidly, under General Command
of Genl. Heth: and General Floyd
is to be ordered back there soon.

The Exchange is much crowd-
ed, mostly with military and dis-
tingué generally. Everybody else
expects to come to the inaugu-
ration. Your widow is quite
the belle here at present. I de-
livered your message--also Mrs Stu-
arts! Yours didn't make much
impression. In haste--Yrs &c
Bolivar Christian

MSS 228-a