NEW ORLEANS, January 31, 1849.
MY DEAR SIR,—The
breaking out of the cholera here prevented my meeting General Taylor in this city,
as had been expected. I met him at Baton Rouge, but only long enough to
exchange friendly salutations, without any opportunity to converse on public
affairs.
About a fortnight
ago I met with a terrible accidental fall, which, although fortunately I broke
no bones, has for the present confined me to my lodgings, disabled me from
walking, and almost from writing. To that cause is owing my not having earlier
acknowledged the receipt of your friendly letter of the 25th ultimo.
I suppose that I
shall be elected to the Senate by the General Assembly of Kentucky, in which
case I shall hardly feel myself at liberty to decline, conferred as the office
will be without any solicitation from me, without my being a candidate, and
with the knowledge of a strong disinclination on my part to return to that
body. Deference to the will of the General Assembly, a sense of duty, and the
possibility of my being able to do some good, overcome my repugnance. If I go
to Washington, it will be with an anxious desire that I shall be able to
support the measures of the new Administration, in consequence of their
conformity with Whig policy.
There seems to be
yet some slight prospect of a settlement at Washington of the Free Soil
question; but we shall see.
The cholera has
nearly entirely disappeared from this city.
SOURCE: Calvin
Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, p. 584
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