I have been besieged by fevers for a week and this is the first I have done but lie on the bed or sofa, take blue-pill, effervescents, quinine, bitters & grapes—& listen to Mary’s reading. After giving me a 2d blue-pill last night & prescribing a course of tonics, the doctor took leave this morning.

I feel just thoroughly worn-out, used up, fatigued beyond recovery, an older man than you, and am determined to let the park take care of itself for a while at whatever cost. I have been growing weaker & more deeply fatigued since I began with it. I could hardly hold my head up for a week before I went to Saratoga; made a little jump up for a day or two & then came down by the run, untill I could not think connectedly without considerable effort. I have fixed what I most cared for on the park beyond reconsideration & shall not be so zealous probably in future.

We are going, you know, to move into the Convent—taking some low & rather dark but warm rooms, rather conveniently connected. The great comfort is that there is a great extent of glass galleries or piazzas, where the children can be in fresh air without wind or rain. I hope too it will be a little more convenient of access—for grocers, etc. Our supplies are frightfully expensive & difficult to get. We have to live well—on good food & drink—for there is not one of us in moderate health & never less than three that need careful nursing & bolstering. We found Charley’s eyes as bad as ever when we returned from Saratoga. Charlotte is covered with sores & Mary is half distracted with her multitude of anxieties, the servants always acting like she devils as soon as there is a five minute lull of other squalls. However, we have a good deal of happiness between the drops; that’s a fact.

Here came in three of Commissioners to inform me that a meeting had been had today and that they had resolved to give me six weeks leave of absence, with a request that I would employ the time in examining European parks, advancing $500 for the expenses. I expect to sail by the “Persia” next Wednesday. Will you be here before that? I reckon to have one week in Paris, & one in England & shall hope to get three or four days besides to visit Munich.