Francis Barber Ogden, Liverpool, to James Monroe, 1830 April 15

Liverpool April 15th 1830
Dear Monroe
The arrival of the Florida yesterday brought me yours of the 10th Ult. the receipt of which and of two others unanswered ones I have now to acknowledge with the assurance that no letters afford me greater pleasure. I confess, that although I have never entertained very great fears on the subject, I shall feel some relief when I see my name gazetted. With regards to the rejection of my brother Consul I can feel but little sympathy for I suspect had I possessed a vote that I should have been very apt to have given it against him, for between ourselves he is a son of a x The nomination, and of course the approbation by the Senate, of Commodore Porter to the situation gives me great pleasure for I think him exactly the man for it and it will enable him to take Madam out of Mischiefs way—I have ordered my Cheese Monger to select the richest Stilton in his shop which you will receive by the Canada & as I send one also for the Club at Gassins you must club to smuggle, or get them through the custom house as best you can, as long as it lasts I shall expect to be remembered in an occasional glass of port in Murray Street as you very often are in Crab tree lane.
God bless you, remember me kindly to all friends and believe me truly yours
Fras B Ogden
The other side is for your Wife—
My dear Friend
I am happy in having it in my power at length to write you some cheering news of family. Harriet arrived here last night and took possession of lodgings I had before provided for her, she left George William & Margaret at Preston thirty miles off, and came in alone with Miss Cairnes. the rest are to follow to day—perhaps, but as some of them are governed by such queer impulses I should not be much surprised should she be left to pay her visit without their joining her. I had a long conversation with her this morning and sounded on the topic you mention in your letter. and I am
happy in assuring you that your apprehensions are unfounded at least if any attempts have been made to bias her mind they have been ineffectual. she says that on you alone she now rests for the happiness to be derived from confiding affection. that one letter she wrote you she could wish recalled, that on the subject of the name of your youngest child, In the whole of our conversation she spoke of you with the strongest affection, and when I repeated what I had written to you about the busts and Wills dirty mug, and Fans demure looks, she expressed the greatest desire to see them. On the other subject I said nothing, leaving her to make the discovery in some other way or to remain in ignorance. It is right to tell you however that Col: Maxwell in a letter to Mr Chapman has thought it due to M. to say that nothing of the kind occur'd after their departure from Liverpool, and I have no doubt it arose from that strange desire some have to get clear of thought. With regards to their future plans. H says she shall be governed entirely by M. that she herself wishes to return home, that her duties as well as inclination call her there, but if M's health does not improve she of course cant go, and if it does that she will want to see something before her departure. George opposes their going and declares his intention of never returning himself. Williams health I am happy to tell you is quite restored, H says he never was better. So from all this I infer that at least another year will find them on this side the Atlantic. As Miss Cairnes says M's health has improved since she left here, and then I did not think there was much the matter, I conclude she will be able to travel. H. is thin and I told her this morning much the most to be attended to. & hers however is the lot of Martha, and I am afraid her troubles will never end—May yours my dear Betsy Mary be ever alleviated by the consciousness of having done your duty, and like Mary may that "good part you have chosen never be taken from you"—Remember to Betsey, and all the little ones to Maria and other friends and believe my most sincerely
your friend &
Fras B Ogden