Hot summer and politics in the City

St. Louis  July 21^st 1860

Dear Friend:
I wrote to you when I first came to this State, but have never heard from you yet.  I heard that you had written to me, is why I write to you a gain.  I have nothing at all to write that would be of interest.  We have had some oppressively warm weather in this city.  The warmest that ever I have experienced.  The thermometer rages from 100 to 110 degrees.  I really, suffer from heat.  The other night when I went to bed it was at 100, and I could not sleep at all scarcely.  One coming from the mounteins of Va. to this city in the summer, finds a great change.  It almost makes me sometimes cry out, “Take me back to Old Va as home.”  The city is very healthy this summer.  The number of deaths last week, were 110, which is said to be a small number per week, during the summer season.  One never hears the death of an idvidual spoken of at all, and when a stranger is taken sick, and dies here, it is

no more noticed than the death of a hog.  There are many things to be seen here, is the only inducement for a person to stay here at all.  I attend the Central Presbyterian Church – quite a fine and magnificent Church – and one of the most arristocratic congregations that ever I have seen.  They are not like the Presbyterians about Lexington, and Western Va generally - social.

I am getting on very well at School.  I confine myself very closely to my studies, but is is very hard this warm weather.

There has been an exhibilition  here for the last week a panorama of India, which has drawn large houses.  It is a most excellent painting.
Capt., it would afford me great pleasure to meet with a Virginian.  I am really tired of seeing strangers, and strangers they continue to be.

Politics is all the go now.  There are Douglasites – Breckenridgeites – Billites, and Lincolnites here.  You would be surprised to see the num-

ber of Black Republicans, that there are in this city – confined mostly to the foreign population.  Most of the Democrats are for Douglas.  Bill & Everett will get a fine vote in this city and State.  Give me, when you write, all the points in regard to the elections in Wythe Co.  Who was elected sheriff & cofc (clerk of court).  Who the Democracy are going to vote for, for President – whether Douglas or Breckenridge.  It is hard to tell who will be President.  I am very much afraid we are going to have a Black Republican.  One or the other of the parties have a torch light procession and speaking every night or two.  I saw a torch light procession the other night, which was more than two miles long, with ten Brass Bands of music in attendance.  The whole city wherever they went was illuminated.  Those processions are getting to be, an every night or two occurrence.  Each party has its enemies, and are hissed and scoffed, as they pass through the streets.  The excitement runs very high.

Capt, I should like to see some of my

lady friends in the Creek.  How is Miss Mallie Porter getting on?  Remember me to her.  Has the singing school closed?  Give me all the points in regard to it.  How is Mr. Painter’s family?  Capt. you must make haste and get married, & invite me to your wedding, & may be, I will come back to Wythe.  Do you go to see Miss Florence now?  Did you Mama receive my last letter?  Tell Wm Crocket that he has never answered my letter.  Tell Mallie Crockett that she must answer it.  I should like to receive a letter from some of my scholars.  Give my best respects to Miss Bettie Welch – to the Dr. and all the rest of my friends.  You must write immediately on receiving this letter.  Direct Jones’ Com’l College St. Louis.  It is getting late at night, and I must close.  My room mate is sitting with his feet up in the window, nearly asleep, occasionally he rouses up from his slumber, and commences boreing me about Book Keeping – hs is from a distance and is a good fellow.
Respectfully. Wm J. Haydon

Capt. R. H. Gleaves