Heated term.
— There has lately been much suffering here from heat. We have had it upon
us now eleven days. I go around with an umbrella and a fan. I saw two cases of sun-stroke
yesterday, one in Pennsylvania avenue, and another in Seventh street. The City Railroad
Company
loses some horses every day. Yet Washington is having a livelier August, and is probably putting
in a more energetic and satisfactory summer, than ever before during its existence. There is
probably more human electricity, more population to make it, more business, more
light-heartedness, than ever before. The armies that swiftly circumambiated from
Fredericksburgh,
march'd, struggled, fought, had out their mighty clinch and hurl at Gettysburgh, wheel'd, have
circumambiated again, return'd to their ways, touching us not, either at their going or coming.
And Washington feels that she has pass'd the worst; perhaps feels that she is henceforth mistress.
So here she sits with her surrounding hills and shores spotted with guns; and is conscious of a
character and identity different from what it was five or six short weeks ago, and very
considerably pleasanter and prouder.