TEAMS READY FOR THE NATIONAL ROAD.
Trenton, February 25, 1833.
Dear Sir: You will perceive by the enclosed that I have attended to your directions as far as practicable. It is their own exposition of the matter, and such as they gave me.
I neglected to mention to you in my letter of yesterday that the cause of the private express beating that of the Government alluded to in Mr. Mumford’s letter, was owing to but one cause.
Their express came through from Washington.
The Government express from Philadelphia, after the arrival of the steamship, giving the newspaper express the start of six hours in advance of that of the Government. The lateness of the succeeding arrivals originated from the cause mentioned in the enclosed letter. No mail having arrived from the South, they supposed, from the lateness of the arrival of the express the following night, that there would not be any more.
This was caused by the late arrival of the steamboat, and no preparation was made on the road for taking it on. This is their excuse; whether it will pass current is for you to determine. I have just received a letter from Mr. Washington on the subject. He attaches the blame to Thompson’s bad horse, &c.
I think we shall be able to get the mail through in time to connect with the boat, should the roads not get worse than they now are.
The mail arrived in Philadelphia this morning at 6 o’clock. I have good reasons for believing that it will continue, unless a change should take place in the roads.