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(9) 5th March - Dear Ann - There was a further & much greater fall of snow after dark last evening & everything was covered with it this morning; & tho’ it is thawing it may be tomorrow before the field are clear of snow. – Under these circumstances I put on my India-rubber shoes this morn[in]g – for the first time since I left N[ew] York - & am thus comfortable about my feet.

This mornings paper gave us 4 days later news from N[ew] York by the [steamer] America which reached Queenstown [England] last even[in]g or in the course of the night. The main item is the great Federal triumph at Fort Donnelson [Dover, Tennessee] after 3 days fighting. – I suppose we shall get the America’s letters tomorrow morning.

This news seems to be working prejudicially to Cotton.

On m way to town I called at the Dingle to give a [struck-through] or leave for John Cropper Sen[io]r an extract I copied last night from Matthew’s letter by the [steamer] Hausa – As I expected, John Cropper had gone to town, but I saw his Wife & Daughter Maggie & sat some time with them reading

             by the Hausa

parts of your letter ^ omitting those about Rutson’s wife & William’s amiable deportment, - & we talked over Am[erica]n affairs. – Mrs. C[ropper] seemed very well indeed; & she gave a favorable report of her sister Mary.

I have been to see Horatio N. Hughes today, but he was occupied; so I sent in a pencilled Mem[o]r[andu]m that I had called by Walker’s request to see his letter of 14th to Mr. Hughes, who rec[eive]d & read it. It contains copies of Lord [Richard] Lyons’ letter to Fontaine of the 8th [struck-through] 4th & Fontaine,s reply on the 8th & another letter from him to L[or]d Lyons on the 9th. – But what chiefly attracts my notice is that Fontaine was expecting to reach N[ew] York on the 16th or 17th. – I hope that such may have pro- ved the fact both in his case & in Rutson’s too.

Yours affectionately R[utson] Maury

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Miss Maury