I am here for this day on business connected with my Cumberland Coal interests, & having a little leisure I embrace the opportunity to express to you my thanks for yr prompt & polite attention to my father’s request in furnishing me with letters in anticipation of my trip to Europe.1 I have delayd my departure for some months, & one reason is, that I did not wish to be absent from the Country pending a strugle of such importance as that, which now interests & occupies the mind of the American People. Ineed not say, that my humble mite has been contributed to the success of Democratic principles.

It may not be improper for me to say to you, as yr term of Office is drawing to a close, how proud I am of yr Administration, & with what pleasure Iremember & ever shall do so, that I sustaind & voted for yr election. I have not sought, nor desired Office. I have lookd on with the deepest interest upon yr measures, & yr career & I am constraind to express my highest pleasure at the signal ability, the high integrity & the devoted patriotism with which you have sustaind yrself. As long as the history of the Country shall endure, yr Administration & yr name will occupy a high & enviable position. And in a few years, when the full benefits of some of the measures of yr Administration will be developed, there will be but few who will not mention yr name with love & with reverence.

Yr person & private bearing & character have nobly sustaind the honor & dignity of yr high station, & you have happily illustrated, that morality & profound respect for Religion add beauty & lustre to the most exalted station.

Mrs Polk, yr most excellent lady, has contributed her full share in sustaining the dignity & honor of her high position. Her cheerful courtesy & unwearied kindness to all, a jealous regard for all the proprieties of domestic & social life, her faithful adherance to the exalted principles of her Church & of the Christian Religion, allowing neither custom, nor fashion to trample upon them, has won for her the respect & the love of the whole Nation. Whilst you will retire, having performd nobly yr high duties, carrying with you the respect & confidence of a great Nation, yours is the exalted pleasure to have had a wife during the term of yr arduous & embarrassing [duties], Office2 who has filld the measure of her countrys house, in her appropriate sphere, by filling the full measure of the character of an American Woman.

I wish for one other honor yet to be acheived for yr Administration, which will be ever verdant, & as fresh & enduring as truth itself. Public sentiment in relation to the suspension of Sunday Mails is becoming more & more unequivocal. This will be accomplishd, till throughout the whole Nation, the Government will pay proper regard to the Sabbath. Why may it not be mainly accomplishd during yr Administration? I see the Post-Master General thinks favourably of it. The unborn generations of coming centuries will mention with the deepest affection, the name of the man, who will be fortunate enough to confer such a blessing upon the Country & upon the World.

I hope yr retirement, will be peacefu[l]3 tranquil & happy, & that belovd & respected you will enjoy many years & have the grateful satisfaction of seeing all yr measures crownd with abundant success & at length with the approbation of an entire People.

Accept the assurances of my warmest personal regard & beleive me . . . .