The family occupied the house of Mr.Blair, on Pennsylvania Avenue, directly in front of the War Department.

I immediately repaired to the War Department, and placed my dispatches in the hands of Mr.Crawford, who questioned me somewhat about California, but seemed little interested in the subject, except so far as it related to slavery and the routes through Texas.

I then went to call on the President at the White House.

I found Major Bliss, who had been my teacher in mathematics at West Point, and was then General Taylor's son-in-law and private secretary.

He took me into the room, now used by the President's private secretaries, where President Taylor was.