The weather on this 16th of August, is very pleasant at Boston. I hear it has been terribly oppressive, and we were fortunate to be at charming breezy Cape Ann.

I was surprised the other day at my nephew-in-law, E. W ––, suddenly making his appearance here. He is going to visit Newport instanter, and then is off to Canada. He introduced the other day a friend of his to me, Mr. C. S, –– a most agreeable and highly-informed person.

The thunder-storms have been as rare in America as in England this year: we had one however, the night before last. I hope it will do good, and clear away the cholera a little.

We had a disagreeable little fright some time ago here, occasioned by the passage being on fire close to V ––'s room (it was owing to something wrong about the gas-pipes). It was early in the night fortunately, and as I thought most likely some of the numerous fire-engines would be within call, taking their usual constitutional walk or canter (in short, taking the air if there was no fire to take), I did not feel much trepidation.