I did not go out of the house all day. After spending my morning in reading Bacon and the Atlas, I spent the rest of the day in the Drawing room with Madame and the Ladies who are busily employed in the preparations for the eighth. The carriage broken last night was Mr. Calhoun’s, and the horses started as she was going to get in, a very providential escape particularly as she is in a critical situation. 1

It amuses me much to observe the sports going on always at this time of the year among the people. The guns, squibs and crackers going all the time appear to exhibit so much happiness and content among the common people and the various little tricks which they play are the relics of the old Christmas gambols. They appear to have taken it into their heads to trick us, but it was only by tying a dead pig to the door. They treated poor Mr. Lewis Johnson the tobacco man worse, for they took a fancy to the figure of a little squab Dutchman smoking his pipe, which was his sign, and they carried it off with them. This man is the successor of Duport a man known to us of old. He could not bear this with any sort of patience, consequently posted an advertisement with a reward together with a most lamentable complaint on the subject, and numerous threats of vengeance. Rather imprudently, as I thought, for the population here are not to be checked with impunity at this time. The good people of the North are far too steady for my blood and although I may be saying what I should not I cannot help preferring the traits of the Southern 31character with all the faulty ones to the eternal purity of the Northern hypocrites.

I did not attend Church or go out of the house all day. I read some of Lord Bacon contrary to custom as I take Sunday to be a holiday. But the principal part of the day was employed in discussing politics and the Presidential question with Johnson Hellen. I have become very much interested in it for want of something better to do, and talk about probabilities and possibilities much more than I ever did before. There are so many people one sees here playing so deep a game and staking almost all upon the result that it is impossible not to feel as if one wished to crush them. General Jackson is rising here considerably as it is understood that he has made up almost all the old quarrels, and by sweetness of manner and piety of disposition is winning his way with success.1 I do not think him to be an intriguer however.

Mr. Calhoun, of whom Johnson entertained so many fears, is now on the descending scale and will probably quit the field. There are flying rumours about Mr. Crawford and his health, but no confidence can be placed in what is said concerning him. Mr. Clay says he is confident of his election, as he is backed by his eight Western states and will trust to Providence for five others. And last of all my father appears to take the matter with most amazing coolness and upon any question being asked him returns it with the diplomatic answer, We shall see. He does sometimes explain himself more fully and we have pleasant conversation on this subject. Johnson’s whole heart and soul appears to be fixed on the catastrophe, which interests us all more or less. We spent the Evening “en Famille.”

This morning I read my Geography and Bacon for the last time 32for a week or ten days, as the house is about to be turned topsy turvy for that time. Monsieur was moved from his Library and Study up into John’s sitting room. For his room was converted into a ball room. The pillars were put up to day as it was thought necessary to prop the house. Twelve of them were put up. And Madame set us all busily to work making wreaths. I also went to Georgetown in the carriage to day with Mary, myself to get some Money, a draft for which had been given me by Mrs. Clark1 when I set out. Mary went on some business for Madame. We stopped also at the Flower Warehouse where I gave some directions for John.2 We returned very soon after quite a pleasant ride although I am obliged to be amazingly cautious in my conduct towards her. The relatives I perceive watch me so closely now that I am always forced to keep a certain level. If in either too high or too low spirits for any time in her presence, it is set down immediately as a relapse. She has some alluring ways which are apt to make every man forget myself, but she is not what she was, and I have had too hard a trial to think of ever wishing to endure the same. George too, but fortunately (for indeed I cannot help thinking so) he is not with us, would be in a perfect fever and sickness if he was to imagine that she had encouraged me in the least as he would certainly.3 Our connection however was long since thoroughly broken off and we have been mutually guarded ever since.4 Mr. Fuller came, and talked to me about invitations and the Lord knows what, all which I referred to Madame. Thus went the day.