After the usual exercises in the morning I went to the House of Representatives to hear the continuation of the discussion of this question. Mr. Bartlett of New Hampshire was speaking, and as he had no reputation I must freely confess that at first I paid but little attention. He soon attracted my notice, by his clear argument and by his wit.1 Indeed I have not heard such a speech in the House, yet. He argued it on two grounds—either it was dangerous to the United States or it was not. If it was, no person would be willing to vote for the measure—if it was not, it was hardly worthwhile to honour the Greeks with “words, mere words.” His ridicule was apt and piercing—particularly in his allusion to the conduct of the mover of this, in the late war.2 He said he could boast of no “new lights” on this subject. That he had been ready to defend his country at all times but he could not go upon this Quixotic expedition. He concluded with saying that if we wished really to patronize schemes, we had better turn to our countryman John Cleves Symmes3 or to the inventor of the “flying machine” and wing our way to glory and immortality. The House appeared very much struck with the speech and collected around him although a new member, very eagerly. I was so pleased that I hastened over to the other side to hear him more distinctly, but he soon finished.

I have read the speech frequently since and seldom recollect a finer hit. A few remarks made upon our system of wordy valour to support his argument that the resolution taken merely as an expression of kindness was unnecessary, were admirable. “We were already too much celebrated for our wordy valour,” he said. “When we wish to take a town or capture a province we send a proclamation, when we defend our own borders, we send a proclamation, when the enemy attacks our capitol we run for our lives, but we send a proclamation.” This was the more amusing as one of our most famous generals in that line, Alexander Smyth,4 has a seat in the House, from Virginia. Mr. Rankin5 arose after he finished and made some remarks which as they did not appear over and above entertaining, I spent the time in conversing with Weed, a young marine officer, and a remarkably agreable young man.6 I have seen something of him of late and have been very much pleased with him. Mr. Farrelly from Pennsylvania then made some observations in so voluble a manner that I did not pretend to keep up with him.7

The debate had now got into such hands, that John and Weed left the House to go and pay Mrs. Livingston8 a visit while I remained to hear General Houston of Tennessee9 make his maiden speech. It was in the Western style, full of rant, fustian and declamation. I had not formed a favourable opinion of the man as I understood that he despised books and thought himself above them. So one would judge from the specimen of his grammar and language given today. But as he is a great Western man and the leader of the delegation, I suppose it is fit that nothing should be said. I admired his gestures and white top boots, laughed at his flowers, wondered at his power of varying his accents from regular dictionaries and retired at the close wonderfully edified. The House also adjourned immediately.

Returning home, I was just in time to dress and be ready for dinner. Madame not being well did not come in nor did the young ladies. The party consisted of Mr. Findlay of Pennsylvania, the only Senator, Messrs. Allison of Pennsylvania, Brent of the department of State, Cobb of Georgia, Crafts of Vermont, Gatlin of North Carolina, Locke of Massachusetts, Neale of Maryland, O’Brien of Maine, Ten Eyck of New York, Whitman of Connecticut and Wickliffe of Kentucky, Members, besides Mr. Richards, delegate from Michigan, and Mr. Gallatin who is at present here.10 A member had declined consequently Father asked Messrs. Brent and Gallatin extraordinary. Had it not been for the latter gentleman, the dinner would have passed off in the most stupid manner to be imagined, and as it was, 59a stranger would have supposed that if these were fair samples of our House of Representatives, we had not much to boast.

Among those who declined was Mr. Bartlett, with whom they in general expressed themselves very much pleased, Mr. Cobb particularly was quite enthusiastic. He is a very rough but rather an original and pleasant man. Mr. Neale was the only gentleman among the members. Findlay was disgusting beyond all example, but being nothing but a Pennsylvania tavern keeper, it is not astonishing. The matter of surprize is that any candidate for office at all should not have the liberty of selecting his own society and not depend upon the broad vulgarities of the coarsest man. I am not much of a democrat, but I do say that education forms a limit which it is impossible for the most zealous republican to oppose or attempt to break down. Mr. Gatlin who was my neighbour appeared no better than he should be, and the man who was next to him, God knows who, had never seen a grape before, and consequently made suitable enquiries and exclamations. Mr. Richards is a very gentlemanly man in appearance but cannot talk English fluently. I hope he did not understand it sufficiently to feel the repeated allusions of the worthy Pennsylvanian Senator, to Spanish priests, as he happens to be a priest himself.

These men disgusted us all, even my father was out of patience. Mr. Gallatin’s wit was thrown away upon hogs and I should scarcely have blamed him had he taken his invitation to meet such company as an insult to his character. For my part, I felt ashamed the whole evening and was very happy when I heard the hint to rise given by my father. They soon went away, some of them not knowing the custom of coffee took French leave. John and I immediately stepped into the Carriage and drove off to Miss Brent’s, a party being given to the bride, this evening.

The rooms are quite small, but the dancing as far as it went, was lively. I danced with Miss Selden and Cornelia Cottringer. The former appeared in high spirits, and talked and laughed very fast. I danced the Spanish dance with Anne Cottringer, this being my first appearance in it, as I had quite a prejudice to it, but it was too tempting to refuse being so near her, and the voluptuous manner in which she waltzes amply paid me for the trial. America Peter fails very much in this, but I should wish no partners here except Anne and Miss Selden perhaps Fanny Monroe11 although I have a mortal aversion to her appearance and therefore never would suffer an introduction to her. Weed was very amusing this evening.

A cold supper was laid downstairs in the solid fashion of the 60ancients. To which I observed Mrs. Miller making very great devotion. She insisted on having some ham from the Virginia side. Miss Selden being from that state is her particular protegé, and so it is throughout. John and this young lady made a very ridiculous figure walking together the last part of this evening and gave rise to some observations one or two of which I heard. For myself, we being but two, I offered a seat to one of the Cottringers but got politely cut by the “matron” of the party. She thought she smelt a rat I presume but I was innocent as a lamb—at any rate we transported Mr. and Miss Selden and after dropping them we arrived safe at home.

This morning I performed my duties very soon and hastened to the House to hear the discussion continued. Mr. Cuthbert delivered a most violent speech against the resolution. He has a very bad voice but I thought pretty well of his argument except in his attributing 61so much hostility to this country from England, which he exaggerated greatly in this case, as it is evident that it will be matter of necessity for England to join us in opposition to the holy alliance instead of sacrificing itself to it only from malice to us. It was preposterous ground.1 His manner is in the Southern style much contortion and a high pitch of a bad voice. I will not deny however that I was considerably interested by the heat of the man himself and his great desire to be felt in what he himself expressed.

Mr. Clay then rose to make some observations in support of the resolution. He argued that we should consult the general good feelings of the House and not the cold dictates of interest, that we could easily afford to sacrifice a beggarly invoice of figs and opium for the extension of the cause of liberty. This much in the strain with his argument on Mrs. Perry’s bill. He then said that no consequences would arise from our resolution which had been so much feared by gentlemen for he questioned very much whether the Grand Signior or the Emperor of Russia had ever heard or ever would hear of such a man as the mover of the resolution although he was a very distinguished man, much less would they notice this resolution. Here he agrees for this is to do the Greeks a great deal of good and the Turks are to be blind to the cause. He then went on in a more threatening tone, saying that some objections had been made to this on account of the source from which it came. He deprecated this as extremely ungenerous and cautioned them against pursuing such illiberal conduct, for if to assist the cause of suffering humanity was to be a Federalist then was he a Federalist.2 He then ascended still, finishing with a sweeping challenge of the whole House, daring them to go back to their constituents and to show a vote on this question against the resolution. He alluded to Mr. Bartlett in a very haughty manner expressing himself pleased with the speech of the “young member” and hoping next time to see more of an argumentative spree, that being a branch in which Mr. Clay himself is remarkable.

This was most unquestionably the most arrogant speech I ever heard delivered in the House, and at the same time one which he supposed would have the greatest effect there. Accustomed as he has been to rule the roost there, he supposed that nothing was wanting to effect a change but his voice. It was used too loud for once and struck harshly upon every member of the House. He made Webster a federalist in his speech to show that he was a liberal minded man and well inclined to that party and he stormed at what he supposed the weak headed path in order that he should use his wonted influ-62ence. Mr. Cuthbert rose to repel the charge from himself and to find the speaker guilty of three inconsistencies at the same time demanding an explanation of him as to what he meant in a part of his remarks which appeared to be particularly intended for him. I shall not soon forget the attitude in which he demanded it and the tremendous ferocity with which he collected himself as he perceived none about to be given. Clay saw this and merely stated that he meant nothing personal to the gentleman although he should take back nothing of what had been said—a very lame conclusion. But he afterwards entered more largely into the subject,3 just as he was doing which I was forced to leave him, it being now considerably after the time which I had set to be at my Aunt Frye’s to dinner today. John remained. I ran home, and from thence to Mrs. Frye’s, my feelings having been excited to a most uncommon degree in the course of the debate. Mr. Randolph after several ineffectual attempts succeeded in obtaining the floor tomorrow.

We were all assembled except Monsieur and Madame who promised to come in the evening. They were all before me, even John who had come directly from the Capitol in a hack. Dinner was not ready and consequently I made nobody wait. He4 appears in very good spirits and she looks as well or better than I ever saw her. A remarkably affectionate woman I should think. Uncle and Aunt Smith were there also, the former with all his usual sententious generalities, the latter with loquacity sufficient to make up all deficiencies. She is a very amusing woman but one of your dangerous persons who are apt to talk of what they know not and in this way make mischief. Poor soul, she has been unfortunate and her story is a pitiful one,5 but she is still a delightful person for a companion and sport of an hour.

Dinner being over Monsieur and Madame soon came in, although she was very unwell indeed. I felt very anxious for the step which she had taken this evening as she really evidently suffered. Aunt Frye provided us with an ample oyster supper according to promise which was very much enjoyed by the real oyster eaters, that is Aunt Smith, Mary and myself. Poor Abby cannot see the pleasure which we take in this, and looks like a fish out of water. In fact that is almost always the case with her now as Johnson has fully characterized her by her “fire-side manners” a strong contrast with Mary’s—the former is the most affectionate disposition by far. It was a remarkable circumstance that Mr. Smith retired soon after dinner, on plea of sickness. After being well stuffed, I gave my seat to Aunt Smith and walked home with Monsieur and John.