Cool morning. Mr. Frye came in and asked me to accompany him to see the Mill property of my father, so we walked there. A pretty spot situated upon a narrow creek, but the property wretchedly out of repair. The dam which had been carried away is now repairing in a thorough manner, but it would hardly seem worth while to attempt it. Complaints on the part of the Miller of encroachments, on all sides. My father is a wretched provider of his own affairs.1

I returned home and then went in the carriage with the ladies to the foot of the Capitol, on the way to the House of Representatives. The report upon the duel still the subject of debate. Mr. Underwood was making a speech as I went in, after whom Mr. Thomas repeated his proposal to lay on the table and print. This brought on a series of manoeuvres on the part of either party, which came very near bringing a regular flare-up in which my father promised to make a prominent figure. But the Speaker was quite collected and decided so rapidly as to smother the fire. So after a series of Yeas and nays, Thomas carried his 40motion and thus terminates the subject.2 T. K. Davis and Mr. Campbell in after dinner, But I was tired and went to bed.

A cold but fine, clear day. Occupied in the morning in writing and then accompanied the ladies to the Capitol, where they were going to look at the two houses. In the Representatives hall, Mr. Cambreleng was making an opening upon the bill to authorize the issue of Treasury Notes. His tone was by no means conciliatory, and he took a sort of credit to the Administration for the present state of things which bordered a little upon the ludicrous. C. Cushing of Massachusetts made a brief reply during which we transferred ourselves to the Senate where a lazy debate was going on about the District Banks.

The ladies then left us and I returned to the House where Mr. Thompson of S. Carolina was then speaking—a premeditated Essay upon the general subject with a very occasional allusion to the matter in hand. Thompson has not gone with the rest of the Carolinians and Mr. Calhoun in their new policy, and being thus in a degree hazarded in his own State, he takes the present opportunity to make his justification.1 Before he had finished the Committee rose2 and I walked home. Mr. Frye here in the evening. Conversation general.

A lovely day. I walked up early to the Capitol, calling on my way at Mrs. Latimer’s, to see Baron de Roenne, who had left a card for me some time ago. Much conversation with him upon the state of our political and financial affairs. Banking and Texas. On the latter subject he seemed unwilling to put much confidence in the professions of the 41Administration. I am inclined to think this is true. The Government acts upon no public question fully up to it’s professions.

Called for T. K. Davis but he was not at home. At the Capital, Mr. Thompson, after a little preliminary business, continued his Speech. Then came Rhett of Carolina, a high flying disciple of the new school. Nothing more violent nor more absurd than his speech could well be conceived. Menifee and Southgate of Kentucky replied in the manner for which they are peculiar and with much point.1 Then came an apparent struggle between the two parties to settle the question or delay it, and at seven o’clock I left them in the full expectation of a late Session. I could not help thinking all the time, of the fact that in the anxiety to play the game, the final object was perpetually going out of sight. Dinner late and short evening.