TON: 1842. C. D. to J. F. "is coming on; and there is very little to see, WASHING"after all. We therefore go next Wednesday night "to Richmond, which we shall reach on Thurs"day. There, we shall stop three days; my object "being to see some tobacco plantations. Then "we shall go by James river back to Baltimore, "which we have already passed through, and "where we shall stay two days. Then we shall Proposed "go West at once, straight through the most "gigantic part of this continent: across the Al"leghany-mountains, and over a prairie. journeyings. Acadia with "STILL AT WASHINGTON, Fifteeenth March, "1842.... It is impossible, my dear friend, to "tell you what we felt, when Mr. Q (who is a "fearfully sentimental genius, but heartily in"terested in all that concerns us) came to where "we were dining last Sunday, and sent in a note "to the effect that the Caledonia * had arrived! Arrival of "Being really assured of her safety, we felt as if "the distance between us and home were dimi"nished by at least one half. There was great "joy everywhere here, for she had been quite "despaired of, but our joy was beyond all telling. "This news came on by express. Last night your "letters reached us. I was dining with a club *This was the Acadia with the Caledonia mails. The Life of Charles Dickens. II. 13 mails. WASHING- 1842. C. D. to J. F. Letters from Congress and Senate. Quincey "(for I can't avoid a dinner of that sort, now and "then), and Kate sent me a note about nine "o'clock to say they were here. But she didn't "open them-which I consider heroic-until I came home. That was about half past ten; and "we read them until nearly two in the morning. 66 "I won't say a word about your letters; ex"cept that Kate and I have come to a conclusion "which makes me tremble in my shoes, for we "decide that humorous narrative is your forte, "and not statesmen of the commonwealth. I "won't say a word about your news; for how "could I in that case, while you want to hear "what we are doing, resist the temptation of ex"pending pages on those darling children......... "I have the privilege of appearing on the floor "of both houses here, and go to them every day. "They are very handsome and commodious. There "is a great deal of bad speaking, but there are a "great many very remarkable men, in the legis"lature: such as John Quincey Adams, Clay, "Preston, Calhoun, and others: with whom I need "scarcely add I have been placed in the friend"liest relations. Adams is a fine old fellow"seventy-six years old, but with most surprising "vigour, memory, readiness, and pluck. Clay is "perfectly enchanting; an irresistible man. There FIRST.] TON: 1842. C. D. to J. F. "are some very noble specimens, too, out of the WASHING"West. Splendid men to look at, hard to deceive, "prompt to act, lions in energy, Crichtons in "varied accomplishments, Indians in quickness of Leading" "eye and gesture, Americans in affectionate and statesmen. "generous impulse. It would be difficult to ex"aggerate the nobility of some of these glorious "fellows. American "When Clay retires, as he does this month, Preston. "Preston will become the leader of the whig party. "He so solemnly assures me that the international "copyright shall and will be passed, that I almost "begin to hope; and I shall be entitled to say, if "it be, that I have brought it about. You have "no idea how universal the discussion of its "merits and demerits has become; or how eager "for the change I have made a portion of the "people. "You remember what was, in England. "If you could but see him here! If you could "only have seen him when he called on us the "other day-feigning abstraction in the dreadful "pressure of affairs of state; rubbing his forehead "as one who was a-weary of the world; and ex"hibiting a sublime caricature of Lord Burleigh. "He is the only thoroughly unreal man I have "seen, on this side the ocean. Heaven help the International copyright. TON: 1842. C. D. to WASHING "President! All parties are against him, and he "appears truly wretched. We go to a levee at "his house to-night. He has invited me to dinner "on Friday, but I am obliged to decline; for we "leave, per steamboat, to-morrow night. J. F. President Tyler. Concerning the American people. "located" in America. "I said I wouldn't write anything more con"cerning the American people, for two months. "Second thoughts are best. I shall not change, "and may as well speak out—to you. They are "friendly, earnest, hospitable, kind, frank, very "often accomplished, far less prejudiced than you "would suppose, warm-hearted, fervent, and en"thusiastic. They are chivalrous in their universal "politeness to women, courteous, obliging, dis"interested; and, when they conceive a perfect "affection for a man (as I may venture to say of "myself), entirely devoted to him. I have received "thousands of people of all ranks and grades, "and have never once been asked an offensive or Englishmen "unpolite question-except by Englishmen, who, "when they have been 'located' here for some "years, are worse than the devil in his blackest "painting. The State is a parent to its people; "has a parental care and watch over all poor "children, women labouring of child, sick persons, "and captives. The common men render you as"sistance in the streets, and would revolt from The desire to WASHING TON: 1842. C. D. to J. F. "the offer of a piece of money. "me. It would with you. I think it impossible, ..... Clay amari right petition. "One of two petitions for an international The copy"copyright which I brought here from American "authors, with Irving at their head, has been pre"sented to the house of representatives. "retains the other for presentation to the senate "after I have left Washington. The presented "one has been referred to a committee; the "Speaker has nominated as its chairman Mr. "Kennedy, member for Baltimore, who is himself "an author and notoriously favourable to such a "law; and I am going to assist him in his report. |