Eubukan. It was ine dear lay. Wherefore passed over a Long and one 3roslyn heights, to see the packets for Engiant mi xther ports making sail in the Bay. I never messet i nora mimating scene. On our return irungi New Yors we were surprised to observe the streets more rowed han at any former perod. We afterwaris inmi, that it is usual for people of al fescriptions to call it ach other's houses, were it but for a moment, on the irst lay of the year. Cold meat, cake, confectionaries, and wines, are laid out upon a table, that all who call may partake; and it seems the general understanding, that such a one's friends as do not call upon him on the first day of the year are not very anxious to continue his acquaintance. There must be imitations to the rule, but I never could get them well explained: and there is no doubt, that the practice, as I have stated it, is very general. The confectioners make great seed-cakes at the period of Christmas and new year. They are thought such curiosities, that advertisements are issued, and people go to see them on the day before they are cut. One of them at Palmer's, the confectioner's, weighed 1500 pounds.

The winter of 1829-30 continued free from severe frost until after the middle of January 1830. Soon afterwards, the thermometer fell a few degrees below the freezing-point; then all hands were set to work in order to have the ice-houses filled with that article which is so indispensable in a warm climate. The ice-house attached to the boarding-house where we

were living contains thirty tons of ice; and, as no ice is admitted into an ice-house here which is not perfectly clean and clear, so that a lump of it may be put into a glass of water or a bottle of wine, as much care is necessary in selecting the ice perfectly pure from the ponds, as in packing it in the ice-house. The people were all alert and employed. Messrs Stevens have immense depots of ice, both here and at Albany, for their steam-boats on the Hudson river.

In crossing the ferry, I became acquainted with Mr Scott, overseer of a farm near New Durham, about five miles from Hoboken. He was in the habit of taking cattle for his master to New York. He told us that he considered himself very lucky in coming to this country. He was unable to pay his passage until two years after he arrived from England, eight years ago. As soon as he discharged that debt, he married a young woman from the same county, (Somersetshire,) who had come out unmarried. He asked us to come and visit his house, and see how comfortable they were, which we accordingly did, and found every thing as he had represented. This family have the necessaries of life in abundance, and are laying up a considerable sum every year, how much he did not mention, neither did he mention his wages exactly. Mr Scott told us that they had plenty of animal food every day,-three cows kept for them, three swine, and a garden. They have three children, and complained of no annoyance but what arises from the heat of the weather. Their Somersetshire dialect made their language more unintel

ligible to us than that of any other persons whom we had seen in the United States.

The month of January 1830 was remarkable for dry weather, to so great a degree, that the streets of New York, especially Broadway, were regularly watered, the dust could hardly be kept down. At length, about the twenty-fifth day of that month, the frost became intense, and the communications from New York to Philadelphia and to Albany, by water, were stopped.

JOURNEY TO THE SOUTH.

35

CHAPTER III.

Journey to the South-Frankford-Colonel Burn-Visit to HimTerrapins-Canvass-back duck-Its excellence-Philadelphia Market-Mansion-house at Philadelphia-Stage to Baltimore-Colonel Mechia-Hominie-Passage of the Susquehannah-Baltimore— Statue of Washington-Journey to Washington with three Cherokee Indians Gadesby's Hotel-The Capitol-Pictures in the Great Rotundo, Painted by Colonel Trumbull-Colonel Trumbull's Imprisonment in the Tower-Benjamin West's Intercession for him with George the Third-The King's Courteous Answer to Mr WestSupreme Court of the United States-President's House-Permanent Committees of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker Debates in the House of Representatives-Period allotted to them-Silence maintained-No" Hear, Hear,"-Mr Foote's Motion-Speakers in Congress-Mr Clay-Mr Webster and Mr Hayne-Mr Berrian-Mr Wirt-All Members conversant with Business Inconvenience of Secretary of State not being in CongressCharacter of Mr Webster-Mr Hayne-Mr Berrian-Mr WirtMr Livingstone-Mr Rowand-Colonel Johnson-His Report on the subject of the Conveyance of the Mail on Sundays-Mr Madison's Paper on Religious Freedom-Mr Cambreling-His Report on the Tariff Laws-Customs of Congress-Divine Service every Sunday in the House of Representatives-Mr Kennedy, Theological Bookseller from Scotland-Mr Kennedy's Brother a Senator in Maryland, formerly a Member of the British Convention-Sermon by Mr Durbans-President Jackson present-Visit to Mr Smith, the Registrar of the Treasury—Visit to the President-Details_Visit to the Secretary at War, and to Mr Lewis, the Auditor of the Treasury

tuated upon a piece of fine flat ground overhanging the river. They have laid out their ground adjoining to the river, for above two miles, in public walks, which the inhabitants of New York, who come over in prodigious numbers, enjoy very much. In this way the ferry is greatly increased, as well as the rent of a hotel belonging to Colonel Stevens at Hoboken, which is at present let at 2000 dollars a-year. The walks are shaded with beautiful willow trees and other wood. In winter the inhabitants do not think of crossing the ferry on purpose for the walks, and we, of course, have the walks very much to ourselves. The case is very much the same with the boarding-house to which we have come. The house is large, and every apartment is filled during the summer, but at this season there is only one gentleman living in the house besides ourselves. It is quite removed out of the village, and adjoins Colonel Stevens' grounds. It was bought for 2500 dollars, although the rent, which might easily have been continued, was 350 dollars. This fact shows

the value of capital in the country. The family to whom the house belongs, and who occupy it, are of Dutch extraction. They were loyalists during the war of the revolution, but are now converted into zealous republicans. The family consists of Mr and Mrs Van Boskerck, a very fine couple, between sixty and seventy years old, and two maiden daughters, who manage the business, except in the marketing department, which leads Mr Van Boskerck to New York twice or thrice a-week. It is much more the fashion at New York