pected, from the abuse he has offered to General Washington, while living, and to his memory since his decease. She frequently spoke of the General with great affection, viewing herself as left alone, and her life protracted, until she had become a stranger in the world. She repeatedly remarked the distinguished mercies heaven still bestowed upon her, for which she had daily cause of gratitude, but she longed for the time to follow her departed friend.

After breakfast we rambled about the house and gardens, which were not in so high a style as I expected to have found them. The house stands on an elevated level, is two stories high, with a piazza in front, supported by a row of pillars on the side toward the river, and is about five or six rods from a steep bank descending to the edge of the water. The river is wide, and affords a most delightful prospect far distant up and down the stream, as well as beyond the opposite shore. But the whole country appears to be an extended woods, with very few houses or cultivated fields in any direction. In front of the house is a grass plot, with trees on each side, and inclosed with a circular ditch. On the right is an orchard, consisting principally of large cherry and peach trees. At the bottom of this orchard, and nearly opposite the eastern end of the house, is the venerable tomb, which contains the remains of the great Washington. This precious monument was the first object of our attention. I will not attempt to describe our feelings, or the solemn gloom on every countenance, as we approached the revered mound of earth. It is the sepulcher of of the Washington family, where many of the ancestors of the General are deposited. Situated at the extremity of the grass plot, and on the edge of the bank, it is not seen until you approach near to it. The mound of earth is not much elevated, and is covered over with a growth of cypress trees, a few junipers, and near it the ever-green holly tree, which conceals it from the view until you come almost to it. side of the steep bank to the river is covered with a thicket of forest trees in its whole extent within view of the house. The tomb opens nearly toward the river, at an upright door, which was locked, and all the stone work is covered with earth, overgrown with tall grass and these trees,

The

which appear to have been planted, except at the sides and over the cap of the door. Between the tomb and the bank, a narrow foot-path, much trodden, and shaded with trees, passes round it. Here Mrs. Washington, in gloomy solitude, often takes her melancholy walks. Here every visitor, in slow and solemn steps, approaches this venerable mound. We all of us took boughs from the trees as precious relics of our own and our country's best friend. I shall inclose a twig of the cypress, and a leaf of the holly, from this ever to be revered mound of earth. After we had taken a melancholy leave of the tomb, we rambled over the gardens and shrubbery, which discovered much taste and neatness of design in its former owner. I collected a quantity of seeds,

which I shall forward by water.

Mrs. Washington urged us to tarry to dine, but we were obliged to return to Washington. She was likewise pressing in her invitation to make her another visit before the close of the session, and was so complaisant as to assure me, after offering any of the shrubbery or young trees, if I would come again toward the spring I should find a very different appearance, and be furnished with whatever I wished to send home.

We tarried till about half after two, and then took our leave. I must acknowledge that I am deeply in debt to the Doctor for kind letters. . With iny affectionate regards to him, and love to the children, be assured that I am your tender parent, M. CUTLER."

Jan. 3, 1802, Sunday. The two Houses of Congress were insulted by the introduction of Leland,* the Cheese monger, as a preacher, text, "And behold a greater than Solomon is here." Jefferson was present; the allusion was in

*John Leland, clergyman; born at Grafton, Mass., May 14, 1754; died at North Adams, Mass., January 14, 1841. A Baptist preacher in Virginia in 1775–91. From 1792, until his death, he was settled in Cheshire, Mass. His literary productions, including essays, etc., published in 1845. He was a man of great eccentricity and shrewdness, and a zealous Democrat. In the latter part of 1801 he went to Washington to present to Mr. Jefferson a mammoth cheese, weighing 1,450 pounds, as a testimonial of the esteem and confidence of the people of Cheshire in the new chief magistrate.-Drake's Dict. Am. Biog.

tended and obliquely directed more to him than the glorious Christ to whom the text refers. His first observation

was: "Solomon was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and a scepter in his hand."

Jan. 4, Monday. Apportionment bill before the House; long debate; sat late.

Jan. 5, Tuesday. In Committee of the whole on same. Debates long, warm, and acrimonious. Sat till dark. Committee rose and reported.

Jan. 6, Wednesday. On the question of recommitment, debates still more acrimonious and personal. Political parties took their ground. Sat late. Vote 55 and 34, yeas and nays; not carried. Bill accepted.

Jan. 7, Thursday. Sore throat; did not go out.

Jan. 8, Friday. Mr. Governeur Morris* delivered in the Senate a truly Ciceronian phillipic on the repeal of the Judiciary.

Jan. 9, Saturday. Spent the day in writing letters.

Jan. 10, Lord's Day. Mr. Austin preached a flighty sermon in the Hall.

Jan. 11, Monday. Fine day. Nothing very special. Jan. 12, Tuesday. An attempt to refer the duty on Salt to the Com. of Ways and Means; not obtained.

Jan. 13, Wednesday. Went with Messrs. Hillhouse, Foster, Read, and Perkins, to wait on the Vice-President, Burr, to pay our respects on his arrival in the city. Letters from Mr. Bartlett, Dr. Torrey and wife.

Jan. 14, Thursday. Judiciary bill before the Senate.

*Governeur Morris, statesman and orator; born, Morrisania, N. Y., Jan. 31, 1752; died, Nov. 6, 1816. King's College, 1768. Son of Lewis Morris (signer of Declaration of Independence). Member of Continental Congress, 1777-80. In July, 1780, he was colleague of Robert Morris, as Assistant Superintendent of Finance. He was one of the Committee who drafted the Federal Constitution in the Convention of 1787, In 1788-91, he was in France, occupied in selling land. Minister to France, 1792 to October, 1794. Was United States Senator, 1800-3; acting with the Federalists, and actively opposing the abolition of the judiciary system, in 1802, in speeches of great ability. He was prominent in the great canal project of New York. Passed his latter years in munificent hospitality.-Drake's Dict. Am. Bing.

Jan. 15, Friday. Still in Senate. Nothing very interesting in the House. Mr. Read and I found the length of the Capitol, from N.E. corner to S.E., one hundred and twenty paces; the N. end, forty paces; making the end 8 rods, and the front 24 rods-covering more than one acre of ground. But this includes the central area in part; but the part connecting the wings projects back beyond the line of the opposite side, drawn from the two external corners.

Miss Anna gave us some good music this evening, particularly the "Way-worn Traveler," "Ma Chere Amie," "The Tea," "The Twins of Latona" (somewhat similar to "Indian Chief"), "Eliza," "Lucy, or Selim's Complaint." These are among my favorites. But "Denmark," "Old Hundred," "St. Martins," and several other old tunes, she plays incomparably well. The foot organ is a prodigious addition to FortePianos.

Jan. 16, Saturday. No session.

Jan. 17, Sunday. At the Hall. Chaplain Parkinson preached.

Jan. 18, Monday. Little done in the House. Walked to Georgetown. Spent part of the evening at Mr. Balch's.

Jan. 19, Tuesday.

Little done in the House. Re

port for repeal of Judiciary in the Senate.

Jan. 20, Wednesday. Not much done in House. Mr. Balch, of Georgetown, dined with us.

Jan. 21, Thursday. Attempts to bring forward a motion to inquire whether it be expedient to reduce duties on Bohea Tea, Brown Sugar, and Coffee-to no effect.

Jan. 22, Friday. Very little done. Adjourned to Monday. Jan. 23, Saturday. Wrote letters. Delivered Spofford's papers to Clerk of the Court, Mr. Forsyth. Obtained an order. or a check on the bank at the Treasury office for $230, and in cash, $10.

Jan. 24, Lord's Day. Hall, by Mr. Parkinson. ladies, and full gallery.

Preaching very indifferent in the
Few members of Congress, many

Jan. 25, Monday. Question to inquire into the expenditures in collecting each duty of the internal tax-Yeas and Nays, lost-Salt, loaf Sugar, Tea, and Coffee. The Demos

all silent; not a word from their side of the House on any of the questions, nor a word offered in answer to any on our side. Thus business goes much against us.

Jan. 26, Tuesday. Weather still very fine.

Jan. 27, Wednesday. House passed several bills. Thermometer, 58°.

Jan. 28. Ther., 65°.

Jan. 29, Friday. Ther., at sunrise, 60°.

Jan. 30, Saturday. Went early in the morning to Georgetown, where Mr. Frank Dodge, Mr. Tenney, and myself, took horses, and went up to the great falls, about 12 miles. Visited on our way the cannon foundry; saw them boring the solid cast-iron cannon. Viewed the locks at the lower falls, where the boats pass with ease. The canal is about 2 miles in length. Passed the great bridge, which is a very handsome one, and well built, in the form of the bridge over the Merrimac above Newburyport. The river very narrow near and at the bridge, but said to be deep. Arrived at the great falls, and put up at Mr. Myers'. The appearance of the river is singular; filled with rocks about three-fourths mile-no large cataracts, but frequent falls, and brought into a narrow bed with high rocky banks at the locks. At the lower locks, appeared about 40 feet wide; said to be 35 feet deep. The work of the locks, 6 in number, very neat. The lower lock cut through a solid rock, by blowing, about 47 feet deep and 12 feet wide. The water was to have passed this day; but, not being quite completed, is to be opened for the passage of boats on Tuesday. The canal is three-fourths of a mile. It is a place capable of much business by water-works, but indolence reigns, and the country through which we passed the picture of laziness, negligence, and poverty. Old fields and woods. Returned. Jan. 31, Sunday. Attended Mr. McCormick in the Capitol. Preached a pretty good sermon on forbearance.

REV. DR. DANA.

Dear Sir:

WASHINGTON Jan. 4, 1802.

Some trying questions have been

agitated. An attempt to appoint Duane the printer of the House, and to constitute him an officer of government with