Warrenton, December
23, 1813
Wednesday afternoonDear Ellen,
In compliance with your request I write from Raleigh which place I
left on Sunday morning but the best paper I could find at the seat
of government was so ungenteel in appearance that I determined not
to send it to the metropolis of our sister state.
Yesterday on my return I found your welcome letter to which I should
have replied last evening but found myself too much fatigued, and
what with unpacking books and making boxes for Alfred I have little
time left to inform you of my adventures. On my arrival I found all
the sages of the state, and I blush to use the word found, not in
the state house framing the laws for the benefit of their
constituents, but crowded into what had much of the appearance of a
carpenter shop, highly interested in viewing the American navy and
bursting with astonishment as one of them observed by way of
explanation to another, not quite so learned, a "maremaid" emerged
from the canvas deep ~ but you must not judge the whole by an
indifferent specimen, although it be a component part, for I assure
you that our legislature, a motley crew indeed, wears on the whole,
a respectable aspect and boasted a few that could do honor to any
publick station ~ Mr. Stanley from Newbern is a small man unless you
make his abilities your standard, his voice is full and sonorous,
and his distilleth manna ~ he is indeed an oratour of the first
class, and were his gestures more animated he would be a highly
interesting speaker. Genl. Steel and Mr. Cameron contended for the
next grade, the gravity and solemn manner of the one formed a
contrast, with the hurried impetuosity of the latter. Genl. Steel's
speeches contain good sense and solid reasoning but his delivery is
not good, and his manner, to repeat the words of a learned friend,
very disinteresting. Mr. Drew, if not a (___) natural, is at least a
phenomena in the house, he tumbled forth most unmercifully his bombastical nonsense (or vice versa) accompanied with a furious
twirling of the hand and arm, which serves to round his periods with
a peculiar grace. A Mr. Calloway, whom you may place along side of
the latter gentleman, in shape and mien not unlike a Sancho to the
Knight of woful (sic) countenane, springs up mushroom like form his
seat with "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to observe ~ I must beg pardon
of his serene highness, Genl. Jones of Wilminton, for omitting thus
long to remark that I listened to several of his speeches with
little ediffication and less pleasure." Our townsman Mr. Miller is
speaker of the house of commons, he fills the seat with grace and
dignity, and shines with a steady light, like a planet surrounded
by the little nebulous stars. Of Mr. Johnson, I never had so high an
opinion, because contrary to my expectation, he seems to have one of
his own, and altho' well satisfied with expressing it by good old
yea or nay, he is a very good member, and much respected by the
house.
I think Raleigh a handsome little place ~ the State House, Bank, and
City Hotel are, or will be excellent buildings, and if the town
continues to improve for ten or twelve years, we will unite with
Genl. Jones, and dignify it with the name of City.
I had the pleasure of seeing Misses Gilman Marshall and Freeman, the
latter, 'tis true, 'tis pity, and pity 'tis, 'tis true, dressed in
all the gaiety of fashion, and at the Theatre.
Moses was is in good spirits, likes very well, and says that his
sister Ellen writes very amusing letters ~ he will not visit us on
his return, business requiring his presence at home, he still talks
of getting married, but I fear is as far from it is ever ~ or more
expressively speaking, as you or I.
It is now almost dark and if I finish the page you will not receive
by the evenings mail ~or rather it will not bear it hence ~ when I
write again and I will send you a fresh supply of de L'argent, and
thank you for the paper hangings unless you choose to dispense with
that sort of compensation ~ goodbye, my dear Ellen, may you be
everything that I wish and may heaven grant you it's blessings and
protection.
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