In full conclave to-night, the drawing-room crowded with
Judges, Governors, Senators, Generals, Congressmen. They were exalting John C.
Calhoun's hospitality. He allowed everybody to stay all night who chose to stop
at his house. An ill-mannered person, on one occasion, refused to attend family
prayers. Mr. Calhoun said to the servant, “Saddle that man's horse and let him
go.” From the traveler Calhoun would take no excuse for the “Deity offended.” I
believe in Mr. Calhoun's hospitality, but not in his family prayers. Mr.
Calhoun's piety was of the most philosophical type, from all accounts.1
The latest news is counted good news; that is, the last man
who left Washington tells us that Seward is in the ascendency. He is thought to
be the friend of peace. The man did say,
however, that “that serpent Seward is in the ascendency just now.”
Harriet Lane has eleven suitors. One is described as likely to
win, or he would be likely to win, except that he is too heavily weighted. He
has been married before and goes about with children and two mothers. There are
limits beyond which! Two mothers-in-law! Mr. Ledyard spoke to Mrs. Lincoln in
behalf of a doorkeeper who almost felt he had a vested right, having been there
since Jackson's time; but met with the same answer; she had brought her own
girl and must economize. Mr. Ledyard thought the twenty thousand (and little
enough it is) was given to the President of these United States to enable him
to live in proper style, and to maintain an establishment of such dignity as
befits the head of a great nation. It is an infamy to economize with the public
money and to put it into one's private purse. Mrs. Browne was walking with me
when we were airing our indignation against Mrs. Lincoln and her shabby
economy. The Herald says three only of the elite Washington families
attended the Inauguration Ball.
The Judge has just come in and said: “Last night, after Dr.
Boykin left on the cars, there came a telegram that his little daughter,
Amanda, had died suddenly.” In some way he must have known it beforehand. He
changed so suddenly yesterday, and seemed so careworn and unhappy. He believes
in clairvoyance, magnetism, and all that. Certainly, there was some terrible
foreboding of this kind on his part.
_______________
1 John C. Calhoun had died in March, 1850.
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 17-8
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