Arose this morning in high spirits and caught Johnson and John in the first salutation as I roared it out from one room to the other, before I was up. After breakfast I walked with Madame and Abby to see Aunt Smith. She looks very well and appears as comfortably settled as could be expected. She as usual in the highest word omitted although “bless me she had suffered so severe an attack from the rheumatism.” After some hesitation, she accepted an invitation to our Christmas dinner and upon that we returned. He1 came in latterly—he does not look well. We were not long before the proper time to dress for dinner which being done, we assembled in the parlour to receive the guests. The company consisted of a Mr. Blunt of New York, Mr. Carter the editor of a New York paper, Mr. Cook, Member from Illinois, Mr. Dwight from Massachusetts, Edwards, Senator from Connecticut, Mr. Fuller of Massachusetts, Dr. Huntt, Mr. Newton from Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan2 with two young sons, and Uncle and Aunt Smith. Some of these I knew long since, others were new and unexpected. Mr. Sullivan by chance had the left corner at the bottom of the dinner table which was the seat next my usual one, and amused me very much indeed by his discursive powers. He would talk, heaven how he would talk, of soup, of bread, of College, of every thing in short, and although I thought him something of an amusing man, I could not help assenting to the common proverb that you can do more business with a taciturn character. Some sharp cuts passed between Dwight, Fuller and Sullivan and I saw plainly that the latter was no favourite. Mr. Newton was very agreably excited and spouted to some purpose on the subject of the Greeks. He appears to be a pleasant man. Blunt exhibited himself as I shall have occasion to mention hereafter, for he was a man thrown very much into our society during my stay. After some lively conversation in the latter part of the evening, the company retired and then we set down to a game of Whist, so that it was twelve o’clock before we separated. Of all persons whom I have ever seen, to prepossess against, I think Mrs. Sullivan the most likely to have that effect. But I had not much opportunity to judge this evening. The subject of Greece appears to have created some conversation as Mr. Webster is about to come out in his most powerful manner, and to be supported by Mr. Clay. Their side of the question is as I hear to be warmly attacked by men equally powerful.3 Mr. Sullivan in the course of his conversation after deciding this question, carried through a most tremendously severe philippic upon Harvard College which I should have thought more of, had it come from a weightier man.

Up late as usual to make up for the deficiencies in the evening. After breakfast went out with John to leave cards at the places to which we used to go so often last winter. Miss Cottringers and Miss Selden.1 The eldest of the former, Harriet is to be married to Mr. Brent next week—and on the whole I think it time for she has passed the grand climacteric and is now going down hill. But the Man has not misjudged in his selection as she I have no doubt will make a most excellent wife. It is said that women of “a certain age” always make the best wives and there is reason in the conclusion, but it does appear to me that if I am to marry, I shall have leave to consult my own taste on the score, and receive something like pleasure for so disagreable a step. Excellence is good but it is not much without beauty.

Miss Selden I understand is as pretty and lively as ever; we merely left cards and then returned home. Nothing remarkable happened. Visitors pouring in, in quantities which it is agreable to Madame to refuse, as she is “not at home,” a custom without which it would be impossible to move. We were very quiet all day. Johnson talked a little of politics and thought more. He is in evident pain all the time and appears in very bad health. His residence in Rockville is very much disapproved by all his friends. It was a singular step when taken and done for nothing but the necessity of the moment. His success has been remarkable and on that account he is unwilling to 23give up the idea of remaining there, but I expect his health will force him away either to Fredericktown or here where he always appears to improve whenever he comes up to make a stay.