A holiday celebrated with more ardor on account of the present condition of things. I was at home writing a great number of letters, which kept me all the morning. The streets were filled with militia company moving to and fro between Georgetown and the President’s, and the few companies of regulars were also out. I took a solitary walk in the least frequented parts of Georgetown, and there in the quiet presence of natured tired to forget the turmoil of public affairs. The remainder of this session of Congress will be nothing but noise and confusion. How foreign to my habits and tastes! I count the days to the end. In the evening we had several visiters. Mr W Brigham and his son, and Messr Scranton and Spaulding of the House. They mentioned an attack made upon Mr Van Wyck last night on the north side of the Capitol squire, in which he narrowly escaped with his life. He made last year a violent speech which it is not impossible that some of the ruffian abounding in this neighbourhood may remember. At all events, it is a warning that slavery in its desperation is ready to seek any mode to arrange its downfall. Time is hinging round its own fate.77