14. III:30.
Washington. Our passage
from Elkton to Baltimore was very rapid; for at half past three O’Clock
in the Morning we were along side of the wharf. The opposition line has
abridged nearly by one half the time of performing the Journey between
Philadelphia and Baltimore—for last year I left Philadelphia at Noon and
reached Baltimore the next day at five in the afternoon—29. hours. but
now, leaving Philadelphia, at the same hour of Noon, we reached
Baltimore, between three and four O’Clock the next Morning; less than
sixteen hours. After waiting in the Boat till near five O’Clock, we
walked up to Gadsby’s tavern, and
were three hours in ascertaining whether we could have a room there— The
house being upon our arrival entirely full. Mrs
Adams had written from New-York, directing that our
Coachman Harry should come
with our light Coaches to Baltimore, to be there last Evening. We found
he had not arrived; and supposing either that the Letter had not been
received; or that some accident had prevented the Carriage from
arriving, I was engaging Seats for us all in the eight O’Clock Stage;
when Harry came in with our Horses and Carriage. The bad weather of
yesterday had made such heavy roads, that he had broken the Pole, and a
glass of the Carriage, and had been obliged to travel all night to reach
Baltimore thus early this morning. I took Seats therefore in the Stage,
only for myself and Philip,
and left Mrs Adams and Mary Hellen to come on in our own
Carriage this afternoon or to-morrow. Judge Johnson of South Carolina, with his Sister and daughter, were leaving Gadsby’s house,
and left a vacant chamber for Mrs Adams. We
met at Baltimore, Mr Roth, Secretary to the French legation, just
embarking for France, on a leave of absence. ten Cate, the late Dutch Charge d’Affaires he told us had
been with him and intended to embark with him; but yesterday suddenly
went off for New-York, he believed to fight a duel, with Mr
Willink, a Dutchman 414who had been
the occasion of ten Cate’s being recalled, and had affronted him, by
paying a Bill of Exchange, drawn by ten Cate, and which had come back
protested; and endorsing upon it Paid for the honour of Holland— I had
several travelling companions in the Stage; and among them Mr
Latrobe the Architect, a very pleasant and social one— The
roads were still heavy from the rains of yesterday. We dined at Cokendorfers, formerly Ross’s; and just at five O’Clock in
the afternoon, I alighted at my house in Washington; and spent the
Evening alone, in reading and writing.
