Perleys Reminiscences, v. 1-2 | Page 2

have given a connected political and social history of what has transpired at the National Metropolis during the past sixty years would have required a dozen volumes, so the most conspicuous features only have been here and there selected.
Confident of the exact truthfulness of the sketches here given, this work is presented, without apologies, to a generous public as the result of very extensive observation.
BEN: PERLEY POORE. INDIAN HILL FARM, Near Newburyport, Mass.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS BECOMES PRESIDENT. The Tenth Presidential Election--A Political Bargain--Election of President--A Scene in the House--Inauguration of J. Q. Adams--The Adams Administration--The Mistress of the White House--The President's Private Secretary--Social Life at the White House--President Adams' Daily Life--Henry Clay as Secretary of State--The Rival Candidates --The Death of Two Ex-Presidents.
CHAPTER II.
TRAVELING IN "YE OLDEN TIME." Travel by Stage and Steamboat--Boston to Providence--The Old Town of Providence--The Long Island Sound Steamers--New York City--New York to Philadelphia--Philadelphia to Washington--Washington Hotel Life--Expenses of Living--The Metropolis of the Union--The National Capital--Works of Art--The Rotunda--Free-Masonry--The Morgan Excitement--Theatrical--Division of the Friends' Society.
CHAPTER III.
JOURNALISM IN 1828. Old Georgetown--The Union Tavern--A Natal African Salute--President George Washington--Major L'Enfant--Newspaper Organs--The National Intelligencer--The National Journal--Matthew L. Davis--James Gordon Bennett--Mordecai M. Noah--Other Washington Correspondents--A Notable Briton--Gambling-Houses--Senatorial Card Playing--Social Games of Whist.
CHAPTER IV.
PROMINENT SENATORS OF 1827. The Nineteenth Congress--Vice-President John C. Calhoun--Martin Van Buren--Nathaniel Macon, of North Carolina--Thomas Hart Benton --Randolph, of Roanoke--Duel between Clay and Randolph--An Offended Virginian--A Future President--Prominent Senators--Senatorial Control of Society--The Dancing Assemblies--Fashionable Attire-- Belles of the Period--The Code of Honor.
CHAPTER V.
PROMINENT REPRESENTATIVES OF 1827. The Representatives' Hall--Admission of Ladies--Webster, of Massachusetts--Edward Everett--McDuffie, of South Carolina--Rhode Island's Bald Eagle--A Bargain Exposed--Retrenchment and Reform-- Prominent Representatives--The Supreme Court--Chief Justice Marshall --Mr. Justice Washington--The Christmas Holidays.
CHAPTER VI.
THE POLITICAL MACHINE. The Tenth Presidential Campaign--Election of General Jackson--Death of Mrs. Andrew Jackson--The Inauguration of "Old Hickory"--Reception at the White House--An Editorial Phalanx--The Civil Service-- Disciplining a Postmaster General--A Fortunate Mail Contractor-- The Sunday Mail Crusade.
CHAPTER VII.
THE KITCHEN CABINET. Jackson's First Annual Message--The Kitchen Cabinet--Blair, of the Globe--Washington Newspapers and News--The First Lady-Bird of the Press--Nathaniel P. Willis--Peter Force--Social Enjoyments--Mrs. Trollope on Washington Society--Attempt to Oust a Veteran from Office--Payment of the Claims on France.
CHAPTER VIII.
BATTLE OF THE GIANTS. The Great Senatorial Debate--Attack on New England--Webster's Reply to Hayne--Nullification Nipped in the Bud--Society in Jackson's Day--Mrs. General Eaton--A Chivalrous President--Theatricals--The Great Tragedian--Minor Amusements--Executive Charity--Swartwouting --The Star Spangled Banner.
CHAPTER IX.
STAMPING OUT OF NULLIFICATION. Rejection of Martin Van Buren--The War against the United States Bank--Nick Biddle, of the Bank--Re-election of General Jackson-- Financial Debate in the Senate--Calhoun, of South Carolina--Secession Stamped Out--Union Proclamation--The Expunging Resolution--A Senatorial Scene--An Appeal from the Chair.
CHAPTER X.
PROMINENT MEN OF JACKSON'S TIME. Harry of the West--Tilt between Clay and Benton--Rebuke of a Revolutionary Hero--Apt Oratorical Illustration--Daniel Webster's Wit--An Excited Visitor--The House of Representatives--General Houston Reprimanded--Eli Moore, of New York--Churchill C. Cambreleng --Crockett, of Tennessee--Embryo Presidents--Other Distinguished Representatives--A Jackson Democrat.
CHAPTER XI.
SOCIETY IN JACKSON'S TIME. The Van Ness Mansion--A Benefactress--A Popular Citizen--A Much- Talked-of Lawsuit--A Runaway Nun--General Jackson's Diplomacy-- Washington Society--Anecdotes told by Mr. Clay--Maelzel's Automata --Condemned Literature.
CHAPTER XII.
JACKSON AND HIS ASSOCIATES. Democratic Rejoicing--Attempt at Assassination--The Political Guillotine--The Vicar of Bray--Daniel Webster's Memory--Bayard, of Delaware--The Claytons--Pearce, of Maryland--The Classical and the Vernacular--Boulanger's--Location of the New Treasury Building-- Hackett, the Comedian--A Jealous Artist--Sumner's First Visit to Washington--The Supreme Court and its Justices.
CHAPTER XIII.
JACKSON'S LAST YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Van Buren as Vice-President--Henry Clay as Champion of the Bank-- Washington's Ceremonial Birthday--Removal of His Remains--The Decapitation of General Jackson--The President at the Race-Track-- An Old-Time Cock Fight--Wedding at Arlington--The Public Gardener --Miss Fanny Kemble--Cheese Reception at the White House.
CHAPTER XIV.
VAN BUREN'S STORMY ADMINISTRATION. Inauguration of Van Buren--His First Reception--Departure of Jackson for the Hermitage--Van Buren's Embarrassments--The Great Financial Debate--Antagonism of Clay and Calhoun--An All Night Session-- Morning Excuses--The Graves and Cilley Duel--A Congressional Comedian.
CHAPTER XV.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT. The Slavery Agitation--Early Secession Movements--Webster on Emancipation--His Idea of the Far West--Franklin Pierce's Position --The Foremost of Orators--Joseph Holt--King, of Alabama--The Buckshot War--Star Routes--Van Buren's Titles.
CHAPTER XVI.
POLITICAL INTRIGUES AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS. Presidential Hospitalities--Social Entertainments--A Gifted Adventuress--Espy, the Weather King--A Foreign Indorsement--Van Buren's Re-election--The Ogle Speech--Van Buren's New Year's Reception.
CHAPTER XVII.
LOG-CABINS AND HARD CIDER. The Harrison Campaign--Political Songs--Whig Conventions--Great Paraders--Corwin's Reply to Crary--Crary's Complete Discomfiture-- The Campaign Paper--Horace Greeley--Henry Clay on the Stump--Amos Kendall--The Fall Elections--Pipe Laying--The Whigs Triumphant.
CHAPTER XVIII.
ENTER WHIGS--EXIT DEMOCRATS. The Fourteenth Presidential Election--Enter Harrison--Exit Van Buren--The Harrison Cabinet--Attack upon Mr. Webster--"The Salt Boiler of the Kanawha"--The other Cabinet Officers--Harrison's Inaugural Message--The Inauguration--The Procession--Scenes at the Capitol--The Inaugural Address--President Harrison's First Reception --Inauguration Balls.
CHAPTER XIX.
HARRISON'S ONE MONTH OF POWER. Civil Service Reform--Differences of Opinion--Difficulty between Clay and King--Washington Correspondents--Verbatim Reports of Debates--A Popular British Minister--Other Foreign Diplomats-- Quarrelsome Carolinians--Daniel Webster's Housekeeping--Illness of President Harrison--Death--Funeral--The Last Honors.
CHAPTER XX.
THE KING IS DEAD--LONG LIVE THE KING. "Le Roi Est Mort; Vive le Roi"--Extra Session of Congress--Trouble in the Whig Camp--Edward Everett before the Senate--Thurlow