To those who personally know Mr. Woodbury, it is unnecessary to state, that in his manners he is one of the most agreeable men in the world. Finally, himself and Mrs. Woodbury, have the most beautiful, well bred and polite family now attending on this session of Congress. Their persons are not less beautiful than their minds, their manners and their hearts. I dismiss them from any further notice in my book, with the fervent desire that God may bless them.
Journey from Washington to Philadelphia.--A day at Philadelphia. --Journey to New York on the rail-road.--Stop on Broadway.--A dinner consisting of ice water and one mouthful of roast beef!-- Bill of fare, but no fare.--Thefts and burglary.--Broadstreet Hotel corner of Broad and Pearl streets.--Fare excellent, but no BILL OF FARE on the table at dinner.--Charles A. Clinton and Dr. Hosack.--Mrs. Lentner’s on Amity street, where Colonel Trumbull lived and died.--Albert Gallatin and his lady on Beckman street. --Mr. Gallatin’s eventful life.--How employed in the study of Indian languages.--His inquiries concerning his old friends in the District of Columbia.--Their feeling towards him and Mrs. Gallatin, and the comparisons they are now daily compelled to make.--The trade of New York city, its vast amount and probable increase, which will eventually render it the greatest commercial emporium in the world.--Rail-road to the Pacific ocean and a fair prospect of its connecting our Atlantic cities with China and the Pacific islands, by means of rail-roads and steam vessels.--The future wealth, grandeur and moral glory of this republic.
Having tarried at Washington about eight days, and having visited all the places and persons that I then desired to see, I left the city early in the morning, in the rail-road cars, breakfasted in Baltimore at Bradshaws, and reached Philadelphia about dark in the evening. Stopping at the Mansion House hotel, adjoining the depot, I visited Dr. S. G. Morton, on Arch street, not far from my lodgings. He invited me to call on him the next evening, which I did. Through the day intervening, I visited some book-sellers and book-binders, and saw and conversed with several very agreeable and well educated persons, citizens and strangers. The Philadelphians are a very moral, well-informed and good people. At Dr. Morton’s I met a small circle of his friends, with whom I spent agreeably several hours. The Doctor and his lady have a family of very promising sons and daughters, whom they are educating in the best possible manner. I saw Dr. Wistar at the hotel where I put up, and where he boards. He is the son of the celebrated Doctor of that name, but the present Dr. Wistar does not wish to follow the practice of his profession, and so he does not follow it at present; at least, I so understood him to say. Since I had seen this city, it had greatly increased its dimensions and improved its exterior appearance. The Girard College buildings, the Merchants’ Exchange and the Almshouse, have been built since I had seen Philadelphia before, and they added much to its exterior aspect.