ed to receive the visit of the President, which he knew was improper, he was resolved at all haz'ds to pay his compliments to-day. The Lieut. Gov'r and two of the Council, to wit, Heath and Russell, were sent here last night to express the Gov'rs concern that he had not been in a condition to call upon me so soon as I came to town. I informed them in explicit terms that I should not see the Gov'r unless it was at my own lodgings."

These lodgings were in the house still standing, at the corner of Court street and Tremont street, now occupied as a grocery on the ground floor, with lawyers' offices above. As a dwelling house it was one of highly respectable appearance and character for that day.

The Diary for the following day records the sad consequence of the detention and exposure of the President on entering the town. It will be observed that he calls the war of the revolution "the dispute with Great Britain." This was frequently done by the worthies of that day, reserving the name of "War" for the struggle between England and France of 1756.

"Monday 26. The day being rainy and stormy, myself much disordered by a cold and inflammation in the left eye, I was prevented from visiting Lexington (where the first blood in the dispute with G. Britain was drawn). Rec'd the compliments of many visitors to-day. Mr. Dalton and Gen'l Cobb dined with me, and in the evening [I] drank Tea with Gov'r Hancock and called upon Mr. Bowdoin on my return to my lodgings."

Thus terminated an affair without serious consequences and without scandal, which at the moment assumed an alarming character, and might with less judicious counsel have resulted in permanent mischief.

The events of Tuesday and Wednesday, the remaining days of Washington's visit to Boston, are given in the words of the Diary:

"Tuesday 27th.

At 10 o'clock in the morning, received the visits

of the Clergy of the town.

At 11 went to an Oratorio-and between

that and 3 o'clock rec'd the Addresses of the Governor and Council-of the town of Boston-of the President &c. of Harvard College, and the Cincinnati of the State; after wch at 3 o'clock at a large and elegant Dinner at Fanueil Hall, given by the Gov'r and Council and spent the evening at my Lodgings. When the Committee from the Town presented their Address it was accompanied with a request (in behalf they said of the Ladies) that I would sit to have my Picture taken for the Hall, that others might be copied from it for the use of their respective families. As all the next day was assigned to various purposes, and I was engaged to leave town on Thursday early, I informed them of the impracticability of my doing this, but that I would have it drawn when I returned to New York, if there was a good painter there-or by Mr. Trumbull when he should arrive, and would send it to them."

A slight mishap occurred at the Oratorio. On account of the indisposition of several of the first performers, (as stated in the Centinel of the following day,) the music was postponed for a week. "Several pieces, however, were given which merited and received applause"! Of this rather serious

drawback to the success of an Oratorio, viz.: the postponement of the music in consequence of the indisposition of several of the principal performers, all mention is kindly omitted in the Diary.

"Wednesday 28th. Went, after an early breakfast, to visit the duck manufactory, which appeared to be carrying on with spirit, and in a prosperous way. They have manufactured 32 pieces of Duck of 30 or 40 yds. each in a week, and expect in a short time to increase it to They have 28 looms at work, and 14 Girls spinning with Both hands, (the flax being fastened to their Waist.) Children (girls) turn the wheels for them, and with this assistance each spinner can turn out 14 lbs. of Thread pr. day when they stick to it, but as they are paid by the piece, or work they do, there is no other restraint upon them but to come at 8 o'clock in the morning, and return at 6 in the evening. They are daughters of decayed families, and are girls of character-none others are admitted. The number of hands now employed in the different parts of the work is but the Managers expect to increase them to. This is a work of public utility and private advantage. From hence I went to the Card Manufactory, where I was informed about 900 hands of one kind and for one purpose or another-all kinds of Cards are made; and

there are Machines for executing every part of the work in a new and expeditious man'r, especially in cutting and bending the teeth, wch. is done at one stroke. They have made 63,000 pr. of Cards in a year, and can undersell the imported Cards-nay Cards of this Manufactory have been smuggled into England. At 11 o'clock I embarked on board the barge Illustrious, Captn. Penthere Gion, and visited his ship and the Superb, another 74 Gun Ship in the Harbour of Boston, about 4 miles below the Town. Going and coming I was saluted by the two frigates which lye near the wharves, and by the 74s after I had been on board of them. I was also saluted going and coming by the fort on Castle Isld. After my return I dined in a large Company at Mr. Bowdoin's, and went to the Assembly in the evening, where (it is said) there were upwards of 100 Ladies. Their appearance was elegant, and many of them very handsome; the room is small but neat and well ornamented."

The President left Boston the following morning. His departure was fixed at eight o'clock. As that hour was striking, he was seen in the door-way of his lodgings, and at the last stroke of the clock he started with his suite. The troop of Cavalry appointed to escort him did not overtake him till nearly arrived at Charlestown Bridge. On his way to Salem he visited Harvard College, where he expressed the opinion from the inspection of the drawing, that the inscription on Dighton rock, is the work of our aborigines. From Cambridge he passed through Malden, Lynn and Marblehead to Salem, where he remained over night. On the 30th he proceeded to Newburyport and lodged there. From Newburyport the following day he went to Portsmouth and remained there till Wednesday the 4th of November, when he started on the return through Exeter, Haverhill, Bradford, Andover, Wilmington, Watertown, Needham, Sherborne, Holliston and Uxbridge. Here he lodged at "one Taft's," where," though the people were obliging the entertainment. was not very inviting." The following letter written to Mr. Taft from Hartford, the second day after lodging at his house, places the gentler qualities of Washington's character in at very pleasing light. The person referred to by the name of Polly is still living.

"HARTFORD, 8 Nov: 1789. SIR-Being informed that you have given my name to one of your sons, and called another after Mrs. Washington's family, and being moreover very much pleased with the modest and innocent looks of your two daughters, Patty and Polly, I do for these reasons send each of these girls a piece of chintz; and to Patty, who bears the name of Mrs. Washington, and who waited more upon us than Polly did, I send five guineas, with which she may buy herself any little ornaments she may want, or she may dispose of them in any other manner more agreeable to herself. As I do not give these things with a view to have it talked of, or even to its being known, the less there is said about it the better you will please me; but, that I may be sure the chintz and money have got safe to hand, let Patty, who I dare say is equal to it, write me a line informing me thereof, directed to "The President of the United States at New York." I wish you and your family well, and am your humble servant, "GEO. WASHINGTON."

I should have been pleased to be able to extend this reView and abstract of President Washington's Diary, but I have already appropriated to it as much space as can be given up to one subject. The extracts submitted to the reader will, if I mistake not, throw some new light on his character, shewing that he was as exact and methodical, as considerate and gentle, in the private relations and minor duties of life, as he was grand and heroic in its great emergencies. An edition of the diary for general circulation, accompanied with copious notes, and illustrated with accounts of his progress, the addresses made to him and his replies, and the other incidents of his reception, would be a highly valuable contribution to History.

NUMBER THIRTEEN.

ABBOTSFORD VISITED AND REVISITED.

PART I.

Invitation to Abbotsford-Arrival at Melrose-Ruins of Melrose hastily visitedWalk to Abbotsford-And reception there-Church at Selkirk-Walk to the Mushroom Park-Dogs in company, who accidentally start a hare-The house and grounds-Ornaments of the rooms-Reading of the Heart of Mid Lothian-Visit to Melrose-Manner of passing the time at Abbotsford-Charles Scott-Departure for Selkirk, but the London Mail Coach being full, return to Abbotsford-Sir Walter's fondness for animals, dogs and cats-Piper at dinner.

HAVING had the happiness, in the month of July, 1818, to make the acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott and his amiable family at Edinburgh, I was honored with an invitation to visit them at Abbotsford, after I should have returned from a short tour in Perthshire. I feel that there is a sanctity in private life, which ought to be respected, even after all concerned have passed away. But entertaining no feelings but those of veneration and gratitude toward the illustrious name, which stands at the head of this paper, and having nothing to record of him and his, inconsistent with those feelings, I trust that I shall not offend the strictest delicacy, in describing the occurrences of a few days passed within his family circle in the country, and very much in the language, in which I noted them down at the time.

On the first of August, 1818, I took passage at Edinburgh in the Blücher Stage Coach for Melrose. Passing a bookseller's as we drove through the City, I saw the "Heart of Mid