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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0036 Enlarge and print image (915K) |
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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0036 Enlarge and print image (915K) |
| msa_sc5826_3_1-0036 ©Maryland State Archives - 36 - visit, and taking the stage one bitter cold morning, one of Beltzhoover's blue line of coaches, I found my companions in the stage, Mr. Forsyth and a polished looking little gentleman who nevertheless, blew his nose out of the window with his fingers. This was Mr. Van Buren. There were also two young men in the Coach I had met the night before at a party in Baltimore, Lord Powerscourt and Mr. Parnell a young Irishman who afterwards married Miss Delia Stewart the beautiful daughter of the old Naval hero, Com. Stewart. We travelled in the fast line, and reached Washington about 3 P.M. making seven hours from Baltimore. I may mention parenthetically that I came over on the Balt. & Ohio R.R. in just fifty minutes the other day. I had met Mr. Forsyth at Mr. Nathaniel Williams' in Baltimore, who was his agent for the sale of nankin colored cotton, then a great hobby with certain Georgia Planters of which Mr. Forsyth was one, but either he did not recognise me or did not choose to do so; the same was the case with the two Irishmen, and having been brought up with the idea that I was as good as any body else, I thought the reticence of the party was their loss and not mine and not a word was spoken on that long ride; in after times when I met these persons frequently in society, no reference was made to that cold and jolting ride. On jumping out of the coach at Fuller's Tavern, (in those days Hotels were called Taverns) I met my father who was with another gentleman with whom he was to dine, and whom to me as Col. Washington. I was made to change my clothes in double quick time, and accompany the party to Georgetown where the Col. had his hospitable mansion, I found myself much to my annoyance at a regular old-fashioned country dinner-party, amongst many great men older than myself, such as Mr. Webster and Mr. Crittender, and I had nothing to do but enjoy the profuse dinner and listen to the conversa- tion of these eminent persons who, under the inspiration of Mt. Vernon Madeira were really very brilliant. In the midst of this overflow of generous sentiment, |