spent an evening abroad this winter. At Mr. King's, last winter, we had frequently very agreeable company in the family; here we have none. I very much miss the amusement Miss Anna King used to afford us with her Forte-Piano, nd excellent voice. Some little time ago I dined at Mr. Balch's, at Georgetown. Our company was large, mostly members of Congress. Miss Anna was there. She is the most intimate friend and companion of Miss Harriet Balch. They attend together the boarding-school, dancing-school, and Assembly. Mr. and Mrs. King were invited, but unable to attend. My health did not permit me, as the weather was, to stay to tea.

I lately dined at the President's. We had not a large company. A circumstance took place which, though I had no concern in it, rendered the entertainment rather unpleasant. The company invited, as usual, were all Federalists. In the number were four Connecticut members, who, feeling resentment because the President had neglected to invite Mr. Griswold, Mr. Bayard, and Mr. Rutledge, during the session, refused to go. They answered his billets by assigning, in pretty plain terms, the reason. It was proposed to me to refuse in the same way, but I declined to do it. No one felt more resentment at the pointed neglect shown those gentlemen than I did, but I thought it a very improper way of expressing our resentment. Invitations to dine are mere compliments, which every gentleman has an undoubted right to exercise as he pleases. If I am invited to dine, and any of the company are disagreeable to me, I may, with propriety, refuse to go. But, if a gentleman who invites me does not choose to invite my friend, I have no right to complain. But go it was. When the President found they had refused, he invited some gentlemen from Georgetown. This circumstance being known, had an evident effect upon the sociability of the company. For a time it was so apparent at table, I felt very disagreeably myself. But, to get rid of the awkwardness we all seemed to feel, a subject occurred to me which I well knew the President always delighted to talk about. I began inquiries about his travels in France, the quality of different kinds of fruit, what their usual deserts were at table, their great varieties of dishes, etc. We went on with the conversation

very pleasantly, with scarcely a word from any other person, till we had finished our ice cream. When the wine began to pass round the table a little more freely, all their tongues began to be in motion. We spent the evening tolerably agreeably.

So, my dear Eliza, I have told you every thing I can think of, and have nearly finished my paper. I feel extremely anxious to set out on my journey home, but not without apprehensions how I shall find myself affected by the stage. Think of taking as much water carriage as I can. It is expected at this season the traveling will be bad. I never have thought so much about a journey before in my life. If I leave the city on the day I expect to do, 4th of March, it is not probable I shall be able to write again to my friends at Danvers. But, if my health should not permit me to set out, or I should be so unwell as not to be able to proceed, I will write immediately. If you receive no letters, you may conclude I am on my way.

I shall inclose to Mr. Poole a "Port Folio." I hope you find these papers afford you entertainment. I have found time barely to cast my eye over them. Some I have not read at all. But I would advise you to read them. The Editor is a man of correct morals. It is said this paper has done much good, and is highly esteemed by the most respectable circles of ladies in Philadelphia.

But I will relieve your patience with the assurance that I am, most affectionately,

Your tender parent,

M. CUTLER.

CHAPTER XVI.

THIRD SESSION IN CONGRESS-DIARY, 1803-LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY FROM WASHINGTON-DIARY, 1804-LETTERS TO HIS FAMILY AND DR. DANAIMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE CHASE-DIARY, 1804.

Sept. 23, 1803, Friday. Attempting to stop some cattle. back of the Meeting House, I fell upon a large round timber and fractured two ribs; pain extreme. Taken up and brought

into the house.

Sept. 27, Tuesday. Judge Pickering here.

Oct. 5, Wednesday. At 5 o'clock set out (from Boston) for Washington, in company with Mr. Pickering. At the stagehouse, found Mr. Cutts and a son of General Dearborn (the Secretary of War). Went to East Sudbury to breakfast. We had an extra and very easy carriage. My side gave me much uneasiness, and was so painful at Brookfield that Mr. Pickering proposed to let the stage go on. We tarried at the tavern. [On October 6th, he writes from Draper's tavern, Brookfield, to his son-in-law, Captain Fitch Poole, as follows:

My Dear Sir:-I was very fortunate in having an easy carriage as far as Worcester, where we dined yesterday. I had much less pain, so far, than I expected, but here we made a change much for the worse. Another unfortunate circumstance, for me, the stages run from Boston to Wilbraham, 87 miles, which is 24 miles beyond this tavern. In the afternoon my side was very painful, and the pain increased by the rapid driving of the stage. Though I intended to have gone on, Mr. Pickering insisted on my stopping and resting until I was better able to travel, and on stopping with me. We arrived here at seven in the evening, and had our baggage taken out. By taking an opiate, I had a very comfortable night. To-day my side is very sore, but I have little or no pain. Mr. Pickering and I have been walking about, and I now feel very well. The Boston stage will be here at six this evening, when we intend to set out again and go on. I feel under the greatest

obligation to Mr. Pickering, who is determined not to leave me. Indeed, I find him more to me, in my present situation, than I could have possibly conceived. I will write you from Hartford. Your affectionate Parent,

M. CUTLER.]

Oct. 6, Thursday. We spent the day in Brookfield. Visited Mr. Ward and the family of Judge Foster, who is gone to the eastward. At 8 o'clock at night, set out in the mail stage, and traveled all night without sleep, Arrived at Sykes', in Suffield, at daybreak.

Oct. 7, Friday. Went on to Hartford to breakfast. Dined at N. Haven. Went on and traveled all night; little or no sleep.

Oct. 8, Saturday. Breakfasted at Horse-neck, passed the turnpike to Harlem bridge, and on to the city of New York, where we arrived at 4 o'clock. Avoided the city on account of the Yellow-fever, which was extremely mortal. From State's prison, crossed the Hudson at Holbuck ferry. Arrived at Newark, Gifford's, at four.

Oct. 9, Sunday. Went to meeting. Mr. Pickering and I drank tea with my old friend Woodbridge, formerly preceptor at Exeter.

Oct. 10, Monday. We took the slow stage. Mr. Taggart and Mr. Chamberlain had traveled with us from Hartford, and still continued. Dined at Brunswick. Lodged at Princeton. Mr. Pickering and I called on Dr. Smith. He went with us to Mr. Stockton's, where we spent a very agreeable evening.

Oct. 11, Tuesday. Breakfasted at Trenton. Avoided going into Philadelphia on account of the fever. We kept in the northern and western suburbs until we had passed the city, and went on to Grey's Inn, over the Schuylkill, where we dined. At 4 o'clock P. M., Mr. Pickering and myself, not being able to get a bed, concluded to make Mr. Hamilton a visit. [Dr. Cutler writes, November 22d, to his daughter, Mrs. Torrey, of this visit.]

Oct. 12, Wednesday. We took the stage for Baltimore. Breakfasted at Chester; dined at Elktown; lodged at Havre de Grace.

Oct. 13, Thursday. Breakfasted at Bushtown, and arrived at Baltimore about twelve. Took lodgings at Brydon's, with Mr. Pickering, Mr. Taggart, and Mr. Maclay. All the taverns and boarding-houses were so full as to render it extremely difficult to get lodgings anywhere. Mr. Brydon took us into his own private family.

Oct. 14, Friday. Set out in the stage, at six, for WashingBreakfasted at Woodward's. Arrived at Stilles' Hotel

ton.

at three in the afternoon.

Oct. 15, Saturday. Concluded to lodge with Mr. Speak, on Pennsylvania Avenue, in company with Messrs. Taggart, Hough, and Claggett. Mr. Taggart and I took a room together.

[Dr. Cutler writes to Mrs. Cutler of his situation thus; My Dear. The gentlemen who compose our family are very agreeable. My good brother, Mr. Taggart,* who lives with me in the same chamber, is possessed of a strong mind and sound politics. He is a very agreeable companion, and has an excellent temper, although he has some little oddities and awkwardness about him, owing to his never having been abroad. He is about the size of brother Chickering, quite as gross, and his mind and manners often remind me of good father Cleaveland. Mrs. Speak has been much out of health for a considerable time, and appears to be threatened with a decline. It seems to be owing to the loss of a little son, who died about two months after we left them last spring.] Oct. 18, Tuesday. Committees appointed, petitions heard, etc. I took Furgerson's Roman Republic out of the Library. Oct. 19, Wednesday. Motion for amendment of the Constitution. French treaty ratified in the Senate.

Oct. 20, Thursday. Attended the Committee composed of

*Samuel Taggart, born at Londonderry, N. H., March 24, 1754; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1774. He was a Presbyterian minister of Scoth-Irish descent, tracing back his lineage to the Siege of Derry. Parson Taggart preached at Coleraine, Mass., from 1777 to 1818. He was a member of Congress from 1803 to 1817. Honest alike in his political and religious convictions, he was an influential, and in many respects a remarkable, man. He died April 25, 1825.-Drake's Biographical Dictionary; Mag. West. Ilist., vol. 3, p. 625.