Tuesday morning J August 1st
My dear sister,
I have been expecting the letter which Worden
brought some days but presumed your domestic cares
prevented your writing– Henry seemed to have about as im–
perfect a recollection of what he saw of you as you
do of his visit– Indeed I suppose it was all in a
hurry as I was the whole of the next day– I did
not ascertain until we came to dinner Friday that
Pa and Henry had gone to Canandaigua and then
did not know that the ex President was to come
to our house until the company with torch lights
which escorted him from the cars appeared at the
corner of Hotel and South St–We had barely
time to light some candles for the parlour & hall
before they the procession entered the gate – I was
sitting with a light gingham loose gown– Augisten
slippers and otherwise in dishabille owing to the
exceeding heat– I put on a cap and the new cape
only before my introduction to Mr Adams and 50 others

who followed him into the parlor– The five companies
with torches came up the front walk and stationed
themselves each side– the President and Committee
of arrangements then marched in between the two lines
ascended the steps, when Henry introduced Mr Adams
who addressed a few words to the multitude before
entering the house– In the mean time Clara and I were
at the parlor windows witnessing the devastation made
by men and boys upon the shrubbery– "There goes
a rose bush" "they have broken one of the Oleanders"
"the gates are down" "the fence is falling" were
the agreeable sounds which saluted my ears to the
exclusion of Mr Adams speech– The old man seemed
to me bewildered and fatigued– he declined eating any
thing– drank a glass of wine and retired to his room as
soon as it was prepared– In the mean time Henry ordered
a carriage to carry me to the Hotel to call upon Mrs
Adams the daughter in law– I could imagine how weary
she must be and asked Mr Adams to tell me candidly
if I had not better defer my visit until morning– he
said with all sincerity he thought it would be much more
agreeable at that time – so it was deferred– I was
informed that this outburst of popular enthusiasm was

in no wise agreeable to the lady who was travelling for her
health and that instead of stopping here the to gratify the
people she insisted upon going on to Utica that night– so
thinking she might not feel particularly amiable I
was glad to be excused from making my visit that night
The arrangement next made was for me to call before
breakfast and bring the lady her father and son home
to breakfast with us– As I had the breakfast to prepare
this did not appear very practicable but I could try –
Mr Adams and Henry arose at 5 oclock to go through
the pris—at 6– were to return to breakfast at 8–
You will know just how much I found to do from
5 until 1/2 past 7 when they returned– I then went to the
Hotel for the lady she having been previously informed of
our arrangements–We were met at the door by Mr Brooks
her father who said he was very sorry I had given myself so
much trouble as he feared now that Mrs Adams would not
return with me– She did not– they had breakfast with
the family– she preferred the quiet of a public house to
being with the President and had determined to pursue
the remainder of her journey without his company– they
were to leave at 3 in the afternoon– Mr Adams at 11 in
the morning– I have been so wearied and harassed myself
by being in a similar situation that I looked very charitably
upon conduct which to others seemed very unamicable–
Independent of all this I was rather pleased with Mrs Adams
appearance – she is plain in her person– spirited and decidedly
clever– I of course invited her to spend the day with me
which she declined– Mr Brooks and the little boy came
round in the course of the morning – We returned to breakfast
and after leaving the table I had hardly time to change my dress
before the carriage came to take us to church– I went with
Mr Seward who then left his room for the ? first time in
4 weeks– looking very much like a dead man – I was
quite as much disappointed as you in Mr Adams speech
but I suppose unreasonably– speaking in this manner

is evidently not his forte– we know that he writes well and can
argue a point when he has any thing to talk about, that
he is eminent in learning and benevolence– but he is no
orator and I would that I had not seen him–
I must close this letter in haste – strange as it may seem Mr Seward
has determined to set out to day for Florida– they intend to take
the cars at 3– Mr Inman has just arrived– My woman
is no cook and the multiplicity of my cares must be
my apology for this scrawl– Serene is here came
last Tuesday– miserable enough– sick, lame, with 3
babies and no nurse– after seeing her I dare not complain
of any thing– I have a letter from Gus unanswered– he is well
Willie talks much about going to Canandaigua– Fred sends love
Your own Sister

[top Margin] Please remember me to Miss Bullions

x

Jane  Bullions

Birth: 1824-03-20 Death: 1909-04-29

say
that I am much obliged to Margaret

x

Margaret Brown

Birth: 1820 Death: 1886-07-06

for
the book

x

Unknown

– she was very kind to send it
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua