burning-glass, for kindling segars; and, in return, carried with him my esteem and regards.
{31} 8th.—By appointment I met on change and returned home with Mr. Lyman to dinner, where all, within and without his establishment, is attractive. The lady of my host is an accomplished daughter of Otiss, Esq. the celebrated oratorical senator in congress from this state.[1] In politics Mr. Lyman is a very strong federalist, and his lady also. She thinks America and its government far inferior to ours, regrets the loss of the British yoke, and ranks our Courier and Post amongst her favourite papers. "And then," said she, "how pleasant are even the cottages of your poor!" Mr. Lyman and his lady seemed on all subjects unanimous, and especially in giving preference to England, and every thing English. His brother is now in England, on a visit to Holkham, the seat of our illustrious commoner, Mr. Coke. Mr. Birkbeck[2] and emigration now became the theme: "At that gentleman," said he, "I am astonished. He is intentionally or unintentionally deluding your English farmers, who, if they come to America, must drive their own carts, waggons, and ploughs, into the field and to market, and work here as hard as labourers work there, or not live. And even in this state, you see, as to-day, our farmers hauling their own produce, such as hay and corn, to market, where they have to stand all day, or hawk it about from house to house. What would your smart English
- ↑ Harrison Gray Otis (1765-1838) graduated at the head of his class at Harvard, 1783, and entered the bar in 1786. Being elected to Congress in 1796, he became an important figure in that body. From 1803-05 he was speaker of the house, and for twelve years thereafter president of the senate. He resigned his senatorial seat in 1823 to become a candidate for mayor of Boston. Although then defeated, he was finally elected mayor six years later.—Ed.
- ↑ For a brief biography of Morris Birkbeck, see Hulme's Journal, volume x of our series, note 19.—Ed.
