The 'Diaries of Sidney Qeorge Fisher 1839-1840

NCOURAGED by expressions of interest from our readers, the Editors are happy to present this fourth selection from the E diaries of Sidney George Fisher. In the following pages we find that Fisher comes no closer to solving his personal problems during the period covered than he has done in the years preceding. One feels that he is waiting for "something to turn up." Still, his time is by no means wasted. He delivers several lectures, publishes a lengthy poem in a newspaper, improves his farm in Maryland, and continues to be an acute observer of Philadelphians and things Philadelphian. The passage of time makes little mark on Fisher's feelings of innate superiority. The exuberances of election time once again arouse his antagonism against the Democracy. And at the close of 1840, upon finding himself delivering a lecture to an audience of humble origin, the diarist is "ashamed to find myself among such a set."

October 2^ iSjp Weather today warm & sultry. At 11, drove with Fisher1 & his wife in Harrison's2 carriage, out to Mrs. Pierce Butler's, a visit we have projected for some time. First time I ever called there, tho I ought to have done so years ago, as I knew her when Fanny Kemble, & since her marriage have met her often. She is a very gifted person, & her qualities of heart & character are as excellent as those of her intellect. We staid an hour, had some animated talk, and a warm discussion on the nature of true art. She maintained that its highest excellence consisted in its being a rigid & faithful copy of nature, whilst I argued, that it was always and should be the creation of the artist's mind, the realization of an ideal 1 Joshua Francis Fisher (1807-1873), who is referred to simply as Fisher, was a first cousin of S. G. Fisher's. 2 George Harrison, an uncle of J. F. Fisher's who was to leave him a large fortune. 76 1953 DIARIES 1839-184O 77 of his own imagination. That whilst the painter copied men & women, faces & forms, trees, rocks and sky, according to the truth of nature, he combined them, grouped them, gave them attitude, manner & expression according to the preconceived picture existing in his own mind; nature furnishing the materials, & he using them to work out & reveal his own conceptions. . . . We had a very pleasant visit. They were very gracious. Butler is extremely gentleman-like in manner, & has I think, many excellent traits of character. Great energy & firmness, with good-feeling. They are very rich & live in handsome style. The place, tho it possesses no advantages of situa- tion, is surrounded by fine trees & the grounds are admirably kept.3 October 28, i8jp Went also this evng to see Mr. J. R. Smith,4 a director of the Bk of Penna. to see whether I could get one of Lewis's notes discounted. He promised his influence & I shall offer it tomorrow. Money is so very scarce now, & the commercial men in such distress, that I scarcely expect it to be done, & indeed am not entitled to the accommodation, as I am in no business. October joy 1839 Went to bank. Found they had discounted the note of Lewis's that I offered yesterday, which in these times is a great favor. It was for $2500. Went then to Bonsai's5 & to Cash's.6 The latter said he had a mortgage for that amount for sale, & promised to inquire for what it could be bought. At 1, Wads worth7 came in; he arrived yesterday. Says that in N. York the Banks will be firm in continuing specie payments,8 & that consequently, for they can do no business at all, the distress is quite unparalleled. The best paper selling for 7 pr ct: a month! Universal prostration of business is anticipated, & no one knows from what quarter to expect relief.

3 Butler Place was located on the west side of Old York Road below Branchtown, and was known for its avenue of magnificent maples. The house, built in 1791, was purchased by Maj. Pierce Butler (1744-1822) in 1810. Although his daughter-in-law, Fanny Kemble Butler, lived at Butler Place at various times, she preferred city life. She was an excellent horse- woman, however, and enjoyed her daily rides in the country. S. F. Hotchkin, The York Roady Old and New (Philadelphia, 1892), 56-60; Joseph Jackson, "Holy Angels' Parish Occupies Storied Ground," Story of Holy Angels' Parish, 1900-1950 (Philadelphia, 1950), 129-137. 4 Jacob R. Smith. 5 There were two "conveyancers" (those handling the transfer of real estate titles) by this name: E. H. Bonsall, 1 Carpenters' Court, and John Bonsall, 3 Carpenters' Court. 6 Andrew D. Cash, conveyancer, 51 N. Sixth St. 7 William Wadsworth. 8 The Philadelphia banks suspended on Oct. 9, 1839. 78 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January Informed Wadsworth of the state of his business, & he gave me a fee of $50. This part of practicing law, is agreeable enough. October 31,1839 Have been amused to hear people talk about Biddle,9 once the idol, the God of Philad: upon whom for years every species of flattery & attention was lavished, & whom not to speak of as the greatest man of these latter times, was regarded as flat blasphemy,—and now "none so poor to do him reverence." The embarrassment of business, the distress of the community, the dangerous position of the banks, all are attributed to him, and he is called a knave & a fool by the very men, who a year ago joined in the chorus of servile adulation. My opinion of him has not changed. I always thought the excessive praise, puffing, votes of thanks, public dinners, service of plate, etc. bestowed upon him, absurd. He was in no possible sense a great man, & had no greatness about him, either of mind or character. Finance & money-mongering is not the sphere which a high nature seeks or can work in. He is adroit, skilful, quick in combination, energetic, sagacious; his mind is shrewd, strong, highly cultivated, elegant, not original or profound or capable of the best kind of thought & reasoning. His writings are full of point, antithesis, prettinesses & happy phrases, and resemble his manners & appearance, in which there is a good deal of foppery, affectation, elegance & supreme conceit. He is sensual, and much addicted to enjoyments not permitted to a husband & father. Withal he is a man of great ability & has done many creditable things, & I doubt not the present abuse is as unjust as the former praise was excessive. He may say at any rate, "let those laugh who win," has retired with an immense fortune, & among his books & gardens at Andalusia, will probably not feel very deeply the sneers & reproaches of merchants & stock brokers, & may well despise alike the favor or the hate of the fickle multitude. He got out of the scrape just in time, and no doubt to him, "coming events cast their shadows before." Many hard things are said about the time & manner of his resignation, & harder, about the management by which the election of Dr. Dunlap, his successor & kinsman,10 was sprung upon the board in the absence of some of the most influential members. 9 Nicholas Biddle (1786-1844), who resigned from the presidency of the Second Bank of the United States in March, 1839. 10 Thomas Dunlap (1793-1864) married Anne Wilkinson Biddle, a daughter of Col. Clement Biddle of Revolutionary War fame and a second cousin to Nicholas Biddle. i953 DIARIES 1839-184O 79 November /p, 1839 Returned yesterday from Mount Harmon.11 We had delightful weather, and altogether a very agreeable trip. I rode down & up, and never enjoyed a journey more. The back of a good horse is better than any carriage, steam-boat or railway car. With a vehicle of some kind along to carry luggage & a servant, it is far the most pleasant way of travelling to enjoy scenery & exercise. In this case I had that convenience, and in addition, friends for companions. We were made very comfortable by Rickards,12 who was well supplied with everything we needed & exerted himself to oblige. My rooms are large, good, & now very well furnished for the purposes for which I use them. The farm looks better than ever & is improving rapidly, & I regard it with increased interest and pleasure at each visit. The trees I have planted are thriving & now make a goodly show, adding greatly to the beauty of the place, the situation of which, & fine scenery around is so admirable, that very little skill & attention is necessary to adorn it. November 21, 1839 Called to see Wm. Gerhard.13 Met there a Mr. Ramsy14 from Carlisle; was at college with me, a freshman when I was a senior, & is now on his way to Washington, a member of Congress. This sounds great, but nowadays, political success implies little merit of any kind; on the contrary the most educated & virtuous men avoid public life, and from the interior of our Boeotian State, the favorites of the democracy are seldom distinguished for any thing but vulgarity, want of principle, reckless party spirit, ignorance and pretension. I did not know Ramsy well, but he seems more of a gentleman than could be expected. In the evng Mrs. E. P. F.15 sent to say that Miss Pardi, the Italian harpist was there, & asked me to come. Went & passed a pleasant evng. She is a young & pretty girl, and sings very sweetly. She had not her harp, but sang to Mrs. J. F. F.V6 accompaniment on the piano. They have got their drawing room very richly & elegantly furnished, and Fisher enjoys as happy a position as any one I know. He seems fully conscious of it

11 S. G. Fisher's inheritance on the Sassafras River in Maryland, which he hoped to develop into a profitable farm. 12 Rickards was the tenant farmer at Mount Harmon. 13 William W. Gerhard (1809-1872), a physician who became known for his study of typhus. 14 William S. Ramsey (1810-1840). 15 The mother of J. F. Fisher, the former Elizabeth Powell Francis. !6 Mrs. Joshua Francis Fisher, the former Eliza Middleton, of Charleston, S. C. 80 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January himself, a little too much so. He has some excellent qualities, but not a few blemishes of character. November 22, 1839 In the evng went to hear Meredith's lecture before the mercantile library company.17 Excellent. Marked with all his strong sense & humour, well expressed and well delivered. The subject was "intemperance," & of course all the audience sup- posed that the only kind of intemperance, that of drinking, which seems to receive censure nowadays, was to be attacked after the usual fashion. He stated however in the commencement that not sensual but moral intemperance was his theme. Intemperance in opinion, action & speaking—vain speaking, foolish speaking, false speaking, evil speaking & long speaking. After some hard hits at members of Congress, lawyers & clergymen on this national vice, he said that for fear he should be guilty of the fault he was condemning he would conclude. The lecture occupied about 20 minutes. The per- mitted time is an hour, often exceeded. The audience, an immense one, seemed disappointed, vexed & amused.18 Meredith is a man of fine talents, now at the head of the bar. He struggled for 20 years in obscurity, and now, considerably past 40, makes 10 or 12,000 a year, that is to say, does that much worth of the most arduous labor, a year. This is called success! All his thoughts, all his time absorbed by business, no leisure for society, literature, amusement or exercise. Such is the profession into which so many throng, and in which it is considered a great thing to rise. Well, I have no such ambition. December 6> 1839 Enjoyed my cigar & Hallam after dinner till 7 oclck, when I was obliged against my will to go to a lecture by Dr. Emerson,19 for the Mercantile Library. He met me today & asked me to go & accompany him on the stage. He is what is called a "natural Philosopher," that is, a man of small mind & no soul, who upon the 17 The Mercantile Library Association was founded in 1821. In 1837-1838, a series of "brilliant discourses," delivered by noted public figures, was begun, sponsored by the Mercan- tile Library and the Athenian Institute. Usually held in the Musical Fund Hall, these lectures were "marked events in city life." J. Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott, History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 (Philadelphia, 1884), II, 1210-1211. !8 In commenting favorably on William M. Meredith's lecture, the United States Gazette for Nov. 23, 1839, stated: "We found nothing to censure in this discourse but the 'intemper- ance' of brevity: a fault which is not easily pardoned in Mr. Meredith." 19 Dr. Gouverneur Emerson (1795-1874), Philadelphia physician and agriculturist, de- livered the sixth in a series of lectures on the "advantages derived from the cultivation of the Arts and Sciences." United States Gazette, Dec. 6, 1839. I953 DIARIES 1839-184O 81 ground of knowing the names of a few minerals & plants, how many legs belong to a pismire & how many vertebrae compose the back- bone of a spider, is yclept a man of science, figures as a member of all sorts of societies, & passes with the vulgar, who rarely look beyond the surface, for a learned man. I have no taste for your natural sciences, useful tho they be. "December ff> 1839 Left a card this morning for the young Van Rensselaers, sons of the old patroon. Since his death, or rather since this autumn, Mrs. Van R. two daughters & two sons have lived here.20 The manor has been left to his two eldest sons, who are now in the midst of very serious difficulty with the tenants on their immense estate. These, in number several thousand, have combined together to resist payment of their rents. The sheriff & his posse have gone out against them twice, but have been met by an armed band. The Gov: has ordered out the militia and it is to be hoped that this outrageous attempt against the right of property will be promptly put down. The popular opinion will however be in their favor. The very rich are regarded here with jealous & hostile feelings, particu- larly when the wealth consists of land, which is apparent to the eyes of the multitude. In this case the estate of one only of the brothers, is 26,000 acres in a body, thickly settled & comprising 3 or 4 flourishing towns. It is let on perpetual leases, after the old feudal fashion, and the rents tho in the aggregate very large, are now nominal in com- parison to the value of the property. The number of tenants is so great, that individual responsibility is lost, and consciousness of strength gives them boldness. It is an alarming sign however of the increasing disrespect to private right & to public law, and of the growing hatred to the rich among our sovereign democracy. December if, i8jp This morning a very serious affair became known & produced great excitement. It was discovered that a Mr. Levis,21 formerly cashier, now President of The Schuylkill Bank, has issued certificates of the stock of that bank, and of The Bank of

20 Stephen Van Rensselaer, the patroon, died in 1839. His widow and second wife, by whom he had nine children, was the former Cornelia Patterson. She lived in style in Philadelphia, keeping five carriages for her family. J. F. Cooper, ed., Correspondence of James Fenimore- Cooper (New Haven, Conn., 1922), II, 412. 21 Hosea J. Levis, formerly cashier, was elected president of the Schuylkill Bank on Dec. 7, 1839. Another bank officer, the cashier of the Western Bank, committed suicide in Decem- ber, 1839, when he found himself unable to make good a $12,000 shortage. 82 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January Kentucky, of which the Schuylkill Bank is the agent, & sold them, to the amount of more than a million. The consequence is the loss of all the capital of the Schuylkill Bank. This is the greatest swindling transaction yet, tho similar instances are now of constant occurrence. Public virtue seems really rotten at the core, and the rage for money making the intense and absorbing passion of the age & country, ap- pears to have broken down all principle & honesty, and it is impos- sible to know whom to trust. This man has been living in luxury & enjoyed a high reputation among business men. Who can say how many other instances of fraud have taken place among the rest of the "Bank aristocracy," cashiers, presidents & directors, who all seem to grow suddenly rich as soon as connected with these institutions and outvie in expense and display men of established position & known wealth. January 2> 1840 At 9 went to a supper party at Dr. Randolph's.22 Very handsome and pleasant. Some of the most agreeable people in town there. Mrs. Willing,23 the two Mrs. Butlers,24 Mrs. J. F. F., Mrs. Harrison,25 Fenimore Cooper,26 Sally Wain, etc. Had some talk with Mrs. Pierce Butler & Mrs. J.F.F. Took Sally Wain in to supper. Cooper was next to us, his manner is bad, stiff & ungracious, but he converses well. We three talked together. He says the estate left by the Patroon is estimated at 20 millions. There are some enormous fortunes in the Empire State. He lives on Lake Otsego. He says that handsome country establishments are found now everywhere in New York, and that the taste for rural life is increasing rapidly. I wish it were the case here. Kean, the actor, was also there, vulgar I thought in manners and appearance.271 do not like this custom of introducing actors into society. It is an inferior art; success in it implies neither talents nor education of a high order, & its associations and habits conduce neither to the manners nor the feelings of a gentleman. Home at 12, after a pleasant evng.

22 Probably Dr. Jacob Randolph. 23 Mrs. Thomas M. Willing. 24 Mrs. Pierce Butler and Mrs. John Butler. 25 Mrs. George Harrison. 26 Cooper arrived in Philadelphia on Dec. 16, 1839, to see his publisher. His novel The Pathfinder was being printed at this time. Cooper, II, 409. 27 Charles Kean (1811—1868), son of the noted tragedian, Edmund Kean. On Jan. 4, Charles Kean was to give a benefit performance of Macbeth—"positively [his] last appearance" —at the Chestnut Street Theater. United States Gazette, Jan. 3, 1840. I953 DIARIES 1839-184O 83 January j, 1840 Met Bethune,28 he asked me to go with him to see some specimens of Daguerreotype drawing, this new & wonder- ful discovery, by which the most minutely faithful copies are taken of buildings, landscapes, etc., by the action of light on a surface chemically prepared.29 The reality quite equals all I had imagined from the accounts I had read. These were streets & buildings in Paris, etc., some of them by Daguerre himself. They look somewhat like paintings in Indian ink, but surpassing any painting. They are copies mathematically exact, & nothing can exceed their perfection & beauty. January 4> 1840 Employed with my accounts till one. Then rode out the Schuylkill to Belmont & home by the Lancaster road. The river is tight and on it were hundreds of skaters, wheeling about in graceful curves. Had a very pleasant ride, the weather not the least too cold as there was no wind. After dinner George30 came in, & sat in agreeable talk till 6}4. The paper to-night brings an account of a shocking riot in New York on the 1st; a band of ruffians went about the city, breaking into houses, destroying furniture, beating men, insulting women, frightening horses in crowded streets, etc., all from mere, diabolical love of mischief. The police were inactive, but they were fired on from some of the houses attacked, & several were wounded, one killed. The work proceeds, and democracy is rapidly producing its results. These are trifles, however, to the evils to come. January 7,1840 Met Jno: Cadwalader31 & joined him. He has always shown a friendly disposition to me, and tho his manners are somewhat repulsive, I like him. He has been very successful at the bar & makes $10,000 a year, but is working himself to death. He advised me to stick at the bar, & said he considered & always had, that my success was certain if I made the proper exertion. I am minded to follow his counsel. My income is not sufficient to support me as I wish to live. As a man grows older, his sources of expence increase. As a bachelor, to be easy, I want $4000 a year. At the

28 George Washington Bethune (i 805-1862), pastor of the First and Third Dutch Re- formed churches in Philadelphia from 1834 to 1849. 29 The daguerreotype process, presented in 1839 to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, was perfected by Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre (1789-1851). 30 George R. Smith, lifelong friend of S. G. Fisher's. 31 John Cadwalader (1805-1879), prominent Philadelphia lawyer and counsel for the Bank of the United States. 84 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January utmost my income is only $2500. To make the other $1500 or more, would occupy but part of my time, leaving me still much leisure. Besides I should have the employment, an object, a career, and ambition to gratify. If I could only get a start, I feel confident enough of my own abilities. 32 January 2jy 1840 In the evng went to Dallas's. No party. They are at home on Thursday evng and asked me to come. It was stupid enough, no one there I cared to see but Mrs. Campbell, who played chess all the time. Mr. Dallas thinks it probable that war may yet grow out of the north eastern boundary question, as the English government would be glad to gratify the enthusiasm now existing in England against slavery by a rupture with this country. I doubt the existence of any such wish. The commercial interests involved are too important, and the public opinion of the two nations is too enlight- ened to permit such a calamity for such a cause. January 28, 1840 At 9 went to a musical party at Mrs. Nick Biddle's. Not crowded & gay & handsome. Miss Pardi played on the harp, Mrs. J.F.F. & Mrs. Pierce Butler on the piano, & afterwards Mrs. Willing sang some of her delightful songs & accompanied her- self on the harp & piano. Talked nearly all the time to that beautiful & delightful Mrs. Ashurst.33 Edwd. Biddle34 has imported from Paris a novelty in the way of furniture. A conversation or tete a tete chair, by which two sit side by side & yet look in each other's faces. It is shaped thus C^p is very easy & very handsome. Altogether passed a pleasant evng. Mrs. Willing asked me to take her home, which I did. It is a great pity that a woman of such talent & attrac- tion should suffer the carking cares & vexations of poverty. January 30', 1840 News from Harrisburgh tonight that the bill to force the Banks to resume by the 15th of next month on pain of forfeiting their charters, has passed to the third reading. This is a violent step on the part of the party in power to satisfy popular rage & wreak their hatred on all banks in general & on the Bk: of the U.S. in particular, which will they say be broke. We are surrounded

32 George Mifflin Dallas (1792-1864), Philadelphia lawyer, U. S. Minister to Russia and to England, and Vice-President of the United States under James K. Polk. 33 Mrs. William Henry Ashhurst. 34 Edward Biddle (1815-1872), eldest son of Nicholas Biddle. I953 DIARIES 1839-184O 85 by difficulty & distress, public & private, and instead of wisdom, temper & patriotism to get us out of it, have only ignorance, cor- ruption, party spirit & blind, headlong passion at the helm. The stoppage of dividends & interest on corporation loans, the deprecia- tion of stocks, and the general derangement of business have caused much suffering. I hear constantly of persons reduced from wealth to poverty or so greatly injured as to be deprived of many habitual comforts. As yet I have been but lightly touched, and if I lose all the stock I possess will not be much injured. Henry35 has more, but considers it safe. Fortunately, we both have some broad acres of good land, which I wish were broader, but which is at least a sure resource. So much for an idle day in the house.

35 S. G. Fisher's brother, Charles Henry Fisher (1814-1862). 36 George Cadwalader (1806-1879), Philadelphia sportsman and soldier, was noted for his Midas touch, which, unfortunately, he later lost. His wife was Frances Butler Mease. Their only child, a daughter, died young. 37 Robert M. Walsh, son of the noted journalist and literary figure, Robert Walsh. 38 John Sergeant (1779-1852), distinguished lawyer and candidate for Vice-President in 1832 on the National Republican ticket with Henry Clay. 39 Mary Morris Wain. 86 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January Afterwards rode on the Schuylkill. Enjoyed greatly the delightful temperature & the country now beginning to look green under the influence of the approaching Spring. Went up to the house at "Eaglesfield," Borie's old place,40 one of the beautiful seats on the now deserted Schuylkill. The house was open & I went in, as no one was living there. It is a very handsome & convenient mansion, of a plan that I like much, & very well finished. The situation is fine, commanding a view up & down the river. It is surrounded by fine old trees. It is to be occupied this summer by a tenant. zMarch 24, 1840 In the morning read, looked over aces: & papers, at 12 went in to see Fisher. Whilst there Cra^croft & de Rahm came to go with him to the Eastern penitentiary, where strange to say I had never been, and therefore gladly accepted their invitation to accompany them. We went in a carriage thro the rain. Unluckily Mr. Wood,41 the superintendant, was not there, so we could not see any of the prisoners. Admired the arrangements and the building greatly. Each prisoner has a cell & a little yard for exercise; the cell is well ventilated and warmed & is perfectly clean & comfortable; they are well fed & clothed, and are occupied in some handicraft work, generally weaving or shoe-making. The solitude & isolation from all human interests and intercourse are perfect. It is a strange feeling, one has, in walking along the corridors, between the ranges of cells, which each contains its solitary tenant, to think of all the unhappy recollections, unavailing regrets, bitter remorse & worn, exasperated feelings, which have been suffered & are to be endured by their different inmates. (March 25, 1840 Went to Court, took a copy of my "Voice of Winter" to Fry,42 editor of National Gazette, looked over papers, etc. till 5 o'clock, when I went to the annual dinner given by the coun- cillors of the Athenian Institute to the lecturers. About 30 guests

40 Egglesfield, or Eaglesfield, was originally the estate of William Warner. The Colony in Schuylkill, founded in 1732, erected its first building on this estate, paying an annual rent of three fish, the first catch of the season. John J. Borie (1776-1834), a Frenchman who became a successful Philadelphia merchant, purchased Egglesfield sometime after his marriage in 1808. In 1867, when Fairmount Park was enlarged, the city came into possession of the property. Thompson Westcott, The Historic Mansions and Buildings 0/Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1895), 171-172, 385. 41 Samuel R. Wood. 42 William Fry.

i953 DIARIES 1839-184O 87 assembled round a well covered table at Head's,43 including many of the professional & literary celebrities in town. It went off very well, much better than the last. We had speeches and puns in abundance from Dr. Chapman,44 Judge Hopkinson,45 C. J. Ingersoll46 etc., none of them however very brilliant or remarkable. That stupid bore J. J. Smith47 proposed my health, & I was obliged to reply, made out pretty well & when I was up, said more than I intended at first, which was well received. Towards the end of the evng, after nearly all had gone, a little knot got together and we had some pleasant, quiet talk—Ingersoll, Hopkinson, Wood,48 etc. Ingersoll is always amusing & agreeable. Home at 10. Was told by one of the committee that I had been unanimously chosen as one of the lecturers for the next course. As I am one of the council, if I lecture at all it must be for them. zMarch 27, 1840 Got a note from the Committee of the Athenians, informing me of my election. Shall of course accept, & think also, the invitation of the Mercantile library. Went up to see Henry. Played with the baby,49 who is very lovely & interesting. At S}4 went to Mrs. E.P.F's., no one there but the Harrisons. Was congratulated on my poesie which appeared tonight, & which they professed to admire. nM,arch jo, 1840 Have been complimented on all hands about my "Voice of Winter." It seems to have been liked, and every one knew the writer at once.50 Have made up my mind to lecture both for the Athenians & the Library. zMarchjiy 1840 Henry here in the afternoon. Talked over our affairs. We are both short in our incomes this year, from the low 43 Joseph Head, proprietor of the Mansion House. 44 Dr. Nathaniel Chapman (1780-1853), a favorite physician of wealthy Philadelphians. 45 Joseph Hopkinson (1770-1842), jurist and congressman. 46 Charles Jared Ingersoll (1782-1862), father of Elizabeth Ingersoll, whom S. G. Fisher married in 1856. 47 John J. Smith (1798-1881). 48 George B. Wood (1797-1879), leader of the medical profession, not only in Philadelphia, but in the nation as well. 49 S. G. Fisher's niece, Emily Atherton Fisher, daughter of Henry and Sarah Ann Atherton Fisher. 50 The "Voice of Winter," a poem in twenty verses, was printed on Mar. 28, 1840, in a triweekly paper, the National Gazette and Literary Register, "issued at No. 96 South Second street, second door below Walnut." Since the poem was signed "S. G. F.," there is little wonder that its authorship was easily recognized. 88 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January prices of grain & failure of dividends, but with economy I hope I shall get along tolerably well. I never spent so little money in my life. I buy nothing that I can do without and am determined to try what attention will do to make my diminished income suffice for my wants. In another year things I hope will be on their old footing. zApril <5, 1840 In the afternoon & evng read newspaper which had a good letter of Walsh's from Paris. . . . Walsh mentions the enthusiastic meeting of the friends of abolition of slavery at Paris. They are to have one soon in London. A great excitement is getting up on this subject in Europe, which may produce injurious effects here. As Walsh justly remarks it would be well if these philanthro- pists should spend their energies in relieving the excessive misery & degradation existing among their own working classes, before they seek distant objects who do not need their efforts so much. 51 sApril ioy 1840 Rode with Mitchell out to the Woodlands, he having offered to take me & show me his plans. He bought the place from Miss Hamilton some years ago for $30,000, & considers it worth $120,000. He proposes to convert it into a cemetery, & expects to make a great deal of money. I think it not improbable. Wants me to take a share. I hope it may succeed because in that case its fineol d trees & beauty will be preserved. Went over the house & outbuild- ings. All very splendid & complete, the residence of a gentleman of fortune. How the family could think of selling such a place I cannot imagine, & for such a paltry sum & they so rich. sApril /p, 1840 Stopped at Wakefield.52 Mrs. Fanny Butler there, on horse-back & alone. She is very independent & rides about constantly unattended. Had some agreeable talk & accompanied her home. Never saw her look so well. Her costume was becoming & peculiar. A green cloth riding habit, with rolling collar & open in front, under it a man's waistcoat with rolling collar, yellow & gilt buttons, a calico shirt collar & breast, blue striped & turned over & a black silk cravat tied sailor fashion, with a man's hat & a veil. She 51 Thomas Mitchell purchased William Hamilton's beautiful countryseat, The Woodlands, from Mary Hamilton in 1831. The estate later became a rural cemetery, a corporation for that purpose being formed in 1840. Joseph Jackson, Encyclopedia of Philadelphia (Harrisburg, Pa., 1932), IV, 1217. 52 Wakefield was the estate of S. G. Fisher's uncle, William Logan Fisher. It was located in Germantown on property originally belonging to the Logan family's Stenton estate. I953 DIARIES 1839-184O 89 was mounted on a beautiful horse highly groomed. Elizabeth,53 at her request, had sent her a copy of my "Voice of Winter/' which she liked. Rode with her up to the house, but did not go in, as I was in a hurry to get to town. Their place looked very well. It has no natural beauties, but is kept in admirable order, and is surrounded by many & fine trees. The avenue of maples & the hedges are things not often seen here, & add greatly to its attractions. When we went in, there were 5 or 6 men employed about the grounds. aMay 2y 1840 Left Mount Harmon this morning, at yi past 8, and was in town at 3, after a delightful run. The weather was brilliant & cool, the boats and accommodations excellent & not more than 20 or 30 passengers. The farm looked so green & beautiful & quiet, that I regretted to leave it for the noisy & dusty city, which, even after so short a stay in the country had a novel look. So much noise, life & movement, after the tranquillity of the fields & woods. Have had a very pleasant trip, found everything flourishing & in good order, with every prospect of three excellent crops this year. The farm is steadily & rapidly improving, and in a short time will pay I think a larger rent than ever. zMay <5, 1840 In the afternoon read Carlyle & walked with George Smith in the Washington Square, to admire the fine collection of trees there. They are of great variety and in admirable order. The lindens, maples, horse-chestnuts & oaks are the finest and the most beautiful trees I ever saw; was particularly struck by one stately horse-chestnut, now in full flower, and the willow oaks. Every year adds to their effect as they are yet young. The quantity of trees in squares & in the streets is a great charm in Philad: & combined with the cleanliness and neatness for which it is remarkable, make it the most agreeable city summer residence in the country. In the evng went to a private exhibition of the Artist Fund Society,54 to which they did me the honor to send me a ticket. They have just erected a new & rather pretty building in front of the Academy of Fine Arts. The room is very handsome, but for the pictures I can't say much. 53 Elizabeth Rodman Fisher (i 810-1875), a daughter of William Logan Fisher of Wake- field. She died unmarried. 54 The Artists' Fund Society of Philadelphia was incorporated in 1835. Its exhibition build- ing was opened in May, 1840, with an address by Bethune. In later years the Society was strictly beneficial in character. Jackson, Encyclopedia of Philadelphia> I, 172. 9O SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January Some of the landscapes were however very good & two or three portraits. The two best things, in my judgment, were landscapes with cattle by a German artist. . . . Dined at 5. Henry with me. Says the trot today was magnificent. Shortest time ever made since trotting began. "Ned Forrest/'55 one of Cadwalader's numerous horses, against some mare from N. York, owned and ridden by a farmer, who works her in the plough. They made the 2 miles in 5 minutes, 5 seconds, Forrest beating. June i8y 1840 In the evng went to the theatre to see the famous Fanny Elssler56 dance. Her first appearance here. She has been setting the people in N. York mad for some weeks. She is the rival of Taglioni, but from all accounts by no means her equal in grace & expression. Was highly delighted. She is a fine looking woman and her light, airy and graceful movements far surpassed anything I have ever seen. I had a place in Mrs. Harrison's box. The house was crammed in every part, and the audience seemed quite electrified. The piece was the Tarantula, and her expressive pantomine added to the charm of her wonderful dancing. She afterwards danced a polish dance in a very tasteful costume, in an arch, sportive & piquant style that was very attractive. July 31', 1840 Returned on the 26th from the Yellow Springs,57 where I spent the time very unpleasantly. The house is uncom- fortable, badly situated & badly kept. The weather was excessively hot, the company detestable; a crowd of vulgar people from the city. The only redeeming things about it are the bath, which is clear & very cold, and the surrounding country, which is highly cultivated & very beautiful. The persons in the house that I knew were the Colemans & Mrs. Harris. They are agreeable enough. I enjoyed the ride up & back tho in returning I suffered very much from a pain in

55 The skeleton of Edwin Forrest, the trotting horse, was presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, on Feb. i, 1859, and is still in the Academy's collection. 56 Fanny Elssler (1811-1884), the "divine Fanny" who was to surpass the great Marie Taglioni (1804-1884), came to New York in May, 1840, from triumphant engagements in Paris. She was an immediate success; the wild enthusiasm which greeted her American per- formances made her truly a part of the "fabulous forties." It was the ballet "La Tarentule," in which she pantomimed the effect of the bite of the tarantula, which brought Fanny Elssler her greatest fame. In "La Cracovienne" she appeared in her famous costume, which included red shoes and a Polish cap. Meade Minnigerode, The Fabulous Forties (New York, 1924), 26-50. 57 A watering place in Chester County, Pa., later known as Chester Sprirtgs. 1953 DIARIES 1839-184O 91 my face & head. Saw some noble farms on the Lancaster road. I went by Norristown, where I spent the night at an execrable tavern, and returned by the Paoli & the Haverford road. Got to town on Sunday at 12 oclck, after a ride of 20 miles from the Paoli,58 where I lodged & which is an excellent house. September 13, 1840 Have arranged for my lecture for the Athenian Institute to come off in November. I shall have enough to do to prepare it, and attend to other things. Well, the more busy I am the better, only I should just now be better pleased if my work brought me some cash. Read last night an account of the Great Whig Convention at Boston, on Bunker hill. It was a magnificent affair. 70,000 persons present & speeches, processions without number. They issued a "declaration" of the principles of the party, by Webster, which is well enough done. Harrison's success is regarded by everyone now as beyond doubt. This system of party agitation however, throughout the country, may lead to evil results some day. September 27, 1840 Went at 8 to a meeting of the Athenian Institute. Asked them to fix my lecture for the first week in Decem- ber, which will give me time enough. This evng witnessed one of those scenes which are becoming more common in this country every day. A mob was collected at the Loco Foco headquarters opposite the State-House, and Page & one or two other stump orators were haranguing them. The passers-by were attracted & the crowd soon became large. His speech was the lowest & most vulgar imaginable, consisting principally of coarse abuse of the Whigs, of Harrison, Webster, Biddle etc. It soon became evident that the majority of those assembled were Whigs, & whilst he was clapped by a small band of the faithful near the door, his remarks called forth hisses, groans, jeers, sarcastic speeches & hurrahs for Harrison & Webster from the rest. Met Henry, Dr. Pennock59 etc: there, & we waited for a time to see the fun. Page & his friends were evidently disconcerted & frightened, for he in a short time stopped & the window shutters of the house were closed. Other orators came out, the excitement increased, and as the affair seemed tending towards a row, we went away. Here was an office holder of the government addressing an exciting & abusive harangue to his party in a crowded street. What

58 An inn on the Lancaster turnpike. 59 Probably Dr. Caspar W. Pennock, physician. 9^ SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January more likely to produce a disturbance. Unless the majority for Har- rison shall be very large, we shall probably have pretty tumultuous proceeding during the election. These elections are a curse. Every four years this system of agitation & excitement is gone thro with. October 5, 1840 Went to Court at 10 to hear Meredith's argu- ment in the D'Hauteville case,60 which has for some time excited much interest. His speech was powerful & eloquent. Massy, clear thought, correct & strong feeling, sarcasm, indignant declamation & rebuke, humour & touching pathos, all expressed in language plain but fluent, nervous, and perspicuous and with a manner & voice, never o'er-stepping the modesty of nature, but according always with the varying sentiments of his case. He is beyond question the first man at the bar, with a wide gap, as regards natural talent, between him and the rest. In amount of business Hubbel61 & Cadwalader come next. October 6y 1840 Still clear & pleasant weather, tho the sun is rather too warm. Settled up aces: etc. in the morning & at 11 rode out to Germantown. . . . Went at a slow pace enjoying the weather & the country. Stopped at the "Rising Sun" to see the preparations made by the Agricultural Society for the exhibition tomorrow. They have put up extensive sheds. Several fine Durhams, and some beauti- ful Southdown sheep were already there. Met Mr. Biddle in the yard.62 He was looking at a very handsome 3 year old, thoroughbred stallion colt, which he has sent to the exhibition. He is to deliver an address tomorrow. October 7, 1840 At 11 went out to the cattle show. A very fine exhibition. A great show of Durham stock, with some Alderney & 60 The d'Hauteville case concerned the custody of the infant Frederic Sears Grand d'Haute- ville, son of Paul Daniel Gonsalve Grand d'Hauteville and Ellen Sears Grand d'Hauteville. On Nov. 14, 1840, the decree of the court that the child should remain with the mother was endorsed on the writ of habeas corpus secured by the father the previous July. William B. Reed, John M. Scott, and Joseph R. Ingersoll were counsel for d'Hauteville; John Cadwalader, William M. Meredith, and Horace Binney represented the mother. Report of the d'Hauteville Case (Philadelphia, 1840). 61 There were two lawyers in Philadelphia by the name of Hubbell: Ferdinand W. (1800- 1852) and Horatio (1799-1876). 62 The Rising Sun was a well-known inn and stage stop located about three and a half miles from Philadelphia at the intersection of the Germantown and Old York roads. Walter C. Brenner, Old Rising Sun Village (typescript at HSP). Nicholas Biddle was president of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture from 1831 to 1844, resigning just one month before his death. 1953 DIARIES 1839-184O 93 Devon. Was too late to see the horses, but suppose there was not much blood exhibited. In this state people care but little for that, not enough indeed, for some blood improves farm & road horses, giv- ing them bottom, speed & spirit. My mare much the finest animal I saw there. They had a good display of Liecester & Southdown sheep & Berkshire pigs. The Southdown is the handsomest sheep I ever saw, is very hardy, produces the finest mutton and wool only inferior to the merino. Walked about with Mr. Davis. Heard that the Whigs have carried all before them in Delaware, an important and unex- pected triumph. At 2 oclck: Mr. Biddle delivered his oration. His subject of course agriculture, farming & farmers. He showed that he understood the first. His remarks were sensible, shrewd, compre- hensive and practical. Now & then there was a witticism, an anecdote or a pun. The style was easy, flowing, elegant, tho familiar. His manner and voice quiet, conversational & agreeable. There were a few clap-traps and several things that indicated an eye to personal popularity. His tone was that of a person seeking to instruct, to please, above all to give a favorable impression of himself. How difficult it is to counterfeit sincerity. In his whole air, on this occasion as on others & in society, there was a something which showed that he was playing a part, that his mind & feelings were not in his sub- ject, and that his language was intended to conceal his sentiments or to give false impressions. The want of earnestness in his manner, his quiet self-possession, his carefully rounded periods, his smooth, low voice, as well as the sentiments which he expressed, all revealed the actor. He is able, brilliant, agreeable, plausible, cultivated, but not great. He wants originality, strength & depth of mind, he wants sincerity, truth, enthusiasm of character. He can persuade, delight, humbug and beguile, but he cannot convince, elevate, inspire or command. The proof is, the open mouthed, extravagant, fulsome admiration he received during the days of his success, and the dis- regard, indifference, almost contempt into which he has fallen. So- ciety forms a pretty correct estimate of those who are long & prominently before its eyes. If it cannot justly appreciate the highest qualities, it at least has sense enough to discover where it is true, that a man has something about him too high for its appreciation. If Mr. Biddle had possessed or displayed really great qualities, men would not have withdrawn from him their respect and confidence and 94 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January admiration when the game turned against him & his prosperity was gone. October ff> 184.0 The Whigs have gained Maryland contrary to all expectation, and there is now no doubt in the minds of everyone of Harrison's election. Everything is done to keep up the excitement, —meetings, speeches, processions are daily & hourly held & made & marched throughout the country. These numerous & constantly recurring elections are a growing & very serious evil. Their results are party spirit, bad passions, demagogism, idleness, drunkenness, mobs & riots. The people are kept in a constant state of agitation. The demon of democracy is abroad & triumphant and will drive us to the devil before very long. The election of Harrison, tho it will turn a crew of most abandoned rascals out, & bring in men of talent & character, can produce but transient effects. To retain power they must flatter the prejudices, adopt the opinions, gratify the passions & comply with the wishes of the majority & to do this, they must pursue nearly the same courses of the present party. If their success however has the effect of restoring confidence & the activity of busi- ness and of bringing up prices again, so that Henry & myself can sell our bank stocks, I shall rejoice. October i6> 1840 On Tuesday, the election day, went to the State House at 7 oclck in the morning to perform my duties as one of the judges. The polls were opened at 8 & the voting commenced. It continued at some of the wards 'till 12 oclck at night, when the polls were closed. At my ward, Walnut, all the votes were given before 10 oclck, so that the duties were comparatively slight. Still they were sufficiently irksome. I was there all day with almost nothing to do, as I had only to decide upon the qualifications of voters when the inspectors disagreed & was rarely appealed to, and after the voting ceased, was busy helping to count votes till 4 oclck in the morning. The scene however was novel & interesting. The two large rooms of the state-house, with the officers of the Wards at the windows, receiving votes & discussing the claims of applicants, the shouts & hurrahs of the crowd outside, and the variety of character & demeanor of those in the house, gave the affair enough of excite- ment to me, who had never witnessed anything of the kind, to compensate for the labor, confinement and the vulgarity of my associates. It was a new page of life opened, and to see the mode in

I953 DIARIES 1839-184O 95 which the great main spring of democratic government is managed was worth the trouble that I had. Having counted the votes, sealed the ballot boxes and delivered them to a magistrate, I went home tired enough at 4 oclck. Mine is one of the smallest wards in the city so that I got thro very soon. At some of the wards they were occupied in counting 'till 12 oclck the next day. Went the next morning to sign the returns, which ended my duties till the Presidential election on the 30th. Henry dined with me. The result of the election was not favorable to the Whigs. In the county the Van Buren party had a large majority, whilst in the city the majority of the Whigs was smaller than on former occasions. This was in consequence of the maladministration of the city government and the abuses in the management of the Girard College & estate. The news from the counties however is favorable & strong hopes are entertained of car- rying the state. The election was very quiet & orderly notwithstand- ing the great excitement, which is an improvement. October 23, 1840 Clear, mild, soft day. Sharpless63 came in at 10 & sat an hour & half. He is going to Mt Harmon whilst we are there, & I hope to derive some benefit from his farming knowledge. He is a worthy, intelligent person but wants polish & refinement. Asked him to go out to the Camden race with me. We crossed the River at 12 & had a dashing gallop to the course, 4 miles. A great crowd was there. Three horses ran two 4 mile heats. During the first heat we were on the stand, afterwards we rode into the ring. This is the best place. You can keep in sight of the horses, are independent in your movements, and escape the vile atmosphere & disgusts of a vulgar crowd. Very few gentlemen there, but rowdies, loafers & black legs in abundance. George Cadwalader was there in the most com- plete & stylish equipage I ever saw. A barouche & four superb dark brown horses. The celebrated Ned Forrest, the fastest trotter in the world, and a steed of matchless beauty was one of the leaders. They were all admirably matched in color & action & each can "do his mile" in 2-50. He, Forrest, cost $3000 & $5000 has I believe been refused for him. I suppose no man in this country or elsewhere can turn out such a splendid team. He had two servants in livery with him, one of them on horse-back, whose horse was also a distinguished trotter. The race they say was a good one. I never saw one before & 63 Casper Sharpless was a farmer from Chester County. 96 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January was not interested. It is only whilst the horses are passing by you, that their beauty or action is perceptible. At a distance you see three men riding rapidly, or rather three negro boys. Even in England the race is not the attraction except to jockeys & betters; the spectacle there is the thing, the throng of splendid equipages, the nobility & gentry & ladies and sometimes the magnificent presence of royalty. There it is a pageant, here a vulgar affair. Met Henry in the ring on horse-back. We had a rapid gallop home & got here at 4. October jiy 1840 Yesterday the weather was clear & pleasant. At 7>^ went to the State-House, and remained till 12 at night. The polls were closed at 10 oclck as the ticket was a single one, for electors of President. I had nothing to do thro the day but occasion- ally to decide on the qualifications of voters. Was tired & disgusted even more than before, when it was a novelty. The men in the house tho they behaved well enough were very vulgar fellows, chiefly mechanics, and all rascaldom was swarming round the windows. Tho the excitement was so great and every possible means were employed to keep it up, the election was quiet. One or two fights occurred. About 10 oclck, information was given to the Mayor that the demo- crats had organized a body of 600 men to attack the polls & seize the ballot boxes. He asked permission to introduce the police into the house which was granted, & they were mustered 280 strong in the 2nd story. No attack however was made & I doubt whether any was seriously intended. There seems no adequate motive for so high- handed an outrage. We had counted our tickets by 11 oclck. I waited till 12 to see whether any attempt would be made & then as all seemed quiet went home. As I left the house a man came running up & said that the democrats were attacking the Bolivar house,64 the Whig headquarters in Chestnut St. and I heard the shouts of the mob. As I felt no inclination to mingle in such a scene, I went home. The noise continued till 2 oclck. This morning went out at 10, to hear the news & to sign the returns. There was a serious riot last night. The mob attacked the Bolivar house, but it was well defended & the Mayor & police suc- ceeded after a hard struggle in driving them off. They fought with clubs & stones & several persons were very much injured, Swift,65 the

64 The Bolivar House was an inn kept by William Carels on the north side of Chestnut St. between Sixth and Seventh. Scharf and Westcott, I, 635. 65 John Swift served as mayor of Philadelphia in 1839-1840, and again from 1845 to 1848. 1953 DIARIES 1839-184O 97 Mayor, among them. The result of the election was not favorable to the Whigs & Van Buren will probably gain the State. His party will not give up without a desperate struggle. The leading politicians are thoroughly unprincipled & reckless & unless the Harrison majority shall be large they will resort to any means however violent to retain power. The frauds developed recently in New York show a system of corruption & baseness, so extensive, so low, so degrading, so utterly shameless that they fill the mind with disgust, indignation & alarm. November 21", 1840 In the evng went again to see the divine Fanny. Performance the same as last night. Was again charmed & delighted. Her beauty, her admirable pantomine, her perfect grace, are wonderful & quite intoxicating. Her attitudes would form a series of studies for a painter & sculptor & the effect of her floating motions & her exquisite, piquant & artless manner is inconceivable 'till wit- nessed. I never could have imagined any thing like it. It was the last night of her engagement and she was greeted with rapturous ap- plause. When the curtain fell she was called for with shouts. She appeared with a cloak of crimson velvet thrown over her airy & beautiful costume. The whole house rose & resounded with clapping & hurrahs. She bowed, & said, with a marked foreign accent, but with much sweetness of manner, "I have no words to express my sense of your constant goodness, & should be unhappy but for the dear hope of seeing you once again." Bouquets were thrown on the stage, the person who led her forward crowned her with a garland of flowers, & she picked up the others, kissed them & pressed them to her breast. This was all very pretty, and produced a great sensation. December fo, 1840 Have been busily employed nearly all the time in finishing and copying my lecture. Was told about two weeks ago that I had been put on the list for last Tuesday, a week at least sooner than I expected, and that it would be esteemed a great favor if I got ready as no one else could be prepared. Agreed to do it, tho it was a hard task as I had nearly one third of the most difficult part yet to write, besides the revising and copying. By dint of systematic work every night, sometimes till 2 or 3 oclck, I accomplished it, and the lecture was finished last Friday. The stimulus of the emergency seemed to give me fresh spirit and I believe it is better than it would have been without it. On Tuesday night at half past 7 I delivered it at the Musical Fund Hall.66 It was a good house tho not crowded, the 66 S. G. Fisher's lecture was on "The Age of Elizabeth." United States Gazette, Dec. 8,1840. 98 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January company very respectable, many ladies & most of my friends and acquaintances. The audience were attentive and seemed well pleased. From my friends I received congratulations, compliments and assur- ance of its complete success. I read it too rapidly as every one said. Of this I was myself conscious, but did so for fear of going too much beyond the hour. As it was, it occupied an hour & 10 minutes and I skipped several pages. If I may judge from the manner of the audience it was successful, and I consider it in matter & style the best thing I have done. The house would have been larger but for the shocking conditions of the streets, a deep snow having fallen a few days before. This morning a long & most clumsy and inaccurate abstract of it appeared in the Enquirer. Some of the other papers had civil notices of it. December 2Oy 1840 Had some talk with Miss Margaretta Morris, of Germantown, a cousin of Mrs. F's & Mrs. Harrison's. It is thought she has made a discovery of the utmost importance to the interests of agriculture. After a patient investigation for five years, she has found out that the Hessian fly deposits its eggs in the grain and not in the stalk as has been supposed. So that it is only necessary to use grain for seed from a part of the country where the wheat has not been attacked to escape its ravages. She stated to me the reasons which lead her to suppose this to be the fact, and they appear con- clusive. Dr. Hare67 believes her inference correct, she has prepared a paper on the subject which is to be read to the Am: Phil: Society & printed in its transactions68 & it is to be published in the agricultural papers. Should experience prove her right, she will merit the gratitude of the nation for relieving it from a destructive scourge & will be- come famous. She is a plain, homely, unpretending person, about 40 I should think; I have always known but never had much conversa- tion with her 'till tonight. I found her very intelligent. She lives in the country, & the study of botany & entomology has been her amusement & resource. She mentioned some curious facts in relation to the latter science, which opened my eyes to the importance of the insect world, which numbers make powerful, and which like trifles are

67 Robert Hare (i781-1858), an eminent scientist, inventor, and author, was at this time Professor of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. 68 Miss Morris' paper "On The Cecidomyia Destructor, or Hessian Fly" was published in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, VIII (1843), 49S1- i953 DIARIES 1839-184O 99 too much disregarded. I was pleased also to see how the study of nature can expand & elevate an ordinary mind & give interest & occupation to a life deprived of the usual sources of occupation and excitement & which would otherwise be dull & trifling. December 26^ 1840 My reception in society is gratifying. Used today one of the newly invented cabs, a most convenient vehicle. You are as much protected from the weather as in a carriage. One should have a good constitution to stand all this dissipation, this eating & drinking. Almost every day one is tempted by luxurious dinners & suppers. Today at dinner, ate pretty well & drank claret, champaign & Madeira, again at supper drank Burgundy, Madeira & whiskey punch, besides 4 cigars at home. It is time now to begin to prepare for my second lecture. If I accomplish it well, besides some business at the bar & other reading, the winter will have been pretty well spent. Was told today that an attack had been made on my lecture in the Presbyterian, a religious newspaper here. Got it. The writer censures me for having said that the reformation was produced not by the abuses of the church but by the spirit of the age, which is true, and for saying that at the time of the Reformation the Church was purer than at any former period, which I did not say. December 29, 1840 Mild soft weather. Rose late. Looked over aces. Went to several places about town. Called at Miss Hare's, went to see Henry, to Dallas's. Was told by a lady that I was added to the list of Miss Binney's69 suitors, and that the world thought my chance the best. Very obliging. It would be a good match, but I do not greatly admire the lady, or rather she is not in my style, tho a fine-looking, amiable & accomplished woman. There is no ground for such a report as I have never paid her particular attention. Dined at 4. A committee of the "Marshall Institute/' one of the numerous "Literary associations" that have sprung up of late, came to ask me to repeat my lecture for them tomorrow evng. They came last sum- mer to ask me to lecture, but I declined, they then asked me if I would repeat the lecture I was to deliver for the Athenian Institute. I said I would not promise, but if they had a vacancy they might call again. They came to say that a vacancy had occurred. It is a bore but how could I refuse. To do so would seem ungracious & make me enemies, so I consented. I am in for it now & may as well go thro, but 69 Esther Binney, who married Judge John Clark Hare on Nov. 16, 1842. IOO SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER January this season is I think the last of my lecturing. This is the best of these societies of the suburbs. Judge Hopkinson, Furness,70 Wm. B. Reed71 etc. have lectured for them this year & say the audiences are very respectable. December jo, 1840 At 7, one of the members of the "Marshal Institute" called with a carriage to take me to their "Hall" in 3rd St near Willow. George Smith went with me. The audience was not large, about 200, a good many women, of the shop-keeping class I suppose. The society is composed of young men, clerks etc. etc., who have been fired with this mighty love of intellectual improvement. Felt ashamed to find myself among such a set. Whatever is good in the lecture they were utterly unable to understand or appreciate. Read it however as well as I could, more slowly than before & George says better. Skipped a good deal and occupied an hour & 5 minutes. The audience such as it was, was very attentive & honored me by plenty of clapping. Fixed my eyes on a pretty girl in front, who seemed very well pleased, I hope with the lecturer. Came home by 9. Went afterwards to Mr. J. R. IngersolPs "Wednesday Evng," as they called these weekly men parties. A very motley crowd filled the rooms. All the inferior members of the bar, and many persons whom no one would think of asking to his house except in this way. Why they should do it all I don't know. I never would invite to my house persons with whom I could not associate. If a man's business forces him into intercourse with those who are not gentlemen by birth & manners, he may at least keep his home sacred from their presence. The popularity gained is I think a poor recompense for such associa- tion tho it be temporary & occasional. Our society is not sufficiently exclusive & is becoming very mixed. If we must submit to democracy in the government, let us at least keep it away from our social circles. "Come what may; Time and the hour run thro the roughest day." tMacbeth

70 William H. Furness (i 802-1896), first pastor of the Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, founded by Joseph Priestly in 1796. Under Furness' leadership, the first house of worship was built in 1827, three years after he became pastor. 71 William B. Reed (1806-1876), lawyer, diplomat, and author, attorney general of Penn- sylvania in 1838.