66

autograph, and send it to us; you will have done "much more for us than we have done for you." I mentioned my pledge to Mr. Clay, who at once redeemed it, and with interest; adding besides, on the same page, a most graceful message to my husband and myself. I have seen men of firm and manly minds weep at the recollection of Mr. Clay's defeat. If it were possible, that circumstance has increased his popularity, and has won for him the most universal and extraordinary attachment throughout the Union, that probably ever fell to the lot of any man, except the revered Washington. His character, manners, appearance, voice, nay, even his dress, have been minutely described to me long before I saw him; every anecdote of his life is public property; his house, his farm, his domestic circle, all belong to society at large, to the country, I might say; and many could relate a few words or syllables uttered to them or their friends, or perhaps to indifferent persons, which they had, by some fortunate chance, caught as they fell from his honied lips. Thus prepared, we arrived late one evening at Lexington, and were ushered into a parlour at the hotel, on the

door of which was painted HENRY CLAY; it had been his committee room during the election. I scarcely slept for impatience; and as early as propriety would permit, the next morning the Doctor and I entered a carriage, and set off for Ashland. "We carry visitors there, Madam, every day, at all hours," said the host; on the road, I had a thousand fears, Mr. Clay might be occupied, might be absent, might be ill; the way (a mile and a half,) seemed interminable. I had no time to observe the far famed landscape beauty of Kentucky; I was going to see "the foremost man of all the world;" to visit him of whom my husband had said, "I shall esteem your mission "unfulfilled if you return to me without having "seen Mr. Clay." I never answered the various queries of the Doctor, so utterly absorbed was I

in the purpose of destination. At length we

my

arrived; a carriage stood before the steps,—my anxiety increased, he must be engaged,- -we knocked at the door, and were saluted as old friends by the faithful negro, who opened it. "Master was at home,

be happy to see us."

was not engaged,-would

In a moment Mr. Clay

appeared, and with that voice of surprising and surpassing melody, with winning smile, and open hands, himself tendered to us the courtesies of welcome. Assisting me to alight, he accompanied us to the sitting room, and read the introductory letters that I had brought him. Here, five and twenty years before, my husband had been his guest; here, five and twenty years ago he had imbibed, and been confirmed in those principles of American politics which, Free Trade alone excepted, have since formed the articles of his unchangeable creed. Thus are we a divided house, and yet a united one. We both serve Clay and Calhoun, regarding them not as the men of a State, a section, or a party, but as Americans, free of thought, and pure in heart. Quickly

Mr. Clay spoke of all that I loved and revered; many of Mr. Maury's family were familiarly known to him; his son Henry had married one of our relatives; and my father-in-law, the venerable James Maury, of Liverpool, possessed his highest esteem. "You have about five thousand relations in Virginia and Kentucky," observed he, laughing, "Are you going to see them all? I

have known many of them, and they are all endorsed with virtue." These words I have treasured as an armorial motto for my sons. We spoke of affairs public and private, the past, the present, and the future; freely and fearlessly I spoke with this great man, as with other illustrious Americans, and he conversed with me freely and indulgently, forgetful of my sex and inferiority. "What can I do for you?"

"Nothing, but to suffer me to be with you as "much as possible.”

"That you shall be."

And charming were these hours, for we were of his family and of his household. The little Doctor was wild with spirits, and never knows which to prefer, his visit to Ashland or to Kinderhook; they were the choicest days he spent in America. And I sat, and talked, and listened, between Mr. and Mrs. Clay; and when many were present, "Take him," said she, "into the

garden, and talk with him there, for I know you "wish it, and I will trust him with you." And into the garden we went, and Mr. Clay pointed out to me the trees that his own hands had planted,

cut for me every flower I looked upon or touched, conducted me to see his stock of cattle, of which

he seemed very proud, and pointed out his pets; showed me the direction in which his farm extended, and explained many of his agricultural views. The flowers, roses red, and white, and yellow, amaranth, magnolia and others, are all preserved; they are laid in a cedar box with those from Kinderhook, and a rose bud given to me by Mrs. Madison with her farewell kiss.

In the garden during our walk, Mr. Clay in conversation alluded to his own health and present enjoyment of life. "I have not been so thoroughly "well," said he, "so cheerful, so composed, for

66

many years as during the last eighteen months.”

In speaking of the state of parties, he alluded to the Presidential Election once or twice, en passant, as that "event so unexpected by us all,” that "untoward circumstance," or in terms to that effect; wholly free from passion or from prejudice.

Sometimes," said he, and with solemnity, "I am "led to think of the future prospects of the country "with apprehension." And here he stopped, and turning towards me, added in the most impressive