use the acorns of the
cork-oak, black walnuts, peach, plum, and cherry stones, apple and
pear seeds, and he watched their germination and growth with great
interest. A botanic garden was established under his patronage,
and naval officers were instructed to bring home for distribution
the seeds of such grains and vegetables as it might seem desirable
to naturalize. The seeds thus collected were carefully distributed
through members of Congress, and several important varieties of
vegetables were thus introduced. Down to the present day the yearly
distribution of seeds to rural communities is an important item of
Congressional duty.

Henry Clay was the _premier_ and the most important member of Mr.
Adams' cabinet. He evidently regarded the Department of State as
a stepping-stone to the Executive Mansion, and hoped that he would
be in time promoted, as Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy
Adams. The foreign policy of the Administration, which encouraged
the appointment of a Minister to represent the United States in
the Congress of American Republics at Panama, although in accordance
with the "Monroe Doctrine," was denounced as Federalism. Mr. Clay,
who had never been a Federalist, did not wish to be regarded as a
restorer of the old Federal party, and he accordingly began to
create the Whig party, of which he naturally became the leader.

Mr. Clay made a good Secretary of State, but his place was in
Congress, for he was formed by nature for a popular orator. He
was tall and thin, with a rather small head, and gray eyes, which
peered forth less luminously than would have been expected in one
possessing such eminent control of language. His nose was straight,
his upper lip long, and his under jaw light. His mouth, of generous
width, straight when he was silent, and curving upward at the
corners as he spoke or smiled, was singularly graceful, indicating
more than any other feature the elastic play of his mind. When he
enchained large audiences, his features were lighted up by a winning
smile, the gestures of his long arms were graceful, and the gentle
accents of his mellow voice were persuasive and winning. Yet there
has never been a more imperious despot in political affairs than
Mr. Clay. He regarded himself as the head-centre of his party--
_L'etat, c'est moi_--and he wanted everything utilized for his
advancement.

General Jackson was meanwhile being brought before the public,
under the direction