about fifty years of age, of heavy frame, swarthy in
complexion, and a man of good natural abilities. He took me to Mr.
Van Buren. We found him alone, well dressed, polite and rather
gracious than otherwise. Quite early in my visit, Mr. Parmenter took
me to the Pension Office, then presided over by Mr. Edwards. Mr.
Parmenter stated his business, and immediately attention was given to
my applications. In the course of a few days some of the cases were
disposed of, and in a few weeks my docket was clear.

Caleb Butler was then postmaster at Groton. He had had the place,
probably from the days of John Quincy Adams, for as he was a violent
Whig, he could not have received his appointment from General Jackson.
My employer, Mr. Woods, was an applicant for the post-office, he being
the only Democrat in the street who had accommodations for the office.
I carried papers in support of the application. Those I gave probably
to Mr. Parmenter, as I have no recollection of any interview with any
post-office official. Amos Kendall was then Postmaster-General. He
was a native of Dunstable, and he had been a student at the Groton
Academy when Mr. Butler was the preceptor. Naturally and properly he
sustained his old teacher. The change however was made, and upon the
express instructions of Mr. Van Buren it was said. Mr. Woods retained
the office until his death in January, 1841, when I was appointed
without any agency of my own, but by the agency as I supposed of Gen.
Staples. Upon the election of General Harrison I was removed in the
month of April, and Mr. Butler was reappointed, an act of which I
never complained, nor had I any reason to complain.

At Washington we stopped at Gadsby's Hotel, now the National. There I
met and had some acquaintance with Matthew L. Davis, "the Spy in
Washington" as he called himself. He was a newspaper correspondent and
the biographer of Aaron Burr. He was a great admirer of Burr. Davis
wore very thin clothing, scouted overcoats, and boasted that he slept
always in a room with open windows, and under very light bed clothing.
He was old and conceited, and as a permanent companion, he could not
have been otherwise than disagreeable.

At the Supreme Court I heard arguments by Webster and Crittenden, on
opposite sides. In the Senate I heard Webster, Clay, Calhoun, and
others in running debate, but not in prepared speeches. The Senate
then contained many other men of note. Silas Wright,