ven. Walked through the garden back to the house; partook of some
cake and wine.

Some parts of the road very rough; lost our track for some time; very
few people, only now and then a negro to ask. Got back just in time to
dinner and escaped the rain and thunder being the 4th successive night.
Learned that something interesting was going on at the Capitol, as
several members were hastening to it. Found the Senate closed against
the public. The Representatives' Hall very full and some interesting
debates, particularly the notice respecting Lafayette's death, and also
remuneration to the families of the French sufferers at Toulon.

R. C. is considered very fond of show--prefers very tight boots, yet has
four or five corns on each foot. Thinks we could not do without wigs and
gowns in our English Courts of Justice. Wrote to C. D. by R. Crook who
will put it into the office at N.Y. Paid for the gig to Mount Vernon, 4
dollars, though the usual charge for a day is only 3. Mentioned writing
home to Mr. B. from Boston. R. C. mentioned his uncle Tipping[14]
getting L5000 and not spending L500.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH.

Got up at six and walked to F. Taylor's; after breakfast enquired for a
letter at the bar, then at the post office but was disappointed. Visited
the Patent Office, endless variety of models of all kinds. Then to
Pishey Thompson[15] who kindly offered to go with me and also invited me
to tea and to bring F. T.

Went with F. T. to the Army Office, and saw a great many likenesses of
Indian Chiefs; then to the Naval Office; saw the bags containing
conquered flags, and also models of ships. Thence we visited the room
containing the original Declaration of American Independence; also
several treaties containing the seals and signatures of George 3rd and
Bonaparte, Louis Philippe, Bernadotte, etc., etc., and what was still
more extraordinary, a drawer containing many gold and silver medals,
with a most valuable gold snuff box studded with diamonds presented by
the Emperor Alexander[16], valued at L1000; all these things were left
open entirely to us, without any other person in the room; this I
consider very wrong as leading into temptation and I predict they will
soon have some plunderer, either Yankee or foreigner; on going away we
expressed our surprise at the want of discretion; they said they had
only missed one small gold coin. Thence I drove to the Capitol, visited
both Chambers and also the Library which is