Schuylkill with the
Delaware, about four miles from this city. It was about ten inches long,
well proportioned, the heads perfect, and united to the body about one
fourth of an inch below the extremities of the jaws. The snake was of a
dark brown, approaching to black, and the back beautifully speckled with
white. The belly was rather checkered with a reddish color and white.
The doctor supposed it to be full grown, which I think is probable; and
he thinks it must be a _sui generis_ of that class of animals. He
grounds his opinion of its not being an extraordinary production, but a
distinct genus, on the perfect form of the snake, the probability of its
being of some age, and there having been found a snake entirely similar
(of which the doctor has a drawing, which he showed us) near Lake
Champlain in the time of the late war. He mentioned the situation of
this snake if it was traveling among bushes, and one head should choose
to go on one side of the stem of a bush and the other head should prefer
the other side, and neither of the heads would consent to come back or
give way to the other. He was then going to mention a humorous matter
that had that day occurred in the convention in consequence of his
comparing the snake to America, for he seemed to forget that everything
in the convention was to be kept a profound secret. But this secrecy of
convention matters was suggested to him, which stopped him and deprived
me of the story he was going to tell.

"After it was dark we went into his house, and he invited me into his
library, which is likewise his study. It is a very large chamber and
high studded. The walls are covered with bookshelves filled with books;
besides, there are four large alcoves extending two thirds of the length
of the chamber, filled in the same manner. I presume this is the largest
and by far the best private library in America.

"He seemed extremely fond, through the course of the visit, of dwelling
on philosophical subjects, and particularly that of natural history,
while the other gentlemen were swallowed up with politics. This was a
favorable circumstance for me, for almost the whole of his conversation
was addressed to me; and I was highly delighted with the extensive
knowledge he appeared to have of every subject, the brightness of his
memory, and the clearness and vivacity of all his mental faculties,
notwithstanding his age. His manners are perfectly easy, and everything
about him seems to