ifferent wines were
always served, and long years later in a conversation with Gov. William
L. Marcy, who was a warm friend of my father, he told me he was present
on one of these occasions when seven different varieties of wine were
served. I especially remember a dinner given by him in honor of Martin
Van Buren. He was Vice-President of the United States at the time and
was accompanied to New York by John Forsyth of Georgia, a member of
Jackson's cabinet. Some of the guests invited to meet him were Gulian C.
Verplanck, Thomas Morris, John C. Hamilton, Philip Hone and Walter
Bowne. The day previous to this dinner my father received the following
note from Mr. Van Buren:

My dear Sir,

Our friend Mr. Forsyth, is with me and you must send him an
invitation to dine with you to-morrow if, as I suppose is
the case, I am to have that honor.

Yours truly,

M. VAN BUREN.
Sunday, June 9, '33.

J. Campbell, Esq.

Martin Van Buren was a political friend of my father's from almost his
earliest manhood. Two years after he was appointed Surrogate he received
the following confidential letter from Mr. Van Buren. As will be seen,
it was before the days when he wrote in full the prefix "Van" to his
name:

_Private._

My dear Sir,

Mr. Hoyt wishes me to quiet your apprehensions on the
subject of the Elector.[2] I will state to you truly how the
matter stands. My sincere belief is that we shall succeed;
at the same time I am bound to admit that the subject is
full of difficulties. If the members were now, and without
extraneous influence, to settle the matter, the result would
be certain. But I know that uncommon exertions have been,
and are making, by the outdoor friends of Adams & Clay to
effect a co-operation of their forces in favor of a divided
ticket. Look at the "National Journal" of the 23d, and you
will find an article, prepared with care, to make influence
there. A few months ago Mr. Adams would have revolted at
such a publication. It is the desperate situation of his
affairs that has brought him to it. The friends of Clay
(allowing Adams more strength than he may have), have no
hopes of getting him (Clay) into the house, unless they get
a part of this State. The certain decline of Adams in other
parts & the uncertainty of his strength in the east ala