nt with the highest polish and refinement. He
is deeply involved in the politics of his country, and, as I said
before, is a candidate for the next presidentship. His strong views on
the question of slavery will probably be a bar to his success, but
unfortunately another hindrance may be that very high social character
for which he is so remarkable. To judge at least by the treatment of
such men as Henry Clay, and others of his stamp, it would appear as if
real merit were a hindrance rather than a help to the attainment of the
highest offices in America.[9]

The Governor's house looked externally something like an English rectory
standing in a little garden, and we were at first shown into a small
sitting-room. It seems the fashion all over America, as it is abroad, to
leave the space open in the middle of the room, and the chairs and sofas
arranged round the walls, but there is always a good carpet of lively
colours or a matting in summer, and not the bare floor so constantly
seen in France and Germany. The little gathering consisted of the
Governor, his two daughters (his only children), his niece, and his
sister, Mr. Dennison, and Mr. Barnay, a clever New York lawyer, with
whom we had crossed the Atlantic. But if the Governor recommended
himself to us as a gentleman, what am I to say of his daughter? Papa has
gone out and has left her description to me, whereas he could give a
much more lively one, as he at once lost his heart to her. Her figure is
tall and slight, but at the same time beautifully rounded; her neck long
and graceful, with a sweet pretty brunette face. I seldom have seen such
lovely eyes and dark eyelashes; she has rich dark hair in great
profusion, but her style and dress were of the utmost simplicity and
grace, and I almost forgave papa for at once falling in love with her.
Her father has been three times a widower, though not older-looking than
papa, and with good reason he worships his daughter. She has been at the
head of her father's house for the last six months, and the _naive_
importance she attached to her office gave an additional attraction to
her manners. While we sat talking in the little room the Governor handed
me a white and red rose as being the last of the season. He had placed
them ready for me in a glass, and I have dried them as a memorial of
that pleasant evening. We soon went into the dining-room, where tea and
coffee were laid out on a light oak table, with an excellent _compot