- Southard Samuel L
- Roberts
- Lyon Albert
- Clay— Henry
- Granger
- Roberdeau Isaac
- Elliot— William
- Rhea John
- Fendall Philip R
- White Joseph M
- Holbrook
- Elgar— Joseph
After swimming 25 minutes in the river, I visited the garden where the
vegetation with the heat and moisture of the last week has been
marvelous. The weeds and herbaceous plants have grown as by enchantment,
but I found no new vegetation upon my trees— I observed only the
expansion of one kernel of coffee into seed leaves; resembling those of
the Althaea, but larger— The Althaea in box N. 4. which came up the 3d. has been from that time forming and
opening its seed leaves— The stem is about half an inch above ground—the
Seed leaves nearly round, presenting their surfaces in right angles with
the stem, and directly upwards to receive the rays of the Sun, and the
moisture of the atmosphere— The first leaf proper is now appearing
between them— In Pot N. 1. The stem of the Tamarind up 24 May is also
about half an inch above ground. The nut has not changed into seed
leaves, but retains its perpendicular position, and its size its two
lobes being opened just enough to hold between them the stem below and
the plumelet above them. It has now put forth six successive stalks each
bearing several pair of leaflets, which close together at Night and open
to the Sun in the morning— The Persimon in the same Pot up the 3d. has a stem nearly two Inches from the
ground. I have already remarked how its Seed leaves were formed, and at
right angles with them its first pair of leaves proper. The second pair
is now forming parallel with the Seed leaves. These two plants in this
Pot, thrive more rapidly, and shew more promising, than others of the
same kind, up in the garden and nursery. I have strewed a little fresh
Earth over the surface of the ground in the Pot— But the Peach that I
have in Pot N. 3 is much less prosperous than those growing in the open
air— The Earth in my Tumblers N. 1 and 2. is becoming mouldy and
breeding worms. All vegetation in them seems dead. 575Mr
Southard introduced Mr Roberts of Virginia—
Albert Lyon is a young
physician from Baltimore, suffering with a pulmonary complaint, and
desiring an appointment as assistant Surgeon in the Navy for the benefit
of Sea voyaging, and visiting a tropical climate— He offers to serve
without pay— I referred him to the Secretary of the Navy. Mr Clay
introduced Mr
Granger of Canandaigua, youngest Son of the late Gideon Granger— Colonel Roberdeau and Mr
Elliot came and fixed the Sun dial nearly under the
Northern window of my Eastern chamber— Borland the Carpenter having imbedded the Slate in a
wooden frame— John Rhea of Tennessee
paid me a morning visit: he is eighty-five years old, and looks ten
years older; but travels thus at Midsummer in Stage and Steam-boat like
a man of twenty-five— I spoke to Fendall of Richard Henry
Lee, enquiring what appointment he wished to obtain— He
said something in the line of his profession, the Law— Mr White
the Delegate from Florida called; returned from an excursion to
Albemarle County, where he told me he had purchased twelve of Mr Monroe’s
Slaves. A Mr
Holbrook from Georgetown came to apply for a lease of
public Lands near the Bridge, in Washington to erect the buildings for a
School or Academy. I sent for Mr Elgar and spoke with him of
this application and that of Hunter and
Wheat— The Lands wanted by
Holbrook, are for Sale, but not at the disposal of the President by
Lease. Elgar himself is averse to both the proposals, and thinks that
the Act of Congress of 1812. did not contemplate the erection of any
buildings on the reserved Lands. But he is to enquire into the usual
rate of ground rates, and to come again, Monday morning— We had company
to dine— S. B. Barrell, J. H. Bradley, William Brent, Judge Brook, R. S. Coxe, Judge Cranch, J. Dunlop, R. P Dunlop, Walter
Jones, B. L. Lear,
C. C. Lee, John Marbury, Mr
Reynolds, T.
Ringgold, Mr
Roberts S. L. Southard, Swann, Judge Thruston, R. Wallach, and Joseph M. White—
T. J. Hellen, with the rest
of the family, except Mary who is
unwell: we were 25 at table— H.
Clay, Bishop Flaget,
Mr Granger, F. S. Key, Mr Matthews, Judge Morsell, Mr Nabell, John Rhea, R. Rush, Moses Tabbs and Mr Worthington were invited but did not come.
Evening idle.