- Degrand P. P. F.
- Payne Robert Treat
- Parkman D
rGeorge - M
rsN. L. Frothingham - Three of her children
- Louisa C. Smith
- Frothingham Nathan
lL - Palfrey John Gorham
Charles went again to Quincy, but
my labour on hand kept me here, and visitors kept me almost the whole
day from my work. Degrand came
with a written memoir of three sheets of paper to prove that the
contemplated National Bank should be established at Boston, in
preference to New-York or Philadelphia. As he has settled the matter to
his own satisfaction, in his own mind, I heard him read his memoir and
his argumentative exposition of it; and he promised me a copy of it. His
information upon commercial subjects is very great, and his opinions are
swayed as usual by his personal interests. He was with me about two
hours, when Mr
Payne came in and Degrand retired. Paine has pursued
Astronomical studies with some success, and has solicited an appointment
as Secretary of Legation in Germany, France or Italy, to pursue in the
leisure of his official functions the same studies further.— I wish he
may be gratified— He spoke of the construction of Astronomical
instruments; the best of which he thinks are now made at Munich— He
thought the best Telescope in this Country, one lately imported for the
high School at Philadelphia; now in charge of Mr Walker,
actuary of the Life Insurance Company, Chesnut Street; whom I shall see,
if I can— Dr
Parkman followed Mr Paine, and
invited me to a small family party at his house this evening, but I had
a previous engagement. Miss
Smith’s visit was short— Charles came home to dinner, and
at 5. p.m. we went with his wife
and three elder
children, Mrs Frothingham, her two little
girls and boy to
concert hall and saw Monsieur
Daguerre’s Diorama, of the interior of the Church of Saint
Etienne at Paris at Noon by Sunshine, and the Midnight Mass by
Moonlight. Then a view of Constantinople, and finally a view of Venice,
by day and by night— The most remarkable part of the show, is the
gradual decline and return of light resembling the natural transitions
between day and Night; and the change of Scenery upon the same canvas
effected by the change. This is a different invention of Monsieur
Daguerre from that of fixing the pictures of the Camera obscura.— After
stopping with Mrs Charles at Metcalf’s for a glass of carbonated mead, I left
her with her children at her door, and walked round the railing of the
Common in 22 minutes, making a measurement of 1 1/4 mile— Dr
and Mrs Frothingham spent the Evening here—
He has made, and is about to publish a translation in verse, of the
fragment of Aratus upon Astronomy. Dr Palfrey came in for half an
hour; and told me jokingly that Combe the Scottish phrenologist, has published a book of
travels, in which he scores me for my Letter to Dr Sewall,
expressing my incredulity of the truth or usefulness of that pretended
Science.