Approx. 120 pp., in pencil. 15.5x10 cm (6¼x4"), period leather.
Well-written, detailed and reflective journal kept by an American visiting England around 1840, a well-connected gentleman who hobnobbed with members of Parliament, the American ambassador, and other luminaries. One of the highlights of the journal is the account of a visit with the American minister Andrew Stevenson, with discussions about American politics, the border conflict in northern Maine that nearly led to war, his opinion of William Henry Harrison (thought him an abolitionist), of other politicians including Van Buren, Clay, Calhoun, and more. A provocative insight into the American political scene from an expatriate view.
There are a total of 11 pages pertaining to his visit with the American Minister, and talk of America, politics, the presidency, the border dispute, etc., and then our writer goes traveling throughout England, visits the House of Commons and the House of Lords and then on to France and Paris and its environments for another 107 pages; several months. His descriptions of places he visits are in painstaking detail. He meets Americans and joins them along the way. He wants to go to Italy with Mr. Ryan and Mr. & Mrs. Hyde from Boston but is concerned as he has had no mail from the US for weeks and is concerned about his children. He finally receives a letter from his sister Mary, who says all is well and he is upset that he did not go on to Italy. The diary ends with him getting ready to take a ship for home.
The writer states that he "delivered his letter to Mr. Maclean, as Mr. Maris had embarked for America a few days previous. Mr. Maclean introduced me to the American Coffee News Room, where I saw the American newspapers up to June 8. I delivered my letter the next day to our American Minister, he gave me every attention, and offered me every advantage. He gave me his card asking my admission to the House of Lords, and also a passport to France which he directed me to carry to the office of the French Ambassador at No. 6 Poland Street to be endorsed by him. Mr. S. (the American Minister, at that time, Andrew Stevenson), spoke of the people of the Northern states of the U.S.A. as being much more civil than those of the Southern states. He also spoke of the civilities which he has received from the English during his residence here. He said that they had treated him with great civility and kindness. He said that the English were a more civil people than the Americans. A remark which from the short opportunity which I had of observation in this country would coincide"
"Tuesday after, I called on Mr. S. again, and he again gave me his card for admission to the House of Commons. He showered me with much attention and said that he was very glad to see me again and urged me to sit down, which I did, and I remained with him for an hour. He spoke of the N.E. Boundary Question and that it was and has been a very troublesome question. He had induced the British Government, after much delay and unskillfulness on their part to agree to revisit the question again, the British Government to appoint 3 of their referees and our government to appoint 3, etc. Mr. S. did not know what Maine would do but he himself was much opposed to war. He said a war would not settle it, or rather he asked how a war would better it? It would not do for England and America to go to war. The land was not worth fighting over, and he thought there would be no war." He is talking about the dispute over the Maine border which was the Aroostook War.
"Mr. S. (Andrew Stevenson) spoke of the political changes that had taken place in the U.S.A. with men since he had resided in London. He said that he would not return to the US at this time until after the political contest that was going on there had terminated. Or if his mission should now expire, he would then travel, rather than return home in the midst of political excitement. He could not at this time return and enter into politics. He could not be induced to do it because he is old friends with those of who he formerly associated with in politics have now joined themselves to those who had been opposed to him. For instance Mr. Rives, who considered Gen. Harrison to be the most awful man for the presidency, etc."
"Mr. S. then went on to talk about Mr. Van Buren, he spoke about the Bank and the Government, and Mr. Calhoun who had been in favor of a tariff, etc. He spoke of Mr. Clay who had once opposed the Bank but was now in favor of it. Mr. Van Buren himself was once opposed to it and was afterward in favor of the tariff but now he too is opposed to it. He would vote, if he were home in America for Mr. Van Buren for he thought he would be better. He thought he would not now go home to US as he could not enter into party politics. He said that he had been in office for 30 years and he thought that if he had to live his life over he would not vote any differently. He would not alter a single one. He had always been opposed to a Bank and he thought no power of the Constitution to charter a Bank when he was a member of the Virginia Legislature, he opposed it and his re-election was opposed because of that. He went on to say that he had spent much time in the service of his government and yet he got no thanks for it. He called Harrison an abolitionist. He also said that he had recently lost a brother in America. Our writer goes on to talk about the Americans at the North & South American Coffee rooms have made it a lounging place in Threadneedle Street. The latest American newspapers are to be found there, together with dailies and other papers of this Kingdom, also French, German and other foreign papers. There are eating rooms belonging to and connected with this establishment. I was told letters could be sent from here simply by leaving them in the "to go" bag," &c.