The first of the Parley books-Its reception-Various publications- Threatening attack of illness-Voyage to Europe-Consultation of physicians at Paris-Sir Benj. Brodie, of London-Abercrombie, of Edinburgh-Return to America-Residence in the country-Prosecu- tion of my literary labors-Footing up the account-Annoyances of Republication of Parley's Tales in London-Mr. Tegg's operations— Imitated by other publishers-Peter Parley Martin-Letter to Mr. Darton-An edition of the false Parleys in America-The conse- Objections to the Parley books-My theory as to books for children- Attempt in England to revive the old nursery books-Mr. Felix Sum- merly-Hallowell's Nursery Rhymes of England-Dialogue between Speech at St. Albans - Lecture upon Ireland and the Irish-The Broad- street riot-Burning the Charlestown convent-My political career-- A. H. Everett-The fifteen-gallon Jug-The Harrison campaign of 1840-Hard cider and log cabins - General bankruptcy - Election of Harrison-His death-Consequences-Anecdotes-The "Small-tail which government protects property-History of copyright-Present state of copyright law-Policy the basis of local copyright law-Inter- national copyright demanded by justice-Scheme for international Statistics of the book trade-Its extension-The relative increase of American literature, as compared with British literature........ 879 Recollections of Washington-The House of Representatives--Missouri compromise-Clay, Randolph, and Lowndes - The Senate-Rufus King William Pinkney-Mr. Macon-Judge Marshall-Election of ecdotes... .. 893 London and Paris compared-Paris thirty years ago-Louis XVIII.- The Parisians-Garden of the Tuileries-Washington Irving-Mr. Warden, the American consul-Société Philoniatique-Baron Larrey -Geoffroy St. Hilaire-The Institute-Arago-Lamarck-Gay-Lussac LETTER LVIL Events which immediately followed the revolution-Scenes in the streets of Paris-Anxiety of strangers-Proceedings of the Americans-Ad- dress to the Provisional Government-Reply of M. Arago-Procession in the streets-Inauguration of the republic-Funeral of the victims--- Presentation of flags-Conspiracy of the 15th of May-Insurrection of June-Adoption of the constitution-Louis Napoleon President. 471 Character of the French republic-Its contrast with the American re- public-Aspect of the government in France-Louis Napoleon's ambi- tious designs-He flatters the army-Spreads rumors of socialist plots -Divisions in the National Assembly-A levee at the Elysée-The Coup d'Etat-Character of this act-Napoleon's government-Feel Meeting of Americans in Paris to commemorate the death of Clay and Webster-Termination of my consular duties-Character of the French RECOLLECTIONS OF A LIFETIME: LETTER XXXI. The Hartford Convention—Its Origin—Testimony of Noah Webster-Oath of Roger M. Sherman-Gathering of the Convention-Doings of Democracy thereupon-Physiognomy of the Convention-Sketches of some of the Members-Colonel Jessup-Democracy in the Streets-Report of the Convention-Reception of the Doings of the Convention by Madison and his Party-Its Effect and Example-Comparison of the Hartford Convention with the Nullifiers-The Union forever. MY DEAR C****** I come now to the "Hartford Convention." Methinks I hear you remark, with an aspect of dismayare you not venturing into deep water in treating of such a subject, generally regarded as an historical abyss, in which much may be lost and nothing can be gained? Well, my friend, suppose you do ask this-is it really a good reason why I should not tell what I have seen, what I know, what I believe, in relation to it? The Hartford Convention was in my time: my uncle, Chauncey Goodrich, was one of its prominent members. I was then living with him;* I saw all the * I have stated elsewhere that he had promised to make me one of his aids. Accordingly, H. L. Ellsworth-afterward Indian Agent and Commissioner of Patents-and myself were appointed, with the rank of persons constituting that famous body, at his house; the image and superscription of the most distinguished individuals are fresh in my recollection. I remember the hue and aspect of the political atmosphere, then and there. Why should I not tell these things? You may, perhaps, entertain the common notion that the Hartford Convention was a congregation of conspirators-traitors-and I shall invite you to abandon this delusion. It may not be pleasant to hear your cherished opinions controverted: it is always a little disagreeable to receive truth, which requires us to sacrifice something of our self-esteem, by giving up errors which have become part of our mental constitution. But certainly you will not silence me on any such narrow ground as this. The time has come when one may speak freely on this subject, and surely without offense. Forty years have passed since the gathering of that far-famed body. Every member of it is dead. I will not insist that you shall say nothing of them which is not good; but I claim the privilege of saying of them what I know to be true. I am sure you will listen to me patiently, if not approvingly. major, April 17, 1815. I was not very ambitious of my title, for not long after "Major Goodridge," of Bangor, Maine, acquired an infamous notoriety, in consequence of a trial (December, 1816) in which Daniel Webster made a celebrated plea, unmasking one of the most extraordinary cases of duplicity and hypocrisy on record. This Major Goodridge pretended to have been robbed, and the crime was charged upon two persons by the name of Kenniston. In the defense of these, Mr. Webster proved that the charge was false, and that the accuser had himself fabricated the whole story of the robbery. (See Webster's Works, vol. v. page 441.) |