leasure to his guests. The sessions of parliament,
however, interfere greatly with dinners. The great debates occur
during dining hours, so that, as Mr. Adams informed me, it was
difficult to arrange a dinner that would not be broken up somewhat
by an unexpected debate, or a division in the House of Commons.
The precedence of rank had to be carefully observed. The unsocial
habit of not introducing guests to each other tended to restrain
conversation and make the dinner dull and heavy. Still the forms
and usages in social life in London are much like those in Washington.
But here the ordinary sessions of each House of Congress terminate
before six o'clock, leaving the evening hours for recreation.

The presidential mansion is the natural resort of all who visit
Washington. The doors are always open to visitors at stated hours,
and the President is easy of access to all who call at such hours.
Formerly presidential receptions were open to all comers, and the
result was a motley crowd, who formed in line and shook hands with
the President, bowed to the attending ladies, passed into the great
east room and gradually dispersed. In late years these receptions
have become less frequent, and in their place we have had diplomatic,
military and navy, and congressional receptions, for which invitations
are issued. During the usual period before Lent card receptions
are given by the cabinet, by many Senators and Members, and by
citizens, for which invitations are issued. I know of no place
where the entrance into society is so open and free as in
Washington.

From London I went, by way of Dieppe and Rouen, to Paris, where my
first call was on General Dix and his family. Next I visited the
exposition, and wandered through and about and around it. I have
attended many exhibitions, but never one before or since that
combined such magnitude and completeness in size, form and location,
and such simplicity in arrangement and details, as the Paris
Exposition of 1867. I spent ten days in this inspection, and in
walking and driving around Paris and its environs. Through the
kindness of General Dix, then envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary, I received invitations to many meetings and
receptions given by Mayor Haussman and other officers of the French
government to visitors from abroad connected with the exposition.
I accepted some of them, but purposely postponed this social part
of my visit until I returned from