hen, Senators and Representatives
address their constituents through the reports, instead of debating
questions among themselves.

The diplomatic representative of Great Britain, during the greater
part of the Jackson Administration, was the Right Honorable Charles
Richard Vaughan, who was a great favorite among Congressmen and
citizens at Washington, many of whom were his guests at the Decatur
Mansion, then the British Legation. He was a well-educated and
well-informed gentleman, with the courteous manners of the old
school. When recalled after ten years' service at Washington, he
was a jovial bachelor of fifty, fond of old Madeira wine and a
quiet rubber of whist.

A good story is told of General Roger Weightman, when Mayor of the
city, who sent by mistake an invitation to Sir Charles Vaughan to
attend a Fourth-of-July dinner, at which speeches were invariably
made abusive of the British and their Vandalism in the recent war.
Sir Charles, who was a finished diplomat, might have construed the
invitation into an insult, but he wrote a very polite response,
saying that he thought he should be "indisposed" on the Fourth of
July.

Russia was then represented by the Baron de Krudener, who resided
in a large house built by Thomas Swann, a wealthy Baltimorean.
Amicable relations with "our ancient ally," France, had been
interrupted by the brusque demand of General Jackson for the payment
of the indemnity. Monsieur Serruvier was recalled, leaving the
Legation in charge of Alphonso Pageot, the Secretary. He also was
recalled, but after the Jackson Administration was sent back as
Charge.

It was expected that the session of the Twenty-sixth Congress,
which terminated on the day of the inauguration of General Harrison,
would have been followed by a duel between Mr. Edward Stanley, of
North Carolina, and Mr. Francis W. Pickens, of South Carolina.
Mr. Stanley had been criticised in debate by Mr. Pickens, and he
retorted mercilessly. "The gentleman," said he, "compares my speech
to the attempt of a 'savage shooting at the sun.' It may be so,
sir. But the Committee will remember that in the remarks I made
I did not address myself to the gentleman who has so unnecessarily
interposed in this debate. And why did I not, sir? Not because
I thought I should be as powerless as he describes me, but because
I had seen him so often so unmercifully kicked and cuffed and
knocked about, so often run over on this floor, that I thou