dotes. One of them, that he loved to tell,
was of Jonathan Mason, of whom he always spoke in high praise. It
set forth that at the trial of a Methodist preacher for the alleged
murder of a young girl, the evidence was entirely circumstantial,
and there was a wide difference of opinion concerning his guilt.
One morning, just before the opening of the court, a brother preacher
stepped up to Mason and said: "Sir, I had a dream last night, in
which the angel Gabriel appeared and told me that the prisoner was
not guilty." "Ah!" replied Mason, "have him subpoenaed immediately."

Charles Dickens first visited Washington in 1842. He was then a
young man. The attentions showered upon the great progenitor of
Dick Swiveller turned his head. The most prominent men in the
country told him how they had ridden with him in the _Markis of
Granby_, with old Weller on the box and Samivel on the dickey; how
they had played cribbage with the Marchioness and quaffed the rosy
with Dick Swiveller; how they had known honest Tim Linkwater and
angelic Little Nell, ending with the welcome words of Sir John
Falstaff, "D'ye think we didn't know ye? We knew ye as well as
Him that made ye."

Mr. Webster gave a party on the night of January 26th, 1842, which
was the crowning entertainment of the season. Eight rooms of his
commodious house were thrown open to the guests, and were most
dazzlingly lighted. There had not been in two Administrations so
large and brilliant an assemblage of female beauty and political
rank. Among the more distinguished guests were the President, Lord
Morpeth, Mr. Fox, the British Minister, M. Bacourt, the French
Minister, Mr. Bodisco, the Russian Minister, and most of the
Diplomatic Corps attached to the several legations, besides several
Judges of the Supreme Court and many members of Congress. The
honorable Secretary received his numerous guests with that dignity
and courtesy which was characteristic of him, and seemed to be in
excellent spirits. There no dancing, not even music. There was,
however, plenty of lively conversation, promenades, eating of ices,
and sipping of rich wines, with the usual spice of flirtation.

President Tyler's last reception of the season of 1842, on the
night of the 15th of March, gathered one of the greatest crowds
ever assembled in the White House. There was every variety of the
American citizen _et citoyenne_ present--those of every form, shape,
length, breadth, complexion,