ARISTOCRACY IN AMERICA.

FROM THE
SKETCH-BOOK OF A GERMAN NOBLEMAN.

EDITED BY
FRANCIS J. GRUND.
AUTHOR OF “THE AMERICANS IN THEIR MORAL, SOCIAL,
AND POLITICAL RELATIONS.”

“Why should the poor be flattered?
No: let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,
And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee,
Where thrift may follow fawning.”
Shakspeare’s Hamlet, Act iii. Scene 2.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.

LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.

1839.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY,
Bangor House, Shoe Lane.

CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME.

PART II.
CONTAINING A SHORT STAY IN BOSTON AND PHILADELPHIA.
[CHAPTER I.]
Arrival in Boston.—The Tremont House.—The Boston Common.—Aristocratic Exclusiveness of the Higher Classes.—The Massachusetts State-House.—Pathetic Elegy of a Boston Lawyer.—An Independent Gentleman, not a Speculator.—American Aristocracy contrasted with that of England.—The Aristocracy of America continually in contact with the Lower Orders.—Anecdote illustrating the Opposition of the Lower Classes to Aristocracy.—An Aristocratic Patron.—Economy of the American Aristocracy.—Northern and Southern Aristocracy contrasted [Page 3]
[CHAPTER II.]
Cross-examination of Foreigners in the United States.—Definition of Common Sense—its high Value in America.—Aversion to Genius.—Sensible reply of a Boston Aristocrat with regard to a Parvenu from the Country.—Ladies buying themselves a Professor.—Boys at school learning for Money.—A Boston fashionable Concert—Description of the Musicians and the Audience.—High Value of Morality in a Cantatrice.—Dangers of differing in matters of Taste from the leading Coteries.—Secret Police in Boston.—Reflections. [28]
[CHAPTER III.]
Maternal Affections of American Ladies—their Cause.—Want of Romance in the Lives of American Gentlemen.—Moral and Religious Cant.—Daniel Webster’s Principle of resisting arrogant Innovation.—Reflections on the Democratic, Aristocratic, and Monarchical Forms of Government.—The Bunker’s Hill Monument.—Want of Patriotism in the Higher Classes of Americans.—The English Feeling in Boston.—Americans passing for Englishmen in Europe.—Anecdotes.—The American Aristocracy take the House of Lords under their Protection.—Their Contempt for the Western Settlers.—The American Character not understood in Europe [54]
[CHAPTER IV.]
A party of English Gentlemen at Dinner—their Patriotism.—Character of John Bull in America.—The Englishman’s Speech.—The American Answer.—Modesty of British Commercial Agents in the United States.—Anecdote characteristic of the Second Society [85]
[CHAPTER V.]
A Literary Party.—The American Press.—Character of Editors—their Rise and Progress.—Influence of Advertisements.—Old and New Federalists.—Mode of operating on the People [109]
[CHAPTER VI.]
Unitarian Preaching.—Dr. Channing.—Character of his Audience.—Religious Party on the Sabbath.—Discussion ofDr. Channing’s Merits.—Moral Cant.—General Characteristic of New England Society.—Women the only Aristocracy [132]
[CHAPTER VII.]
The Nobleman’s Journal becomes more and more Aristocratic.—Wistar Parties in Philadelphia.—Literary Gentlemen in Philadelphia.—The Girard College.—Character of the late Stephen Girard.—The Quakers—their Aristocratic Sentiments.—Quaker Dress.—Philadelphia Ladies.—Good Living in Philadelphia.—The Mansion House in Third Street.—Apostrophe to the Fashionable Young Men and to the Men of Family [156]
PART III.
CONTAINING A TRIP TO WASHINGTON, AND A SHORT STAY IN THE METROPOLIS.
[CHAPTER I.]
Journey to Baltimore.—Arrival in the City.—Barnum’s Hotel.—The Washington Letter-writer—his Views of Politics.—Arrival in Washington.—Street Manners of the People.—Hotels and Boarding-houses.—High Life in the Metropolis.—The Epicure House [173]
[CHAPTER II.]
Corps Diplomatique in Washington.—What a Fashionable Lady thinks of an Ambassador.—The Secretary of the Treasury.—Popularity-hunting of American Statesmen—its Influence on National Politics.—Mr. Woodbury’s Hospitality to Literary Men.—Henry Clay.—Thomas H. Benton.—Salis Wright.—James Buchanan.—Extraordinary Dinner-bell.—Office-hunters in Washington.—State of Finance of the City.—Anecdote of General Jackson and the Office-seeker.—General Character of Washington Society compared with that of other American Cities [201]
[CHAPTER III.]
The Library of Congress.—Conversation with several Members of Congress.—Practice of Public Speakers in Washington.—Van Buren’s Method of parrying an Invective.—Discussion of General Jackson’s Character.—Jackson and Wellington’s Similarity of Character.—Mr. Van Buren’s Character.—Instability of American Institutions.—Insecurity of Property the Consequence of it.—Want of Enthusiasm in the Higher Classes.—Their Toad-eating in Europe.—Cooper’s last Publication.—Vanity of boasting of the Natural Resources of the Country.—Thin-skinnedness of the Americans when attacked by European Critics.—Toad-eating to the People.—Necessity of establishing a Moral Quarantine for all Americans returning from Europe.—Americans being ashamed of their Institutions.—Anecdote of a vulgar rich American and the Grand Duke of Tuscany.—Democratic Twaddlers.—Advantages of a poor Capital [234]
[CHAPTER IV.]
A Fashionable young American at Gadsby’s Hotel.—A Washington Party.—Description of the Parlour and the Refectory.—Apple Toddy.—Introduction to the Lady of the House and to a Fashionable Belle.—The young Lady’s Literary Taste.—Mr. Wise.—Grand Distinction between American and English Conservatism.—American Literati.—A regular American Tory—his Rise and Progress.—Mr. Rives.—Mr. Preston.—Mr. Webster.—Pendant to the Old Bailey Speech quoted by Miss Martineau.—Calhoun’s Remarks on the Money-mania of his Countrymen.—Webster’s Answer and pathetic Conclusion—his giving into Poetry and sinking the Bathos.—John Quincy Adams.—Mr. Forsyth.—Anecdote of an American Anchorite.—A Mazurka danced by four Fashionable Ladies, a Polish Count, and three Members of the Corps Diplomatique [261]
[CHAPTER V.]
Drive to the White-house.—Anecdote of Mr. Jefferson and the British Ambassador.—Reception at General Jackson’s.—The General’s Conversation and Character.—The President’s Prayer.—Anecdotes of General Jackson.—Reception by Mr. Van Buren.—Anecdote illustrative of Mr. Van Buren’s Tact—his Character.—Character of the American Opposition.—Political Hypocrisy.—Mr. Calhoun.—Mr. Kendall.—Conclusion [302]

PART II.
CONTAINING A SHORT STAY IN BOSTON AND PHILADELPHIA.