96 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



lose them. "We have attended service to-day in St. Peter's, 

 an Episcopal church, whose minister, the Rev. Mr. Can- 

 field, is an evangelical man, and an earnest and instructive 

 preacher, without any tincture of Puseyism, or any other 

 form of High-Church opinions. 



While in Washington, he paid his respects to 

 President Taylor, and also met his former pupil, Mr. 

 Secretary Clayton. 



We that is, Benjamin, Dr. Bartlett, and myself 

 were introduced by Mr. Senator Baldwin, and were re- 

 ceived in a frank and courteous manner by the President 

 in his business-room. His manners are plain and soldier- 

 like, and he converses readily, and apparently with open- 

 ness and candor. I inquired for his health, and whether 

 the change from a tent and the field to a palace had been 

 injurious. He said no, but spoke with partiality of his 

 tent of eight feet square. I inquired for his son, who was 

 some time at Yale College. He replied, that he was at 

 home taking care of affairs, and added : " I told him not 

 to come to Washington, that I would not give him any 

 office if he did, and that one in a family was quite enough." 

 This was said in a very pleasant manner. I alluded to the 

 great agitation now going on in Congress, when he replied, 

 that he believed they would be obliged to come to the plan 

 of the Administration at last, that is, to permit the peo- 

 ple of the territories to settle the question for themselves. 

 I replied that J had been much pleased with the sentiments 

 contained in his address to Congress, and thought they 

 indicated the true course. The interview did not last 

 more than six or eight minutes, when we took our leave 

 with a hearty shake of the hand. His manners are not 

 exactly graceful ; he has the appearance of being a little 

 nervous and not quite at his ease. The best portraits of 

 him are mainly correct ; but he is more care-marked, and 



