Ten Years of my Life. 



These have, however, an advantage over their sisters of other 

 nations which is of the greatest weight ; for, to outbalance the 

 disadvantage that American gentlemen are not quite so foolish 

 as those of the French and other European people are reputed 

 to be, they are not only extremely generous, but also very dis- 

 creet in reference to ladies, and even if tricked and deceived 

 by them, perhaps in the most cruel manner, they do not re- 

 venge themselves by expo&ing their perhaps imprudent fair 

 enemies. An American gentleman — of course 1 speak only of 

 gentlemen — would never betray the secrets of a lady, and one 

 that should sin against this sacred law would not only be mor- 

 ally lynched by the ladies, but lose caste with the gentlemen. 



I have frequently had an opportunity of noticing and 

 wondering at the audacity with which American ladies put this 

 gentlemanly virtue to the test, and of admiring the stoical 

 composure of men v^ho have not even smiled or showed their 

 astonishment when ladies in their presence ventured protesta- 

 tions and assertions the falsehood of which none knew better 

 than thev did. 



I soon became aware that we could never progress or suc- 

 ceed much in America without the help of influential friends, 

 and whilst my husband did his duty in the field I tried to win 

 the good opinion and kind interest of men who might be sup- 

 posed to be able to assist him. For this purpose nowhere was 

 offered a better opportunity than in Washington, where Con- 

 gress was in session and all the ministers resided. Congress, 

 and especially the Senate, was the spring of grace, and whoever 

 had friends in that august body was sure of success. In con- 

 sequence of this many people who wanted some favour from 

 the Government crowded into Washington, and amongst them 

 the fair sex was strongly represented. In fact, there were 

 lady-politicians and lad3'-lobbyists, who made it a business to 

 exert the influence which they gained by their coquetry over 

 influential men, for the benefit not only of their husbands or 

 friends, but even for strangers and for ready cash ! Of course 

 these ladies were neither old, nor ugly, nor very prudish, and 

 not much respected ; but as society at that time had more an 

 eye to gain than to virtue, these ladies in W^ashington were 

 not aware of the contempt in which they were held in other 

 parts of the Republic, Washington was then reputed as a 

 most wicked and dissipated place, and ladies that could not 



