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lar to the former are building. Mr. Ritchie led us through so 
veral wide and elegant streets to his house, one of the largest in 
Boston, and situated on Beacon-hill, a public promenade. Many- 
frame houses are still to be observed; no new houses can be built 
of wood. Most of them are of brick; granite, which is found in 
abundance about twenty miles from Boston, is used frequently 
for foundations, particularly for those of stores. The mall, as it 
is called, consists of a large meadow, sparingly planted with trees, 
and extending down the hill to the water. On the highest part 
of the hill stands the state-house or capitol, with a large dome, 
covered with copper. The building is of brick, decorated with a 
fagade of ten columns. These are of wood, and impart to the 
whole an air of weakness. Mr. Ritchie’s house is furnished with 
much splendour and taste, and decorated by some paintings which 
he obtained during his travels. Among these I remarked a very 
successful copy of Madonna della sedia of Raphael, another Ma¬ 
donna of Sassoferrato, and a scene from the deluge of Poussin. 
We spent the evening with Mr. Ritchie, and became acquainted 
with his lady, and also with the widow of General Humphreys, 
adjutant of General Washington, and formerly ambassador of the 
United States to Lisbon and Madrid. Mrs. Humphreys is de¬ 
scended from an English family, was born in Lisbon, and must 
have been very handsome in her youth. Mr. Otis and his son 
were also present. When we departed at nine o’clock, it was still 
very warm, and the full moon looked like a glowing coal in the 
heated atmosphere. The Pallas arrived at Boston towards even¬ 
ing, and cast anchor near Long-wharf. In passing she saluted 
Fort Independence with seventeen guns, and was answered by 
eighteen. 
I had imagined that no one would take the least notice of me 
in America, but I soon found myself agreeably disappointed. 
The morning after my arrival I received an invitation to dine the 
next day with Mr. Otis, and was visited at the same time by se¬ 
veral gentlemen. Captain Henderson and Mr. Dixon, among 
others, called upon me; the latter introduced me to his wife and 
his father-in-law, Mr. Homer. This gentleman inhabits a large 
and handsome house on Beacon-hill, and has two amiable daugh¬ 
ters. I was much pleased with the arrangement of this house, 
and indeed the houses and chambers in general are larger and 
better adapted for convenience and ease than the English. 
In company with Mr. Ritchie I paid a visit to Mrs. Hum¬ 
phreys, whose house is really splendidly furnished. In the even¬ 
ing I visited Mr. De Wallenstein, attached to the Russian em¬ 
bassy at Washington, who resides here during the summer, on 
account of his health. He is an agreeable and reflecting man. 
Afterwards I visited Mr. Ed ward Everett, professor of the Greek 
