609 
Mrs. IVrig /d's Travels in the United Stales. 
Returning home, began to ponder upon 
the events of the evening: she had been 
seated below the lady of--—my 
informant forgot which ambassador, 
but one whom she judged of inferior 
importance to her liege lord. His mod 
Catholic Majesty had been insulted, 
she declared, in her person ; for was 
not an insult offered to the wife always 
offered to the husband; and as in this 
ease an insult offered to the husband 
was offered to the King of Spain— 
Euclid himself must have concluded 
with Q. E. D. The next morning the 
Don could do no less than summon a 
council, consisting of his most chosen 
friends among the diplomatic corps. 
The case was stated, and their opinions 
severally taken. One ventured to apo¬ 
logize for the President, on the ground 
of his ignorance as a republican of the 
rules of etiquette. To this it was re¬ 
plied, that the dignity of his most Ca¬ 
tholic Majesty was not to be laid at the 
mercy of every man who might call 
himself a republican. The lady parti¬ 
cularly insisted, that satisfaction must 
be given. It was suggested, that the 
best way would be for Spain's represen¬ 
tative to go and ask it. The divan 
broke up, and one of its members went 
to advise the President of the matter 
in agitation. Some hours after, Mr. 
Jefferson, while occupied in his library, 
was informed that the Spanish minister 
was in an adjoining apartment; he 
called immediately for his boots, and 
putting one on, and holding the other 
in his hand, proceeded to the room. 
Having half opened the door, he issued 
orders to the servant behind him, touch¬ 
ing his horse, and then advancing, and 
drawing on as lie did so his remaining 
boot, welcomed his visitor with his 
wonted amenity. 44 Pray be seated ; be 
seated; no ceremony here, my good 
sir. Very glad to see you;” and then 
without regarding the disconcerted air 
of the astonished representative of Spain 
and the Indies, entered with his wonted 
ease into general conversation, opposing 
the gentleman to the minister, and the 
unaffected majesty of the philosopher 
10 the frozen haughtiness of the diplo¬ 
matist. The combat was soon decided. 
The Spaniard departed, and reported to 
his lady and diplomatic friends, that 
when they went to the house of the 
American Presided, they must leave 
the dignity of their masters at home. 
CORREA DE SERRA. 
We met yesterday at her house a cha- 
Monthly Mag. No. 363. 
raefer well known and highly respected 
throughout this country ; the Portu¬ 
guese minister, Correa de Serra. Mr. 
Brackenridge of Baltimore, in dedicat¬ 
ing to him ills little work on Louisiana, 
has pronounced him to be 44 one of the 
most enlightened foreigners that has 
ever visited the United states.” The 
observations with which he follows up 
this compliment are so similar to what 
I have universally heard applied to this 
amiable philosopher by the citizens of 
this country, that 1 am tempted to quote 
them. 44 Your amiable simplicity of 
manners restore to us our Franklin. 
In every part of our country which you 
bare visited, (and you have nearly 
seen it all) your society has been as ac¬ 
ceptable to the unlettered farmer as to 
the learned philosopher. The liberal 
and friendly manner in which you are 
accustomed to view every thing in these 
states, the partiality which you feel for 
their welfare, the profound maxims 
upon every subject which, like the dis¬ 
ciples of Socrates, we treasure up from 
your lips, entitleus to claim you as one 
of the fathers of our country.” After 
such testimonies from those who can 
boast an intimate personal acquaintance 
with this distinguished European, the 
observations of a stranger were a very 
impertinent addition. I can only say, 
that, as a stranger, I was much struck 
by the unpretending simplicity and mo¬ 
desty of one to whom unvarying report 
ascribes so many high gifts, vast ac¬ 
quirements, and profound sciences. 
The kindness with which he spoke of 
this nation, the admiration that he ex¬ 
pressed of its character, and of those 
institutions which he observed had 
formed that character, and were still- 
forming it, inspired me, in a short con¬ 
versation, with an equal admiration of 
the enlightened foreigner who felt so 
generously. As he walked home with 
me from the party, (for your charac¬ 
ter is not here fastened to a coach, as 
Brydone found his was in Sicily,) 1 
chanced to observe upon the brilliancy 
of the skies, which, I said, as a native 
of a moist and northern climate, had 
not yet lost to me the charm of novelty. 
He mildly replied, 44 And on what 
country should the sun and stars shine 
brightly, if noton this? Light is every 
where, and is each day growing brighter 
and spreading farther.” 44 Are you not 
afraid,” I asked, encouraged by the 
suavity of the venerable sage to forget 
the vast d istance between his mind and 
4 H years 
