Chapter I: Front Matter

_President of the United States._

London. Published by Richard Bentley. 1839.]

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 of
Dr. 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