12. IV:30. Thursday— Thunder Showers— Ride
- Southard Samuel L
- Clay— Henry
- Roberdeau. Isaac
- Elliot William
- Nourse Charles J.
Galling ride with John to the
Navy-Yard, and Eastern Branch Bridge. Found in the Nursery 110 Cork Oaks
in 29 Rows— Persimon shoots appear in abundance; but that in the Pot
outstrips those in the garden and forms larger and longer leaves— In
this tree the seed does not come up as Cotyledon, nor form the seed
leaves—The plumelet is a dark red stalk shewing itself first above
ground in staple form; pressing out its extremity in a yellowish stem
which becomes erect, then opens to a fork the two prongs of which in two
or three days change and expand into green seed leaves—from these, two
leaves proper in two or three days more open, at right angles with them,
and then the leaves form in 573pairs, a law of
vegetation common to many plants— The Oaks which I had taken for Willow
Oaks, appear to be rather the Laurel Oak— I am unable from their present
foliage to distinguish between the different kinds of Walnuts, and of
White and Chesnut Oaks which have come up. Some of the Oaks have shot up
a second Stem, on the top of the first, and are putting forth a
secondary foliage— The English walnuts that have come up, are much
attacked, and some have been killed by insects. Mr
Southard was here after breakfast, and read me a Letter
drawn up by Mr M’Kenney, to William Clark Superintendant of Indian Affairs, relating
to the Execution of the Act for the exploring parties of Choctaw and
Chickasaw Indians to which a detachment of Potawatamis are to be added—
He spoke of the manner in which the accounts have been kept at the
Treasury of the funds appropriated for internal improvement Surveys;
which have been under the charge of Peter
Hagner the third Auditor— Mr Clay was here, and submitted
a Letter to W. P. Preble
authorising the employment of a Mr Deane, as an assistant Agent
upon the North-eastern boundary arbitration— Mr Clay expressed some apprehension that Mr Gallatin would be somewhat intolerant of
an associate agent— He thinks Mr Gallatin’s conduct towards
the Administration unfriendly and unfair, and he says Mr Gallatin’s discourse is neither generous
nor just— He also repeated severe animadversions upon the Postmaster General, and says that
judge Brook relates many
circumstances shewing great abuses in the Post-Offices, intended to
operate against the Administration— He said he had asked judge Brook to
speak to me on the subject— He complained of being again severely
unwell; excused himself from dining with us next Saturday; and said he
wished to leave the City upon his Summer excursion next Wednesday—
Coll.
Roberdeau and Mr William Elliot, brought here
a large Sun dial, carved upon a Slate, to be fixed horizontally in a
purlieu of this house— We determined on the spot, and as the Slate is to
be bedded in a thick plank, I asked Coll.
Roberdeau to come at ten to-morrow morning; and sent for Borland the Carpenter to prepare
the Plank. Major Nourse Chief
Clerk of the War Department, brought me a draft of a Letter to the
Governor of Georgia, in answer
to a blank cover enclosing a complaint signed by several Citizens of
Georgia, as thefts and menaces of Creek Indians. The Catalpa trees are
in blossom.
