Rose soon after six in expectation of finding out my old friend R. M.;
rather disappointed to find from the innkeeper who is an Irishman, that
the Monks were dispersed, only one remaining in the neighbourhood. He
offered to walk with me to make further enquiry. At daybreak the drums
announced the Day of Independence, which I find is to be celebrated in
an extraordinary manner at Frankford. A half-brother of Richard Monks
was sent for by the innkeeper; by him I learned the melancholy news of
his brother's death which happened in Sept. 1832. He had left Lexington
and settled at Louisville 3 or 4 months, then bought the half of a
brother's estate opposite Troy on the Ohio; there his daughter married
and settled at ----. Another son at Louisville keeping a coffee house.
Walked with Mr. Monks to the College and heard two orations, vehement
and abusive of the old country, lauding France and even Spain, the
latter on account of Isabella who patronized Columbus, eulogised
Bonaparte and declaimed against Russia for the treatment of the Poles;
several negroes were peeping at the three doorways, but not allowed to
enter or even to listen to an oration in favour of liberty.
Paid 5-1/2 dollars to Louisville. At home I am considered a quick eater,
but here I have not half done before most have left the room. A
gentleman I met here said the labour of the negroes in Louisiana
cultivating sugar was excessive, so that the women have hardly any
children. A factory 5 yards by 8, two storeys, 4 windows on one side,
turned by three miserable blind horses. Disappointed that R. Monks'
brother did not call, as he kept me waiting all afternoon. Slept two or
three hours till the stage left at 12.