Tuesday morning.—­Received letters of introduction from Goodhue and Co. to Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Canada, and Washington.  Had a long talk with Mr. M., 60, Cedar-street.  Introduced by Pearce, about my intended trip:  found him very useful.  Received an order from a good house, without soliciting them.  Wrote and finished my letters home per Great Western.  Mr. Blane, and my old friend Brough, the performer, dined with me.  Was introduced to Capt.  M’Lean, of the Swallow, running to Albany; and then walked with Mr. R., of Manchester, down to the Battery:  a beautiful walk.  To the Castle Garden, where there was another Polk meeting, which I should think 10,000 people attended.  Lots of Liberality again.  The Fort close to this is a splendid affair.  Came by White Hall back to the Astor, and wrote a long letter to my wife; and, as it is just now ten o’clock, good night!

Wednesday morning.—­Bought three splendid racoon skins—­one each for Mr. Groucock, Mr. J. of Liverpool, and self, for our carriage driving-boxes (Mr. J. having put upon my finger a magnificent diamond ring very unexpectedly when I was leaving my native shore, as a mark of gratitude for a disinterested act on my part towards him long, long ago, which he considered had been the groundwork of his fortune:) also some tobacco to pack in them, to prevent them spoiling.  Then saw over the Custom-house, which is a very fine building; and the Exchange.  Business is not done here as it is in London.  Mr. Vyse, Mr. Palin, and I then visited the Tombs.  Prisoners do not remain here long.  If the sentence is long, they are sent to Blackwood’s Island.  The prisoners here are kept clean, have well-aired cells, and are allowed to walk about at their pleasure.  They get only two meals a day:  a quart of coffee or more, and as much bread as they can eat.  Dinner at three, with plenty of beef and bread.  For very long sentences they are sent to Sing-Sing, up the North River, and Auburn state-prisons.  We then visited the Sessions-house, where there is no distinction between judges, counsel, or prisoners—­all are in plain dress, spitting about in all corners.  Heard an eloquent counsel defending a prisoner.  Saw the lock-up, the warder’s and grand jury rooms.  Altogether the Tombs is a very fine building.  Saw where the memorable J.C.  Colt destroyed himself immediately after he was married, and two hours before he would have been hanged.  We passed Washington Hall, where many a fine fellow has been ruined by gaming and drinking; and dined at Astor House, where I was told it for a positive fact they take 500 dollars a day ready money for drinks of brandy by people standing.  They pay 40,000 dollars a year rent.  We then took a drive, saw Mr. Vyse’s fine horse and sulky, and spent an hour at his apartments, which are first-rate:  then to Trenton Hall to see a Mr. Green, a reformed gambler, who exposed the rascality of gaming of all sorts, and taught me how to know the cards by their backs.  I was much interested, and bought his “Life,” with its scandalous exposures.  Saw Captain M’Arthey, who shot his brother in a duel, and has been distracted ever since.  To bed at eleven o’clock.