We had quite a noise last Fifth day on the occasion of Martin’s passing through this village.  A band of splendid music was sent for from the city, and large crowds of people called to look at him as if he were a puppet show.  Really one would have thought an angelic being had descended from heaven, to have heard and seen the commotion.  The whole village was in an uproar.  Here was a mother after her children to go and gaze upon the great man, and there was a teacher rushing with one child by the hand and half a dozen running after.  Where was I?  Why I, by mustering a little self-government, concluded to remain at home and suffer the President to pass along in peace.  He was to dine at Washington Irving’s, at Tarrytown, and then proceed to the Capitol.

Her extreme animosity is explained in a subsequent letter to Aaron McLean: 

I regret to hear that the people of Battenville are possessed of so little sound sense as to go 20 miles to shake hands with the President at Saratoga Springs; merely to look at a human being who is possessed of nothing more than ordinary men and therefore should not be worshipped more than any mortal being, nor even so much as many in the humble walks of life who are devoted to their God.  Let us look at his behavior and scan its effects on society.  One day while in New York was spent in riding through the streets preceded by an extravagant number of military men and musicians, who were kept in exercise on that and succeeding days of the week until all were completely exhausted.  On the next day, while he and his party were revelling in their tents on luxuries and the all-debasing Wine, many poor, dear children were crying for food and for water to allay their thirst.  On Friday evening he attended Park Theater and on Monday Bowery Theater.  Yes, he who is called by the majority as most capable of ruling this republic, may be seen in the Theater encouraging one of the most heinous crimes or practices with which our country is disgraced.[7] Yes, and afterwards we find him rioting at the Wine Table, the whole livelong night.  Is it to be wondered that there are such vast numbers of our population who are the votaries of Vice and Dissipation?  No, certainly not, and I do not believe there ever will be less of this wickedness while a man practising these abominable vices (in what is called a gentlemanly manner) is suffered to sit at the head of our Government.

The future orator and reformer is plainly foreshadowed in this burst of indignation, to which Mr. McLean replies in part: 

I was agreeably disappointed in Van Buren’s personal appearance.  From what I had heard of him as a little, smooth, intriguing arch-magician, I expected his looks would bear that out but it was far to the contrary.  He is quite old and gray, very grave and careworn.  His dress was perfectly plain, not the least sign of jewelry save his watch seal which was solid gold.