1. John Finch (1791–1854) was an English geologist who traveled in the United States and Canada, 1822–31, after which he published an account of his travels (see n. 2 below). Finch also published a number of essays on American geology and mineralogy in Benjamin Silliman’s American Journal of Science and Arts (Tony Rail, “Biographical Notes for William Steill Brown … and Some Biographical Notes for John Finch,” n.d., Harris Manchester College Library and Archives, Mss, Oxford University, 16–19).

2. In 1833 Finch published Travels in the United States of America and Canada … (London, 1833), in which he gave the following account of his visit with JM: “I had letters of introduction from a friend at Washington to the Ex-President, Mr. Madison, who resides at Montpelier, four miles from Orange-court House. When I arrived, the valet informed me that Mr. Madison was riding out on the plantation, but was expected home very soon. I was ushered into the drawing-room. In the course of half an hour Mr. Madison arrived, welcomed me to his house, and in a short time I found myself perfectly at home.

“Montpelier is in the centre of a large plantation, containing nearly six thousand acres of land. Clumps of trees are left in various parts, and it has a great resemblance to an English nobleman’s mansion. In front of the house is a fine view of the Blue Mountains. They are at a distance of twenty miles; but, from the clearness of the atmosphere, every inequality of ground can be distinctly seen; and on a bright sunny day, the lights and shadows on the mountain-side have a very picturesque effect.

“The drawing-room contains portraits of all the Presidents of the United States, and I saw files of the Globe and Traveller, and Morning Chronicle. Mr. Madison said, a friend sent them regularly from England. There was also a fine collection of the Napoleon medals, with the victories of the Revolution. In the rear of the house is a well-cultivated garden, and a fine orchard.

“On the following day, it rained without intermission; but the time was passed in conversation, and I had so many questions to ask, and Mr. Madison conversed with such animation, that the time flew with rapidity. After a splendid dinner, a variety of wines were placed on the table, and the servants withdrew. The Ex-President said very calmly, that in an afternoon, it was Sunday, he could not have the servants to wait on him, as they made it a holiday. There was a plentiful supply of wood near, so that it was easy to renew the fire, when for a few moments it ceased to emit a blaze of sparkling light.

“The Ex-President said, ‘In the late wars of Europe, the English and French seemed to capture the American vessels from a spirit of rivalry to each other. We were apprehensive that, whichever nation we declared war against first, the other nation would also commence hostilities, lest they should not get their usual share of prizes.

“‘It was singular that Lord Castlereagh sent dispatches, stating it to be impossible to repeal the orders in council. In a short time dispatches arrived with intelligence that they were repealed! It was too late; hostilities had commenced.

“‘There were many points about the character of General Ross that were praiseworthy; but Admiral Cockburn was unworthy of command; he plundered the country, and sent home dispatches on the most trivial affairs.

“‘The memoirs of O’Meara and Les Casas have contributed much to enlighten the public mind on the character of Bonaparte. My opinion is quite altered respecting him. Considering the elevation to which he rose, he seems to have committed fewer crimes than other men in his situation would have done. If Bonaparte had died on the field of Waterloo, the world would have been quite ignorant of his character.

“‘In the first Congress, no one ever dreamt of making long speeches: it was a meeting of business, and the orators soon found it was not the place to distinguish themselves. Patrick Henry went there, but soon returned. The power of Henry as a speaker was unrivalled; he knew the temper of every man in the Assembly of Virginia, and seemed to have complete mastery over their passions.

“‘Any distinction between different sects of Christians is absurd. It was necessary to take away the glebe-lands from the clergy in Virginia, to place them on an equality with other denominations. Formerly there was a law that, if a Quaker landed in Virginia, he should be imprisoned; if he returned the third time, he should be put to death.

“‘Codification is of little use. If you make a code of laws, you must use words; these have different meanings: whole volumes have been written on the nature of proof, and so on, ad infinitum. Napoleon, in his code, adopted the maritime law of Louis XIV., that the commentary might be taken with it.

“‘When Dr. Priestley came to America, we expected to see in his personal appearance something of a fiery disputant; and were much surprised to see a harmless, inoffensive man, who seemed the picture of benevolence.

“‘The English change their chargé d’affaires too often at Washington: by the time they become accustomed to the mode of transacting business they are recalled.’

“I asked the Ex-President what were his sensations on retiring to the calm and quiet of domestic life, after filling the honorable station of Chief of ten millions of people. He replied, ‘that any person who had been President for eight years would be glad to retire; the office was very arduous as well as honorable.’

“On the following morning, the weather being fine, Mr. Madison proposed a ride over the plantation, to which I immediately assented; the horses were saddled, and we proceeded on our tour. Mr. Madison had been at great pains to preserve some fine trees on his estate, and we rode some distance in the woods that I might see and admire them. The chestnut trees are very large, but difficult to preserve. If a swarm of bees have lodged, or an opossum has taken refuge in one of them, the hunters have no scruple in cutting down the largest tree. We saw one, three feet in diameter, which had been cut down a few nights previous, to capture an opossum which had taken refuge among the branches. In some fields I observed young sassafras trees growing. Mr. Madison said, the only way of getting rid of them was by turning in the cattle, who were fond of eating the buds. The Ex-President observed, that the common wild-flowers had certain periods during which they flourished, and then a new race appeared; formerly his plantation had been covered with the blue centaurea; the fields were now ornamented with the verbascum thapsis, or mullein. The negroes were employed in clearing new ground for a crop of tobacco, cutting down the trees, and making a rail fence. The largest trees were left standing, with the bark cut round near the bottom; the trees gradually perish, and are blown down by the wind.

“There was more independence of manner about the negroes, when conversing with their master, than I expected. One of them was unwell, and he made known his complaints to Massa with great confidence of having a favorable hearing. The Ex-President sent him to the house to get some medicine.

“In England, Mr. Madison is chiefly known by having declared war against that country; in America he ranks as the ablest writer that continent has produced, and one whose political services are of the highest order. Well might an American writer say, ‘We had Madison, whose energy of thought formed a singular contrast with the mildness of his disposition, and the suavity of his manners—who always addressed himself at once to the understanding of his hearers without any treacherous attempt on their interest or their passions—and whose fame will survive while admirers are to be found for genius, patriotism, and virtue.’

“I received so much kindness and attention from Mr. Madison, that the happiest days I spent in America were those which I passed at Montpelier” (ibid., 243–49).