Letter from Lily Macalester to Charles Macalester

Lily Macalester writes her father, Charles Macalester, regarding her stay at the White House with her friend, First Lady Harriet Lane. Lily describes a dinner hosted by Lord Richard Lyons, the British minister to the United States, that a number of prominent officials attended, including General Winfield Scott and Vice President John C. Breckinridge. Lily also shares President James Buchanan's views on the Democratic National convention in Baltimore. "The President thinks the Convention at Baltimore has made a great mistake in not nominating Gen. Houston who would have made a good man," as Lily notes. Lily also tells her father about a dinner party as well as news regarding the impending arrival of Japanese delegates in Washington. Transcript included.