Received a note from Whitelaw Reid asking me to a farewell dinner to Taylor at the Union League Club this evening. Arriving there I was surprised to find so distinguished a company comprising Reid, Taylor, Royal Phelps, Chas Dudley Warner, Edwards P[?], Bryant, Mr. Astor, Wayne MacVeagh, Wm. Walter Phelps, Muirat Halstead, W. D. Howells, Mayor Ely, President Barnard, John Bigelow, F. E. Church, M. O Roberts, Saml. J. Tilden, Thurlow Weed, Peter Cooper, Genl. Hancock, Hugh McCulloch. The dinner was most elegant, served on a great round table loaded with flowers. I was seated between Howells whom I met last evening, and Mayor Ely both of whom I found delightful companions. M. O. Roberts was exceedingly friendly to me when he found I used to know his wifes father Mr. Endicott. He came and sat near me after dinner and I had a long and pleasant talk with him. Walter Phelps also told me that Mr. Astor had spoken in high praise of me as an artist. I was not presented to him because I did not ask to be. Had a pleasant talk with Genl. Hancock. After dinner Taylor, Walter Phelps, Howells, Warner, McVeagh, Reid and I remained and had the jolliest time for an hour or two. McVeagh is a most genial man and said such brilliant, witty things. Altogether it was one of the pleasantest occasions I ever attended. Taylors health was drunk in some old Madeira presented by Royal Phelps to which Taylor responded in the happiest manner which was the only speech making. I rode down with Taylor to his hotel where we met his brother and Bancroft came on to go down the bay tomorrow.
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