Gallatin brought no prudishness and no orthodoxy in his Genevese baggage.

One of the last acts of his life was to recognize in graceful and touching words the kindness he then met with:-- "I was received with that old proverbial Virginia hospitality to which I know no parallel anywhere within the circle of my travels.
It was not hospitality only that was shown to me.

I do not know how it came to pass, but every one with whom I became acquainted appeared to take an interest in the young stranger.

I was only the interpreter of a gentleman, the agent of a foreign house, that had a large claim for advances to the State, and this made me known to all the officers of government, and some of the most prominent members of the Legislature.

It gave me the first opportunity of showing some symptoms of talent, even as a speaker, of which I was not myself aware.