"Tell your good lady," mother Irving wrote to James Renwick, "that Mrs.Madison has been much indisposed, and at last Wednesday's evening drawing-room Mrs.
Gallatin presided in her place.

I was not present, but those who were assure me that she filled Mrs.Madison's chair to a miracle." This is in the sense of dignity, for Mrs.Gallatin was of small stature.
Mr.Gallatin's house shared the fate of the public buildings and was burned by the British when Washington was captured in 1814.

He was then abroad on the peace mission.

On his return from France Mr.Gallatin made one more attempt to realize his early idea of a country home, and with his family went in the summer of 1823 to Friendship Hill.

Here an Irish carpenter built for him a house which he humorously described as being in the 'Hyberno-teutonic style,--the outside, with its port-hole-looking windows, having the appearance of Irish barracks, while the inside ornaments were similar to those of a Dutch tavern, and in singular contrast to the French marble chimney-pieces, paper, mirrors, and billiard-table.' In the summer Friendship Hill was an agreeable residence, but Mr.Gallatin found it in winter too isolated even for his taste.
One exciting circumstance enlivened the spring of 1825.