5 November: During the night, heavy rain; in the morning, rainy weather. At seven thirty, temperature of 8°R [50°F, 10°C]. We worked at home. Messrs. Say, Lesueur, and Twigg visited us. Mr. Lesueur brought me an entire basket of splendid mussels from the Wabash and gave me the Ohio and Mississippi Pilot as a present.

Because voting for the new president took place today, all the nearby planters were in Harmony on horseback. It was as though a cavalry squadron had moved into town; there were horses everywhere, at times twenty to thirty tethered [in one place]. Everywhere one saw the dirty farmers riding about in the rain in their ridiculous attire. Many wore plaid coats. At times one saw, however, very comical figures among them, and also many good horses, of which many are raised here. After these crude individuals had registered their votes, they did ample justice to the whiskey; it was asserted that there would be no lack of brawling and disorderly [Page 1:131]conduct. Toward evening most of them rode home again; no one, however, goes on foot.

Between twelve and one o’clock, there was a temperature of 10°R [54.5°F, 12.5°C], with rain. After supper Mr. Bodmer, in genuine Brazilian fashion, roasted a partridge on a piece of Ohio cane over the fire in our fireplace. A second fireplace in the adjoining room was completely surrounded with freshly stuffed bird skins to dry them.