“I was invited to this dinner. I had learned from the President what was the matter (_ce qui en était_), when I went to tell him that I was going for some days to Baltimore, where I was called by the affairs of the frigate ‘La Poursuivante.’ The President was so obliging as to urge my return in order to be present with Mme. Pichon at the dinner (_Le Président eut l’honnêteté de me presser de revenir pour être au diner_). I came back here, although business required a longer stay at Baltimore. Apart from the reason of respect due to the President, I had that of witnessing what might happen (_j’avais celle de connaître ce qui se passerait_).” Pichon accordingly hurried back from Baltimore, especially at the President’s request, in order to have the pleasure of seeing Jefferson humiliate his own guest in his own house. Pichon was gratified by the result. At four o’clock on the afternoon of Dec. 2, 1803, this curious party assembled at the White House,--Mr. and Mrs. Merry, the Marquis Yrujo and his American wife, M. Pichon and his American wife, Mr. and Mrs. Madison, and some other persons whose names were not mentioned. When dinner was announced, the President offered his hand to Mrs. Madison and took her to table, placing her on his right. Mme. Yrujo took her seat on his left. “Mrs. Merry was placed by Mr. Madison below the Spanish minister, who sat next to Mrs. Madison. With respect to me,” continued the British minister in his account of the affair,[267] “I was proceeding to place myself, though without invitation, next to the wife of the Spanish minister, when a member of the House of Representatives passed quickly by me and took the seat, without Mr. Jefferson’s using any means to prevent it, or taking any care that I might be otherwise placed.... “I will beg leave to intrude a moment longer on your Lordship’s time,” continued Merry’s report, “by adding to this narrative that among the persons (none of those who were of this country were the principal officers of the government except Mr. Madison) whom the President selected for a dinner which was understood to be given to me, was M. Pichon the French _chargé d’affaires_. I use the word _selected_, because it could not be considered as a diplomatic dinner, since he omitted to invite to it the Danish _chargé d’affaires_, who, with the Spanish minister, form the whole body.” Merry’s report was brief; but Yrujo, who also made an official report to his Government, after mentioning the neglect shown to Merry before dinner, added a remark that explained the situation more exactly:[268]-- “I observed immediately the impression that such a proceeding of the President must have on Mr. and Mrs. Merry; and their resentment could not but be increased at seeing the manifest, and in my opinion studied, preference given by the President throughout to me and my wife over him and Mrs. Merry.”