File:Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries- Volume 10, page 15, November 23, 1858.jpg

Transcription:

his flight to France or was discovered subsequent to it. He [Henry Clapp] has, says [Henry] Hitchings, "been everything" in the come-outer way. When in Paris he lived the usual depraved life — took men to see the Industrious fleas &c. Probably he kept himself by corresponding with American papers — a wretchedly stale re-hash of which contributions he is now serving up in the”Saturday press." He’s a Fouricrist, a Free-lover of the ultra order and, I fancy, — if anything theologically — an Atheist. Nevertheless he has certain ability, of a third rate-order, with his pen. I fancy he owes much of his general estimation — such as it is — to his matchless assurance and egotism. Haney was rather taken by him at first, thinking him a good talker — which praise is not uncommonly bestowed upon him. (I fancy the "Saturday press" has enlightened [Jesse] Haney as to his caliber of intellect.) Clapp puns a good deal, and if permitted, always tries to ride roughshod over others. His impudence is matchless, in this. I believe he admires Stephen Pearl Andrews and hates Brisbane — he was always saying infernal things of the "meanness" of the latter. [Fitz James] O'Brien consorts with Clapp, and affects to admire his powers of conversation. Morally they are on the same level, basing their every act on utter selfishness. They swindled their landlord in this (Bleecker Street) of some hundred dollars or so and the man came to a smash in consequence. This I had from Mrs [Catharine] Potter. Some acquaintances of hers, seeing Clapp and O'Brien entering this house in one of their visits