The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-08-30
MrSCELLANx.
WASHINGTON WHILST pREslDENT

Inc following article is from the Lon.
don New Monthly Magazine. The Lon.
uon sun attributes II 10 the pen of Ilazlitt.
ana calls 1t sketch of WASHINGTON. one
OF the greatest men the modern world has
ever seen."
!" Hdshington.-I remember my father
leInng ne he was introduced To Washing
ton IN i|9o, by an American friend. A
servant, weil'looking and well -drcssed, re.
ceNed The Visltants at the door, and by
MN they were delivered over To an officer
OF the united states service, who ushered
tnem INTO the drawing room, in which
Mrs. Washington and several ladies' were
seated. There was nothing remarkable in
! the person of the lady of the President
she was matronlv and kind, with perfect
! good breeding she At once entered into
easy conversation, asked how long he had
been in America, how he liked the. coun.
! Try, end such other familiar but general
! questions. In a few minutes the General
entered the room Il was not nee cessary 10
announce his name, for his peculiar an.
! pearance, his firm forehead, Roman nose.
and a projection of the lower Jaw, his
height and figure, could not be mistaken
by any one who had seen full length plc
ture OF hun, and yet no picture accurately
resembled hin in the minute traits Of his
person. His features however, were. so
marked by prominent characteristics
which appear in all hkenesses of him, tha,
n stranger could not be mistaken IN the
man he was remarkably dignlhed in ms
manners, aud had an air of benignity over
MS features, which his visitant did not ex
pect, being rather prepared for sternpess
of countenance.
Alter an introduction By Mrs. Wash |
ington, without more form than common
good manners prescrlbes, he requested J
me, saId my father, to be seated and. !
taking chair himself, entered at once into |
conve rsatiCn. lis manner was full of af |
liability. lie askes how | liked the conn.
try. the city of New York talked of the
niant institutions Of America, and The ad.
vantages she afforded, by her Intercourse.
Tor benehitlng other nations. He was
graye IN manner, but perfectly easy. His
dress was Of purple satin There was a
commanding air In his appearance which
excited respect, and forbade too preal a
freedom towards him, independently of
that species oi awe, which 80 always felt IN
lhe moral lnbueDee OF great characier.-
In every movement, too, thare was no.
lite aracctulbess. equal To any met ..i,L -
The most polished individuals oi Europe,
aud his smile was extraordinary attractive,
IL was observed To me that there was an
expression ia Washingtons face that no
PAINTER had succeeded ~ taking. II struck
me no man could be better formed for
command. A stature of six feet, TO
bust but well proportoned frame, calcu-
lated 10 sustain fatigue, without that hcav.
mess which generally attends great puscu-
lar strength, and nbates nctlye eXerilon,
displayed bodily power of no mean stand
ard. 4 light eye and iull-the very eye !
of genius and reflection, rather than OF
blind passaiobnte impulse. His nose up-
peared.thlck, and though 1t benefited his
other features, was too cnprscly and strong
ly formed TO be of the handsomest of its
class. His mouth was like no other that
ever saw the lips firm and the under
jaw seeming TO grasp the upper with force,
as if his muscles were in full action when
he sat still. Neither with the General nor
Mrs Washington was there the slightest !
restraint OF ceremony. There was less
of it than | ever recollcct 10 have met |
with, where perfect good breeding and
manners were at the same time observed. !
i " UuIl w ubuillE WI bNF'lltu
with smllc or incIinatlon of the head, as
If he were by nature sparlng IN his conyer-
sation and | am inclined TO think this was
the case. An aluson was made TO n &C.
rious fit of illness he had recently suffer.
ed (; but he took no notice OF II. could
no, help remnrking, tina, Americans must
have looked with anxiety To the termlna-
ton Of his indisposltioD. lie made no
reply to my compliment but an inclination !
Of the head. His bow at my taking leave |
| shall never forget. II was the last move
ment which saw that IlIustrlous character |
make, as my eyes took their leave OF bm
forever, and II hangs n perfect picture up |
on my recollection. The house Of Wash |
ingtun was IN Broadway, and the street /
front was handsome. The drawing room |
in which | sat was lofty and spacious but /
The furniture was not beyond that found in /
dwellings Of opulent Americans in general, |
and might be called plain for ts situation.
The upper end Of the room had glass doors,
which opened upon balcony, commanding
an extensive view Of III. Hudson river, in
terspersed with islands, aud the Jersey
shore on the opposite eide a grandson
and daughter residing constantly in the
house with the General. and nephew Of
the Generals married To niece of mrs.
Washington, residing at Mount Vernon,
the Generals family seat in Virginia his
residence. as President, keeping bm at The
seat of government. The levees held by
Washington, rs President, were generally
crowded, and held on Tuesday, between
three and four o'clock. The President
stood. and received the bow Of the person
,rasen,ed who retired 10 make way for a. !
mother. AZ the drawing room. mrs. w.
received the ladies'. who courtGied, and pas
sed aside, without exchanging word.