Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-09
Extract from Captain .Alerander's 7fansatfan'
-. .I

we SeleCt ntS dCCOuut VI htS tusVoesNoA~ -
the President, and his dinner. en- fan,iAs, with
him.
The Inspector General (Gen. Woody was SO
kind as to accompany me to the PRESIDENTS
house, a handsome building Of the Ionic order,
of two stories and a basement, overlooking the
Potomac and the extensive landscape from the
elevated scite, We entered an iron gate before
the edifice, drove round grass plat enclosed
with posts and chains, and. alighted at lofty
portico Of four columns. On knocking at the
entrance door, at which there were heither guards
nor livried retainers. after considerable deiay'
one Of the leaves was opened BY 'ttie man IN
fur cap. and grey short coat, who said ne "ouiu
ask il Gen. Jackson could be seen; he then lett
US 10 an empty hall. 1t was bitterly colo, anu
General Wool piloted me up stairs TO an anti
room in which there was lire; sundry chairs
without backs. book shelves without books, and
lin plain frames,) four coored scriparal prints,
indifferently executed. :.
! The Presidents nephew and adopted son, Mr..
Jackson, q tall young man, recently married las
almost all American Young gentlemen fortunate
! In are) came and conversed with Us Tor some
time. and then conducted Us into a handsome
drawing room, with yellow furniture, where we
found the ladies' of the family dressed la Pa
risie,,ne, and all Of them extremely affable and
agreeable; they consisted Of young Mrs jack
son, Mrs Donelson, Miss Eaton, and Miss Far.
quhar.
! After sitting some time with the ladies. we
conducted them to their carriage, and then we're
show n into room were the President was seat
ed at a table covered with newspapers, and be-
fore huge fire. He rose at our entrance, and,
shaking hands, inquired after our health with the
formal poteness OF the old school. The Gene.
! raj is about six feet high, Of spare make and
upright carriage, dressed in black, with black
stock, wears his white hair, combed back from
his face, which is long. and his nose OF cores.
ponding dimensions. In face and figure he re-.
minded the Of the late Lieutenant Governor OF
the Royal Military College, Gen. Butler.
Behind the President there was ful.length
portrait of Bolivar. similar to the one saw in
The possession Of Sir Robert Wilson,; and round
the room were models Of agricultural imPle-
ments.
The party in opposition to the re election OF
General Jackson to the Presidential chair had
spread report that he was seriously III, and
could not live; and It was with peculiar express
sion that he replied to General WOODS interrosa-
tory regarding his health. that he had not been
so we'll for ten years. tooth had annoyed
him, and an unskilful dentist in removing 1t had
also drawn with it a part of the jaw; the acct
DAYS, but now he had got over the annoyance.
we remained with the President quarter Of
an hour, during which time he made inquiries re.
pardine nv progress through the states. asked
nv opinion of what had seen, and then spoke
at some length on the engrossing question OF re
! form, trusted that there would be no revolution
in England, and that the constitution would still
be preserved in It's purity.
! 1t would be very improper for me to repeat the
Generals words during this very interesting IN
terview. as it would be a betrayal Of confidence,
of which former travellers in the States have
been sometimes accused! let it suffice to say,
that retired much pleased with my reception
, bv the Chief Magistrate of the United States,
who politely invited me to take family DIN
ner with him 10 a few days.
| General Jackson commenced lite without the
advantages of liberal educatIon:-his energy
of character alone brought him forward: first
on service in the revolutionary contest, then DIS
tneuished in Indian warfare on the Western
I Frontier, he was the terror of the red men from
Mississippi to the Rocky Noun tains; he like.
wise engaged 10 political life, and acted in
judicial capacity. As a General of the Militia
of Tennessee, he was selected to repel the
British invasion at New Orleans in 1914; his
succ ess on this occasion was Of incalculable bene
fit to the states, occ as0ned his promotion TO the
| high office which he has filled with excellent
Judgment for three years. and has given gene
raj satisfaction both to the citizens and to foreig
ners.
The LAY before left Washington, | dined
en- fan,ue with the President, and considered
my being asked in this kind and friendly manner
as compliment to the service to which belong
ed. The General had not begun to give dinners
that season, and nv stay being short, owing to my
anxiety to return to England. from the stirring
times that were anticipated. it had not been
invited to a family dinner. l could not have par.
taken Of the hos itahty Of the Chief Magistrate
at all.
To small and comfortably drawing'room,
with mirrors and chandelier. and in which there
was a full length portrait of Washington. was
introduced by Mr.. Baird (the butler) to Gen.
Jackson, who was seated in high backed arm
char, round which we're the members OF the
family. the ladies composing one quarter of the
semicrc.e aud the gentlemen the other. My
excellent friend Gen. Wool. and his boy, were
the only strangers besides myself.
1