Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-08-08
MORNING HERALD.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1897.

Expedition. 200,
Potomac Pavilion, Aug. 8, 1851.
Having heard that Major Van Buren,, the gallant
son and secretary Of his exceency the Fresueh' oi
the Uaited States, with several othef a'se'"s ~es'
were uxuriatng on soft crabs ana nm. JuiePs' o.
Piney Point determined 10 take run DOWN 'he'e,
and spend few weeks in the fashonaDie society u
the place.
accordingly eapt into the fredericksburg anu
roceeded down the magnificent Coheniofoh'a' VI
po,omac As passed the celebrated seat of Gen'L
Washington did, as Miss Martneau says the crews
IF The British ships did, when they passed Mount
Vernon TO destroy our capito-pulled of my hat with
reverence and awe, and uttered prayer that the
country might have few more such men to guide,
direct and watch over its destinies.
The river bends and widens as it descends to the
bay; the surface Of the country either side is fiat
but sufficiently varied to make it agreeable to The eye;
farm houses, cultivated slopes fshermen's huts, IN
let's creeks islands, and forests, presented altogether
a scene OF considerable beauty, and which was IN
condition to enjoy.
NV compagnons du poydge were of mixed cha
racter and of different ages and The invalid
wife of clerk or employed Of the government, who
was going to try if salt water bathing would not re-
store one of her lungs which she thought had been
spit away; dyspepuc clerk who could digest moth
ing but soft crabs and Norfolk oysters diluted with
strong mint jueps; some naval officers and gentle
men of no particular calling, and one or two barris
ters constituted the majority of the passengers in this
boat
Upon our arrival at the Point we found large con-
course assembled to enjoy the pleasures as well as
the advantages Of this watering place ensconsed
myself in little snuggery of room, retired from
noise and bustle and began to think that might be
essentially benefited by the bathing should ENJOY,
and the diruetics should take The Major was, as
he ought to have been, the "mirror of fashion,, and
being not only gallant, but the son of President he
undertook, with army captain and Lieutenant and
some other exqulsltes to form coterie of exclusives.
This was quite delightful and enjoyed it exceeding
ly. The daughters Of superannuated commodore,
1nagnicently aitired, but whose beauty was not very
enchanting-the daughters Of another commodore
but believe we have no such ttle-equaly favoured
by nature and the niece Of citizen without title and
without beauty, constituted the female portion of this
fashionable clique. The Of the Undertook cab
bage seller the leader and he played such FRANKS
ms made the very blackies laugh liked to see this
specimen of high life, and to witness its effect upon
the vulgar herd around; but sorry to find that
they took it high dudgeon, and had the presump-
ton to think themselves an equality in rank, for
time, and merit with the daughters of a commodore,
the son of cabbage trunder, and the descendant Of
n levier of black mail.
The sturdy independence of the excluded, led them
10 form a conspiracy against these distinguished ez-
cl,ssires, their great annoyance and disgust; and
the fashionable clique completely excluded by
the rest of the company, and SO sick of their own
inanity that they were at last pleased to get even
negro to speak to them.
After the disappearance of these would be excu-
sives the society became quite delightful helades
were agreeable and the gentlemen gallant and atten-
live, notwithstanding their penchant for mint juleps
Or hail storms. 1t must be delicious beverage, for
those who drank it appeared TO be always as if under
ihe influence Of exharating gas. OF the quantity
drank you may form some idea from the following
dialogue.
Mr. A gets up soon after sunrise and meets his
friend Mr.. b. "Good morning." says A., "come,
let's take a juep."
"Ths morning is very fne," says b., "lets take
another sling"
"Are you going to the bathf
"Yesp
"Well let's take another juep."
After they have bathed about five minutes, they
meet again.
"A juep' says A. "s very refreshing after the
Ddu let . tdht diiOtici.
The first breakfast bell rings, and they take the
Fifth and just before they sit down at the breakfast
table they dispatch the sixth; and thus they continue
swiiling mint juep till night, or till dinner, when
champagne and other wines are substituted.
This watering place is about hundred miles from
Washington; it is point of land projecting into the
river, which is here very wide and short distance
from the Chesapeake Bay. The point has been form
81 by the gradual accumulation Of sand and gravel
washed from the bed Of the rver and contained for
many years but three large and lefty pines, two of
which are still standing, and from which il derived its
name of Piney Point. The breeze from the bay is
balmy and refreshing-the bathing invigoratng and
salubrous- fare abundant and chece-thc wines
toerabe-the servants attentive, and the company
agreeable. With these appliances, the deuce is in it.
If a man cannot enjoy himself II has become, and
will continue to be- place of great resort TO the
fashionables and others of Washington, Baltimore,
dc. The amusements various and heathful, and
tho society generally intelligent and refined.
The most unpleasant circumstance at this as at oil
similar places is, that after forming an acquaintance
With some beautiful woman some agreeable mnle
companion, they off in few days, and their places
supplied by strangers whose acquaintance you have
again TO cultivate and from whom you have again to
separate. They
GONE like shsdows-so depart"