Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-05


WASHINGTON January 2, 1888.
Will you accompany me TO the Presidents Lee
wee to day ." said lady of the beau monde whom
had called upon to see on New Years Day,
with great pleasure" replied. ~ have not
been frequent visitor since have been here and
shall be grat6ed TO see his Exceency and the inte-
rlor of the palace"
At IL o'clock we accordingly entered hackney
coach and rolled along the Avenue which was crowd
ed with carriages and pedestrians all moving IN the
same direction. The weather was mild as that of
April the sun shoHe brilliantly over our heads and
the air was soft and balmy. 1t was said TO be by the
Oldest Inhabitants of Washington, the most beautiful
first of January ever known here, and confess that
l had never seen one more delightful. Upon our
rival, it was seme minutes before could approach
the steps of the portco for the crowd of carriages in
our way. AT each side of the main entrance stood
the dc putty marshal and officer of the police 10
keep out improper persons who, during the admins
tratisn of General Jackson were too apt 10 find their
way into the house. The sound of music salaed our
ears as entered, and groups OF men were walking
about with their hats on in the hall. We made our
way, with great difficulty, into the reception room,
which is circular and opens into fine colorado on
the SOUTH The room is splendldly furnished Van
Buren, with his usual sHic stood in the centre Of The
apartment, supported on his right by the marshal of
the District, and on his left by well dressed good
looking gentleman. Of middle age, who belongs 10 the
Raaf ton OF this city.
l had the honor Of an introduction to his Excel
lency, shook hands with him, and with my cempan-
III, VI,
famous east room, through an apartment containing,
among other splendid articles of furniture centre ia
BILE made who'll yefthe purestltaan marbleand richly
furnIshedm addition. We fell into the stream which
carried us the upper end of the room, without be-
ing able to diverge to the right or left. 1t was our
good fortune, however TO come into Juxtaposition
with Henry Clay who was gaanting tall majes-
tic looking woman, to whom was ntroducedby my
friend Mrs. Bell the wife OF the ex-speaker Clay
was of course, the observed of all Observers and
received the congratulations of all who passed and
returned there in that ne easy democratic style for
which ne is so remarkable.
cast coup d all ever the room, and found that
though very splendid, it was not quite gorgeous
was represented TO be by Benton, when 1t was not
furnished at ALL This apartment extends the whole
depth of the house. north and SOUTH and opens upon
terrace running some distance to the east and from
which beautiful view of the Potomac and the coun-
try on either side presented. Ii is decorated in the
same magnifeence. The chandeliers, mirrors, sofas,
ottomans, lounges, curtains &C. are OF the richest
fabric and in good taste.
The company was very numerous at this levee,
numbering about thousand Of both sexes, all min
ged together. The foreign ministers, who attended,
and the officers OF the army and navy, were all in
their dresses, and military and naval uniforms,
and looked very snowy. Of the former the Russian
and French attaches struck me as being more splendid
in their dress than any others. The Russian wore
nustGches but his face was not that OF Apollo,
though my companion says he is an amable, ntelli-
gent and gallant young man. Mr.. s., the French
attache is small spruce, good looking and quite Pc
tican. A number of the Wing members were pre-
sent but from neither side OF the house were they so
numerous as one would have expected. Sir Thomas
Humbug he is called here, and old p. G, the i'm
personallen Of the Previous Question, were the most
conspicuous the one crying out IN his nasal and dis
agreeable tsne, every second, "mornn, Sar! mornln,
Sarw and the other looking cut for persons to in
troduce to the President, and thus show his devotion
and patriotism.
The Vice President was planted near the main en-
attract attention, but without success They
would not do him he seemedo sigh for
he %sS L. sSo{ f.sI Of ms fire side
SssH eyeS
inc to the little broad-faced officer in uniform on our
rghtl' said TO Mrs. A.
70 He is a relation, by marriage, of the Vice PresI-
dent is SENATOR and talks loudly and vocferously
from having been obliged to bawlt his team in the
back woods and the merry, good natured bachelor to
whom he is speakiRgis Major H, OF the army,
gallant officer and great admirer OF our sex, with
nsy for their especial use and qualification
4 Then they are more pleased with the black poney
than the owner. suppose they prefer four legs TO
two, though decorated with fiashy uniform.
"How III natured," replied MrsA--, with smile;
" but you arc a msanthrope, and love to indulge in
sarcasm; but do you see that splendid looking officer
who has jus, entered 2"
eyes; who is her'
"Maior General Scott He towers above the rest
of the company like giant among pigmies HIS
Florida lawrels are not very green upon ms brew,
however. The Ssminoes are cruel wretches; they
low our Generals 10 acquire any fame. Jessup has
done very little better than Scott and handful Of
wild sayagcs laugh al our whole military force, and
set il at defiance at expense OF S73,0OO per day!
"But there is an officer" said j "who has done
himself some credit Col. H has returned from
the campaign full of honors and Astounding IN puns."
aAnd what think yos Of the fair assembled here
today" enquired Mrs. A.
"They are generally very h,ndsome some OF them
beautiful and all are very tastefully dressed re-
Piled. 81 have neverscen so large collection OF fine
looking women, both married and single before. All
seeru 10 be full of Joy and animation and TO relish
the scene in no ordinary degree
1T is certainly very agreeable, Notwithstanding
the crowd" said my companion, but II would be
better if we had some refreshments, as was usual,
under former administrations, when MIR. Madison
and Mr.. Adams presided. The company is how
ever very respectable; many Of them distinguished,
and of the haa ton. see but very few exceptions,
and they though in humble life, appear TO be decent,
and are delighted at the opportunity OF mn2hng
with Their more wealthy and nashy fellow citi-
zens Do you observe that very spnghtly and pretty
girl with the handsome lady in front OF usi-
That is Miss W., the daughter of the --, who
will make her debut next winter. The young lady
chaperoned by Gen. T. is the daughter Of the brave
and worthy Gen. B., 10 whose memory broken
shaft has been raised, in the Congressional burial
ground in this city. She is sweet and interesting
young woman; and the worthy officer whose arm
she holds still remembers, with gratitude, the brave
and patriotic commander under whom he fought and
!. shol Wal