Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-07-12
a Nay with his Dessocrstic Majesty amongst
the Old Nsbiesse.


His Republican Highness Martin Van Buren,, is
fair game any where. The members of the delight
full society in which he spent day at Hunters Is
land, are not fair game The ladies were fair surpass
ing fair-and the gentlemen were game enough but
taken individually and collectively, they are not fair
game Senator Hunter Of Hunters Island, 10 one Of
the old noblesse Of the state Of New York, and de-
scended lineally from the celebrated Sir Walter
Fitzalan de Bruce Hunter who fought at the battle
Of Hastings. And when we state that amongst the
select circle, comprising less than two dozen, who
welcomed His Democratic Majesty to Hunters Is
land, there lineal descendant Of the venerable
family of the Schuylers, Of the Livingstons, the
Clintons, and Lord Howard de Walden, it viii east
ly be seen that His Republican Highness had shaken
the very dust from his feet that the loaers Of New
York had almost smothsred him with
Mr. Hunters mansion is rather small for gentle
like himself Of enlarged and liberal views, and
worth at least two millions of dollars, besides 700
acres of the very richest land in Putnam county.
He became the possessor of Hunters Island by pur-
chase, for $40 00O. in 1910. 1t then poor, mi
SCRABBLE barren rock and worth nothing for the
extreme beauty and picturesqueness OF its location
Mr.. Hunter, after his purchase, commenced
building his present mansion, which cost him about
$4,000; he also expended at least $4,000 in var-
GUS improvements upon the island, making total
expense, with the first purchase, of $4,000. His
splendid collection Of paintings cost him about
S13O, 900, making total Of quarter of million of
dollars for his house, grounds, and pictures After
this, it may well be termed a princey mansion.
The house has two fronts facing east and west, and
the ascent is by flight of half dozen broad marble
steps In fact, in this particular it is miniature
semblance Of the style Of the Duke Of Buckngham's
splendid palace Stow, Of which Pope has spoken
beautifully. The building has very capacious and
well arranged basement floor, containing all the
apartments for dome underneath which very
extensive cellars. The first floor is divided ~ q
wide and handsome hall; entering at the west door,
the first the right is the library, containing
large and choice collection of ancient and modern
works. the grand staircase adjons the library, and
a small passage divides it from the grand dining
room, which extends two-thirds the length Of the
building On the opposite side Of the hall are the
parlor and drawing room, opening into each other.
The entire walls Of both these rooms covered
with superb pictures, collected for Mr.. Hunter by
his agent in Europe, during different periods Of poll
teal commoton in various parts of that continent to
meet the expense Of which, Mr. Hunter allowed his
agent to draw him to the amount Of $4,000 annu-
ally In this way he has obtained undoubtsd origi-
Carlo Dolci, Andrea del Sarto, Leonardo da vincl,
Pompeie Battoni, Raffaele Mengo, Tibaldi, Andrea
Sacchi Paolo veronese, Titan, Rembrandt, vaadyke
Sc The grand hall also contains several pictures by
Snyder, Salvador Rosa, and Others The second sto-
nv is composed entirely Of beautiful bed rooms,
dressing rooms, and ante-rooms TO complets each
suite. The whole is furnished in the most elegant
style Of the period Immediately preceding the panic,
and every wall in the house is ornamentsd with
beautiful paintings. His Republican Highness occu-
pied elegant suite Of rooms in the south east
wing, where he could the sun rise; the suite
eompriseda double bed room, with dressing room,
and ante-room, or audience chamber. The floor 10
covered with rich Turkey carpet, with Ottomans and
fauteisIs 10 match rose-colored silk curtains, and
rose cater 10 watch; the whole being admirably ar
ranged to enable his Democratic Majesty to glide
noiselessly from chamber chamber, with the soft
stealthy, cat-like pace that never belonged to q
straight forward and sincere man.
Once safely slowed away in this delightful resi-
dence, His Republican Highness reverentialy knelt
down. and returned sincere thanks 10 Almighty God
for safe deliverance from the dirty locofocos Of
New York. He then made two or three devious
turns around the ROOM and got into his bed by re-
moving the clothes at the foot Of it, lie snored (for
nonarchs do snore) soundly till morning. Rising
soon after the sun, His Republican Highness took
morning walk round the beautiful grounds ofHuntes
Island, and sat down TO breakfast about q O'Clock
which he enjoyed most heartily, and he expressed
himself better than any meal he had taken in the
week past To all present he particularly affa-
ble-to the ladies he most peculiarly for
he had jeu d'esprit, for another wise saw,
for third bon mot, for fourth "modern in
stance" for fifth hattering remark, for sixth
well turned compliment; in short, His Majesty was
agreeable without effort, witty without being aware
Of it, and sincere in spite Of his nature to act ether
wise
Ose or two hours Of the forenoon were passed in
this delightful manner, with the social interchange
Of agreeable nothngs and the solemn introduction Of
pompous folly, in which some were amused, some
mystifed, but none were edited. The President,
after breakfast and dishing mp few gsneel things
for the ladies' left them to regulate their ringlets,
adjust their dresses, &c, and taking the arm Of
gentleman Of the old nobesse school, Mr.. Schuyler,
promenaded the convenient balcony the east front
Of the building. After putting a few leading ques-
tons to him, and cleaning answers accordingly, he
took the arm cf another, with whom he acted in
similar manner, and so to the end Of the chapter
His Royal Repubican oighness having then been
notified, through Prince John, that his dispatches
had arrived proceeded IN HE pri nts to