The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-06-06
The Presidents House.

Washington correspondent OF the BOs-
ton Evening Journal gives the following de
scripton ofthe White House,
| 1t is n building 40 feet in front, sc feet
deep. 1t is built ofwhitc irecstone in the l.
onic style of architecture. TWAS commcnc-
ed in the year 1885, the design was furnished
by Capt Hoban, ofths city, and is said TO
be copied from mansion i'm Dublin. 1t APP
pears to me TO he very similar to the house of
the Lord Lieutenant oflreland, in the Phu-
nix Park, Dublin. II is beautifully situated
on an eminenc6 in the centre of a grass plat
ofabout two acres, which is enclosed 10y iron
palisades on stone basement. The coup d.
PGl ofthe mansion is noble and impressive,
and the South front commands an excellent
view of the capitol, and best part ofthc city,
the river and Potomac bridge, aud on the OPP
posite Virginia and Maryland shores.
| The principal entrance, or north front, OPP
ems upon semi-circular,paved and gravelled
carriage drive, the whole surrounded by iron
| palisades and kept in excellent order-not n
sprig of grass to be seen upon 1t. 1t is ornu-
mentcd with nm imposing portico supported
| by the Ionic columns in front, and projecting
with three others, which projection admits of
carriages being driven under for the purpose
ofthe company alighting under shelter in
rainy weather. The middle space is appro-
printed for pedestrian visitors, and the steps
from both lead to broad platform before the
door ofcntrnnce. ....
You enter into spacious hall some fifty
feet long, finished simply with plain succeed
walls;-you pass through n row ofIonic col
umns in composition, excellent limitations of
white marble. In the passage which these
divide from the hall are one or two busts,a
here the band sits on levec nights. A door
in the ccutre admits you into the reception
room, an oval saloon oftorty by thirty feet,
ornamcnted with mirrors and covered with
plain gold leaf paper, with deep gilded bor-
ders. 1t is richly decorated with a marble
chimney-pece and tables, crimson silk hang
ings, a rich carpet, and magnificent cut
| glass chandelier.
On each side ofthis room and commun-
eating with it, is square room of thirty feet
or thereabout, finished in the same style, with
chairs ofan antique pattern, and ottomans
and touches ofthe richest coverings. This
suite of apartments is devoted TO the recep-
ton of visitors on parade day. TO the west
ofthese, is the company dining-room-a spa
cious apartment oftorty by thirty teet--and
slowed away in snug corner, is the family
dining-room, where the President eats his
mutton in peace, and tries to unbend his
mind from the cares of office, oifice-seekers,
and official dinners, to the enjoyment of do
mestic comfort. 1t is just what II family din
ing-roOm should be-a place sacred to coy
dinners and nap afterwards
These two apartments though handsomely
furnished, are on lesser scale of grandeur
than the former ones. They are hing with
very rich paper with gilt borders; between
the two dining-rooms is private stair en-
trance for tho family use; and store rooms, CHI
ma closets, Sc. in abundance.
On the east end of the mansion is the ccle-
brated "East rOom," which extends the whole
length of the building with windows on the
S. and N. and a large glass door to the East,
leading to the terrace roofof the Offices. ms
room is so by 40 feet and % feet high; it is
| finished with handsome succeed cornice, and
is fitted up in fine style. When surveyed by
night, lighted up with its chandeliers and
brackets, its appearance is perfectly dazzlmg'
The walls are covered with white and silver
paper. 1t has four chimney pieces of black
marble, with Italian fronts, of black and gold,
and ornamental CRATES; each mantle is sur
mounted with splendid mirror of about 8
feet high by four and a halfwide; the frames
which enclose them are masterpieces of art.
Over each mantel is also pair OF lamps Tor
ten lights, bronzed and gilt with rows OF git-
tering drops dropping round an artificial
fountain. Each also bares pair of French
vases,richiy gilt and painted, with glass shades
and flowers.
Suspended from the ceiling are three mag
nificent chandeliers, capable of holding Is
lights each--thc sockets for the candles be-
ing of cut glass in gilt mountings, each also
has number of gilt brecket lights of five can
dies. Under the centre chandelier stands a
round table, of exquisite workmanship, OIL
Italian black and gold slabs, and each pair is
filled with table corresponding with the
round table with splendid lamps upon each
ofthem. The floor is covered with beauti-
full Brussels carpet containing about five hun
drea Yards. The curtains are ola light blue
merino with yellow draperies. The couehes
and squads, &C., Sc, are covered with casil-
ions ofthe most splendid satin, and were sent
from France by Mr. Jefferson
! The principal stairs TO the left of the Gu