Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-06-08


illusions which had been made in reference lc
his visit TO the hospilable city of Petersburg, ant
spoke OF his personal knowledge OF the hospilali
" OF its citizens their private virtues and public
enterprise; OF its being his home in past times
and OF the kindness with which he had ever beer
received by its inhabitants.
The music struck up national air, when TIL
military dispersed, and The company returned IN
to the parlor, where Mrs. Polk and the ladies o
her suite were receiving and exchanging congra
tulalioHs with the fair daughters of this spirited
little CITY, In short space, our enthusiastic ant
popular landlord led The way down 10 SUPPER
The table was most sumptuously and eeganll.
furnished. Immense bowls OF Strawberries .
ice cream; an abundance Of fruits and vegeia
bes, and subslantials, hot coffee, ho rolls, ant
hot wafles garnished the board. A large compa
ny Of ladies and gentlemen sal down with The OF
fetal deputaion, and did full justice to the merit
OF the inviting repasl. Supper over, the compa
ny returned TO the parlor, and good evening;
pleasant journey, was the speech most 10 de
mand. The Misses Mason, Of Petersburg, OF
paiiing, presented TO Mrs. Polk and the Young la
dies with her, some Of The largest bouquets Of lht
choicest flowers OF the season, which, shows tina
from beginning 10 end The reception al Petersburg
was in the finest taste, and in the very best style
THE NIGHT IN THE CARS
Passed of at length, though il was one OF The
longest for the latitude, the longitude, and The
time OF year. II we attempted 10 sleep, sudden
halt at a watering station, or change of cars a
lateral road, broke in upon the experiment.
Al intervals through the open window, we coulc
hear the whippoorwill in The woods, lively dis
claimer to the soporihc breathing OF some sturdy
passenger, not 10 be delrauded oil his sleep by pet
~ rifes.
THE BREAKFAST At GAsToN-MoRE SPEECHES.
CASTOR is depot on the Roanoke river, neal
the North Carolina boundary. The day was
struggling with dense fog on our arrival. There
were yet allowed TWO hours otrepose, and the Pre-.
sideni Judge Mason and ladies were provided
with place OF rest. The accommodations were
moi sufficiently extensive for more enlarged
qualification.
At6 o'clock, A. M, the President came down
and while awaiting breakfast Mr.. John d. Haw'
kins, al the head OF comnillee from The Uni
versily OF North Carolina, was introduced; where
upon,
MIR. Hawkins proceeded TO disclose The object
OF his mission, which was 10 invite the President
on the borders Of Carolina, 10 The inequalities Of
his native State. Ii was near thirty years age
that the President had left The University with
his degree. On his return though there would be
much to remind him Of the pleasures of his early
associations there would be something 10 over
shadow it as with cloud. Many Of his early
companions, his fellow Students many old IA
miliar faces would be missing. They had been
gathered to their fa,hers-they had gone
"To that bourne whence traveller returns"
Among those was President Caldwell, whose
memory is so dear 10 those who knew him. Thirty
years ago, Mr.. President What changes have
come over The face of The world in thirty years
In all tina, elevates man-in the Improvements Of
advancing civilization, the last thirty years pre-
sent greater results than three hundred years pre-
ceding Little then did we dream Of the achieve
menls that steam and electricity were to bring
about. Little then, did either Of US think, sir thai
in thirty years you shonld be travelling through
the heart Of the country by steam to visit your ma.
tive State, and that should be the organ Of your
Alma Mater, in her invitation 10 You as President
OF the United States, 10 honor her with your pre-
sence al her annual commencement. We rejoice
in The progress of our counlry-in the improve
mep,s of the age. We rejoice at her increas.
ing prosperity without referring 10 causes
under your administration. MIR. Hawkins
next turned to Judge Mason, and spoke Of
him as iavorite al of the UniversiiySf the old
Noah Stale. He TOO had laid there The founda
,ion Of his knowledge as graduate, which, from
bis prudent cultivation and great urbanily, had
advanced him 10 the honors he has enjoyed, and
is enjoying and had made him instrumental in
The high discharge oihe official duties ne has rem
dcred the country. Such were Of The examples oil
the graduates of The University. In this strain
Mr.. Hawkins addressed The President, and when
he had concluded,
The President as happily replied. He expect
ed much pleasure from this visit 10 his native
Stale, though he knew il would be clouded by
The absence Of many friends of his youth, whose
voices had been slilled in The grave. Yet they
we're not all gone. There were sill connecting
links between the past and the present. lie sa "
al his side, as a member Of this committee, one
distinguished Tor his services 10 The Stale and ,he
country al large, whose name was 10 the diploma
which he had received. The President paused
a moment as he bowed TO Gov. Branch, who was
a member OF Gen. Jackson's cabinell This gen
tleman, sir, was then Governor OF your Slate
and, ex.offcio President OF The University; anc
for YOURSELF (Mr. Hawkins) ] recognize you a:
one oil our trustees al that lime. With some DIN
er general observations on the emotions which
filled his mind on approaching the borders OF his
native State the President said he was ready It
follow The committee on their way to The Univer
sily, and looked forward 10 The commencement
and its exercises as one OF The most pleasing in
cidents in his life.
The committee were then introduced, and ex
changed salulalions with the President, Secrela
ry OF The Navy, Professor Maury, and The com
pany Hon. MIR. Simms, of South Carolina,
graduate Of The University, was with the com
mitlee, but the death OF his mother, Ia sister Q
the late Gen. Dromgoole, in Virginia, an even
Of which he was here informed, changed The lin
of his Journey and lis whole character. Hon }
r. J. Daniel was a passenger from this point Il
Raleigh.
The DAY ALONG THE ROAD
Was lriumphal journey. Al every depot, oc
curing every ten or twelve miles, crowd OF IN
sovereign people was assembled 10 greet the Pre-
sidept: and al each place he gol ont with The Sc
cretary of the Navy, and Col. Walker, and pass
ed round and shook hands with every body to IN
very last minute CT bis time, all The time exposed
with his hat of, 10 hoi Carolina sun. Al Wal
renlon depot, the woods were literally hlled vii
carriages and horses as al camp meeting; an
al Henderson, where We dined on what was cal
ed, by distinction, as surprising any hing oil IN
kind ever gotten mp among the pine barTeDs, III
Presidents dinner, multitude, like cross-road
meeting al political discussion, were assembled
a large number graphing The hand oil the Pres
dent heartily, others looking good al him, as il I
daguerreolype him in their memories.
THE RALEIGH RECEPTION.
Arrived in Raleigh al about half-past 5 P. N
Received by military procession; escorted roun
town, then to the Eagle Hotel, where Proiessc
Greene, of The University, did the invila,io
speech, and to which The President replied NOR
at length and more feeingly than al any point o
the way. At eight o'clock, P. NJ, the Presider
held levee at the Capitol, Mrs. Polk, in the il
term. receiving her friends al The hotel. TIL
main street from the Capitol was lighted up o
each side 10 The Governors mansion, fronting III
other extremity, by lamrs hung upon line {
wire. A similar line OF lamps was slretche
around The area in front OF the Capitol, With
which we had an exhibition OF fire works, 10 Sc
which exhibition all the fair creatures OF The cit
and their beaux attended, the ladies being chief
dressed in while Tor the occasion. A paper ba
LOON was sent off over The Capitol, and il cont
nued rising until The light was lost in the distance
This brings us down 10 the refreshing rest {
a day or two in The "Chy of the Oaks" at
comfortable hotel opposite The residence Of SEM
tor Badger We have several lilile incidents b
the way reserved for future letter. In this skeIc
we have only attempted a running thread Of m,
moranda, conveying passable idea OF The ri
from Washington to Raleigh.
Respectfully, THE DOCTOR.