Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-26
COMMENCEMENT OF THE
e Constitutional Gopcrnme,
UNITED STATES. wss.a
WASHINGTON RESIDENCE IN New YORK.
From The Gusts Fccoii.ctions cnd Private w
moirS Of the life and Character Of
Washington

On the Both Of April $50. the Constitutional
Government OF the United States began. BY the
inauguration OF GEORGE WASHINGTON as Presi-
dent of the United States, in the city Of New
York.
In the then limited extent and improvement
of the city. there was some difficulty in selecting
mansion for the residence 1.-THE Chief Magis-
trate and household, suitable to his rank and
station OSg0ods house, a mansion of very mo-
derate extent, was a, length fixed upon, situated
in Cherry street. There the President became
domcied. His domestic family consisted Of
Mrs Washington, the two adopted children, Mr..
Lear as principal secretary, Colonel Humphreys,
with Messrs. Lewis and Nelson secretaries, and
Major WIN. jackson, abide camp.
Persons visiting the house in Cherry street at
this time of day will wonder how bttiltling 50
| small could contain the many and hights spirits
that thronged its halls in olden days. Congress,
Cabinet, all public functonaries in the com
mencement of the Government, were selected
from the very elite Of the nation. Pure tatri-
otism. Commanding talent, eminent services,
were the proud and indispensable requisites for
official station on the first days of the Republic,
The first Congress was most enlightened and
/ dignitied body. In the Senate were several Of
/ the members ofthe Congress Of 1916 and signers
of the Declaration of ndependence-R,chard
Henry lee. who moved the Declaration, John
Adams, who seconded it, with Sherman, Morris,
| Carroll. &c.
The levees of the first President were attended
by these illustrious patriots and statesmen, and
by many others of the patriots statesmen, and
soldiers. who could say OF the Revolution mag
M ParS fui:' While numbers of foreigners AVID
strangers Of distinction crowded to the seat Of
the General Government, all anxious to witness
the grand experiment that was to determine how
much rational liberty mankind is capable of en-.
ioynr, without said liberty degenerating into
Righteousness.
Mrs. Washington's drawinr-rooms. on Ffiday
nights, were a.teuted by the grace and beauty
o. New ! FORK. On ore OF these occasions an
incident occurred which might have been atten-
d-d 10y serious consequences. Owing to the low
ness otthc ceiling in the drawing room the os-
irich feather, IN the head dress of Miss McIver,
a belle OF New York. took fire from the chan.
/ deler to the no small alarm OF the comIany---
I Major Jackson. aid-de-camp to the President,
with great presence Of mind and equal gallantry
Few to the rescue Of the lady. and by clappng
the burn'n! p,unas between his hands, exiting
ushed the flame, and the drawiuroom went OH
as usual.
Washington preserved the habit, as well in
public as in private life, of rising at four ocloch
and retreinr TO bed at nine. On Saturdays y.
] "
! ing into the country, attended by groom. or
with his family in his coach drawn by six hor-
SIS.
I Fond of horses, the stables Of the President
We're Away, in the finest order, and his equip
! age excellent both IN taste and quality. Indeed
/ 80 long aTo as the DAYS Of the vice regal: court
of Lord Boetonr; at Williamsburg in Virginia
we ind that there existed a rivalry between the
| cquipages of Col. Byrd, magnate of the old
regime and Col, Washington, the grays
against the bays. Bishop, the celebrated body
servant of Braddock, WAS the master of WASH
| lngon's stables, Aud there were what was
/ termed muslin horses in those I'D DAYS At
cock-crow the stable BOYS were at work at sun
rise the Bishop sialked into the stables, mus
| lin handkerchief in his hand, which he applied
to the coats OF the animals aud, il the slightest
stain was perceptable upon the muslin, up went
the luscss wights OF the stable boys, and pun
i,hnent was administered instanter for to the
veteran Bishop, bred amid the iron dicipline Of
European armies, mercy for ANYTHING like
breach oiduty was altogether out OF the ques-
ton.
The Presidents stables in Philadelphia were
under the direction of German John, and the
grooming OF the white chargets will rather sur.
PRISE the moderns The night before the horses
were expected to be rode, they were covered en-
tlrely over with paste o. which whiting YVES
the principal component part; then the animals
we're swathed in bodyscotis, and left to sIeep
upon clean straw. In the morning the compo-
slton had become hard, was well rulA~d In. and
curried and brushed which process gave to the
coats a beautiful. g os.y, and satin-like appear.
ance, The hools were then BACKED and polish.
ed, the mouths washed, testh picked and clean.
ed and, the Ieopard-skin housings being prop
crly adjusted, the white chargers were led ous
for service Such was the grooming of ancien,
times.
There was but ono theatre in New York IN
tcoatiaus! on tic fourth ras<)