The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-16


Joined her social circle. Her snuI box had magic in
huence and seemed IA perfect security from hostility
| rs part patton Of bread and salt is among many
savage tribes For who could pariake Of its coneuts
offered In manner so gtai.u. and retain u feeling
inmical To its owner Any a stranger to the
the great leaders opposition and to the yo-
lent partisans who on the arena Of public contention
were snest at daggers drawn. would not lave recog
Missed them in the smiling and courteous personages
VINO stood round the mistress Il the mansion
The kindly feelings thus cultivated, triumphed
.he snmo.iy OF party sp,rt aud won popularity for
ber husoend winch bis LOFTY serve ana cold manners
would have failed in eHectDg The moment Of decision
arrived and MIR Madison deciar. President OF the
United states In Washington the day of his inaugu-
ration was day Of jubilee Gladness and kindness
seemed the universal feeling Every face boamed with
smiles Of graduation, and every hand was stretched
out In CORDIAL greeting residence OF eight years in
the city, by making MIR asd Yrs Madison we'll known,
had obtained tor them regard warm and sincere To
sentiments Of personal regard added the full
ance Of continuance OF the same paternal interest
aDd watchtu for the welfare and Advancement OF
the cry which had been uniformly exhibited by the
late administration
After MIR jefferson left the city Mr. Madison re-
moved to the Presidents House which soon became the
centre Of gay and brilliant circle, and yet of social
and delightful society. In addition to large dinners
every week drawing room nov opened, where the
beauty and IA hon OF the nation found the best theatre
for display Those who remembered the stiff formaiity
and strict cercnobias OF Mrs Wasbingtons dra wing
roc IN anticipated renewal Of the same duh
But Mrs Madison foe to dullness in every form,
even ~h invested with all The dignity which high
remonia could bestow All unne cessary etiquette was
bahshed and no acquisitions made beyond those which
regulated good society IN private houses
The sunshine Of prosperity shed its most unclouded
rays on this tsvorite OF nature and OF fortune. But
prosperity soud not spoil her could bal d-n heart
su,crptb'e of all the tenderest charities of life.
But this scene Of general aud individual prosperity
WAS interrupted by the which spread
along coasts and brought ruin and devastation to
the city Of Washington.
his not the place to discuss the causes of that ia
tai event. News arrived that the British forces had
lard forty miles below the city Their on
was unknown Several roads led the country
the city and several to Baltimore when it was
certained that Washington was their object, the
.nn rvny fnrft
vas divoed-n least authority over General Winder
was claimed by the Secretary of Wsrcould not agree
on the r. ute TO be chosen, nor the measures To be
adopted 10 oppose the British forces who advance
Ing In The country In this dilemma the President
appealed TO and with view Of settling this difference,
went, accompanied by several members of the cabinet
and some onal friends to Bladsnsburg where they
Unexpectedly found the two armies engaged. Mean-
while, terror spread over the city Every who
could find a conveyance Of any kind whatever. made
their escape To the adjoining towns. Those who
unprovided with conveyance fled on foot, carrying
with tb,m whatever could BE- carried Tho sound Of
the cannon wa distinctly heard. The dsmay uni
versal Mr. Madison who had gone forth only to hold
a council war ned not no one in the city pre-
tended to any authority: the whole OF
fusion Some personal friends who had remained with
Mrs Madison, most Nehemeptly urged her to leave the
city They had her carriage brough to the door but
could not persuade her TO enter it until her husband
should return and accompany her, But an extract
FRI letter written to her sister though necessarily
broken and abbreviated will give truer IL not fall
Ter view Of her trying situation than any other pom
can do
TUESDAY, August %. 1914
DEAR oisTFR:-Ny husband LETT me yesterday MORN
ing to join Gen Wmd-r. lie inquired xiously whe-
ther bad courage or frmness to remain in the Presi
dents House until his return on the morrow OF
succeeding day; and my that had fear
but for him ana tbe success ef army, he left mo-
beSetchpg me to take Of myself aud Of the cabinet
papers public and private have since received twc
desratches from him, written with pencil tie last is
alan ming because he desires should be ready At
moments warning to enter my carriage and leave the
city; that the enemy seemed stronger than had been
reported, and that II might happen that they would
reach the city. with the intention to destroy It,
am accordingly ready; have pressed as many
cabinet papers into trunks MI one carriaye our
phi, prop,rty must be sacrificed, it is impossible
To procure wagons for it's transportaon ! am deter
mined not to go NJ sea. until see Mt Madison SAFE
and he accom- any ~ hear OF much hostility
towards him; dsaGeetion s,a.ks around us.
. My friends and acquaintanees are all
gone-even Col. t.. with his hundred men. who
stationed IA n guard in this enclosure. = French
John Ia faithful dometic with his usual activity aud
resolution offers to spike the ut the gate and to
lay Isin Of powder which would blow up the British
should they enter the house To the last proposition
| positively Object. without being able however to
make HIM understand why all advantages in war may
not be taken.
"WEnsrsrAy MopsrsG, u o'clock.-Sincc sunrise
have been turning my spy glass in direction aud
watching with unu,ari.a anxiety, hoping To discern
the approach OF my dear husband and his rsnds but
alas can descry only groups Of military wandering in
all directions there lack Of arms Of spirit
to fight for their own hrrsid,s
"luHTT ocLoCK w i'll you believe IL my sister, We
have had battle or skirmi>h Bladensburgh aud
am stiI here within sound Of the cannon hir Madi-
comes not May God protect him. Two messen-
gers covered with duct come to bid me fy but wait
for him At this Ia IL hour A wagon has been
procured; have had it nllsd With the plate and most
valuable portable articles belonging to the house
Wbether " will reach its deetfraton the Bank Of
ryisnd OF s.n into the hs.,ds VI tho British sodiery
events must determine
"Our kind wi nd MIR Carroll has come IL hasten my
departure, and H. in avry bad humer with me, be-
cause INSIST On waiting until the large picture Of zen
Washington H. secured aud IT. urrs
fom the wall This process was found too tedious for
tlese p'iilUus moments; have ordered the frame to
be brel, aud the canvass taken out IL Il done and
trait In he ham pf
tenen VI New iork, Tor safe kes ping Aud now, dear
sitter mutt leave this house. the refreatiDg army
will make me prisoner IT. IT, by filling up the road
am directed ia take When shall again write you,
or where slall be to- morrow, cannot tell"
The disastrous events which followed too well
Known To ne,d description IL the limits of this
sketch allow cd Of the melancholy details During the
mainder Of Mr. Nadson presidential tsrm he resided in
apiiNate houso. Nh,rr. however he received company
with IND IN nish, bts pality. when at the expira-
ton o bis fca r,ic.s he left the city Of Washing
and itturnd 10 hi- noun tain home his departure
wac lnEt n private well a public toss by the
otizns, with whom bis family for sixteen years. had
lived on te ms Of reciprocal kindness.
Always fond q agricultural pursuits, Mr. Madison
joyfuiy returned TO bis BEAUTIFUL and peaceful home
Montpelier within LEES than a day ride Of Mouti-
cello and In the estimate 81 Virginian Mr. jefferson
and Alr. Nadison beighbors. Both had the
whole career Of public lifehad endured ts tolls aud
its foubls-bad been crowned with it's highest honors,
ard reunited in the dignity aud trsuq uility
OF domestic retirement surrounded with the bects OF
tue learning. and philosophy could furnish 60
cro. all airiendsbip which the conflicts of public
life Rad never interrupted which ab had never
CALLED and which death only could terminate
Tn boson ed the hills which lay nj the fsot Of
the south mountain s the paterus estate If Nr Madi
Naturally fertile hut much improved by his ju-
dcious n conn arat.ey small part Is Kept under
cultivation the greater part being covered with it's
tive forests. large and csmmOdious mansion de-
signed for comfort and hos paity than ornament
aud display, iises at the foot u high wooded HILL
which. While IL affords shelter from the north west
winds, adds much to the picturesque beauty Of the
scene Tie grounds around the house their
m,nts mure to nature than art with the exception
81 fine garden behind. and wde-spread lawn before
the house for miles around the e,er-vsry ng and I'M
duatng surface Of the ground IL covered with forest
trees The extreme ssubty II the situation Induced
the proprietor 20 call 10 Mouipelier
One wing Of the house, during her lifetime,
cusvy appropriated to the venerable and venersted
mother a Mr. Madison. TO which attached Offices
and dens forming separate establishment where
this aged maron preserved the habits and the hours Of
her carly life attended by old family slaves, and sur
rtundtd by her children aud grandchildren.
Jnder the same rolf. divided only by a partition
wall thus exhibited the Of the beginning