Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-04-10
and self-possessed, and presented, Alto
ge,her, the most august human figure l
ho ri than .,r sinca hehelI s4. .e..g-aesa#

and seli-possessed, and presented, Alto
ge,her, the most august human figure l
had then or since beheld. .faT
At the head Of the Senate stood Thomas
Jefferson, in blue coat, single breasted,
with large brish, basket buttons, his vest
aud small clothes OF crimson. | remem-
Der OF being struck with his animated
count enance, Of brick red hue, bright eye
and foxy hair, and by his tall, gaunt, un-
gainly form and square shoulders. A
perfect contrast was presented by the
pale, reflective face and delicate figure OF
James Madison; and above all by the
short, burly, bus,ling form of Gen. Knox,
with ruddy cheek, prominent eye,and still
more prominent, proportions OF another
kind. In the semi. circle which was
formed behind the chair, and on either
hand of the President, my boyish gaze
was attracted by the splendid attire OF
Chevalier d'Yrujo, the Spanish Ambassa-
dor, the only foreign minister near our in
fan, Government. His glitiering feathers,
his foreign air, and courtly bearing con.
trasted strongly with those nobility Of ma
lures forming who stood around him. Il
was very fair representation OF the old
world and the new. How often has the
same reflection occurred 10 me since, on
es>ing the gl,t,ering and now numer-
ous company Of foreign digni,aries COL
lected around our President on an inaug-
ura,ion day, or the recurrence of our ma
tional anniversary.
Trne, the individuals who form that
brilliant coterie are, for the most part, men
eminent for general intelligence, as well
as the virtues Of private life, men who
meet and well deserve a cordial welcome
on our shores, and often carry from 1t the
sincerest regrets. But how do the per-
sonal attainments and characters Of the
men thems selves put out the blaze of gold
and diamonds with which their govern
ment had covered them? And ii, even IN
the unadorned presence Of his successors,
these decorations seem pnerile in repnb-
lican ewes. how would they have faded
away and been lost in the chilling grand
eur Of the public presence Of Washington.
Having retained his seat for a few mo-,
ments, while the members resumed their
seats, the President rose. and taking from
his breast roll Of manuscript, proceeded
to read his address. His voice was full
aud sonorou~, deep and rich in its tones.
free from that trumpeting ring which It
could assume amid the tumnlt of battle
and which could have been distinctly
heard above all lis ioar but sufficiently
loud and clear, to fill the chamber, and be
heard with perfect ease in its mos, remote
u ~ IL
BILE length; its topics, OF course. forget,
for was too Young TO understand them;
only remember, in its latter part. some
reference. 10 the Wabash rivei, then
new name 10 my ear, aud to claims or dis
putes on the part OF the Indian tribes. lie
read, as he did everything else, with
singular serenity and composure. and man
sly ease and dignity. but without the small
est attempt at display.
Having concluded, he laid the manu-
script upon the table, aud resumed his
seat, when. after slight pause, he rose
and withdrew. the memaers rising and re-
naming on their feet until he lett the
chamber.
The paper was then taken up by Mr.
Becky, The clerk Of the House, and again
read from beginning to end. Beckly's
pronunciation by the by, was admirably
clear, giving every syllable of every word,
and / may say, he was almost the only OIL
ficer whose official duty it is to read, who
! ever heard read well.
This form having been gone through,
the members of the Senate retired, and
took advantage of the hustle 10 descend
from my unw onted and presumptuons ele-
walton, and mingle with the dissolring
crowd.