Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-19
EXCURSION OF THE GOLDEN GATE"

EXCURSION OF THE GOLDEN GATE"
Not having been able ourselves to accept the
hind invitation of the libeia proprietors to visit
their magnificent new steamer the Golden Gate,
we avail ourselves Of the accounts given OF the ex-
cnrsioh by our more fortunate contemporaries:
FROM THE "usIos" OF rHuAsDAr.
T1E ExcUAsIos '''ruE GoLDEs GAaE."-We men
toned "a our PAPER Of Tuesday that this speno Steamship
intended Tor the Pacific, had arrived Annapos on Mon
day. tor the purpose Of rendering the President aid Cab
net and other guests an excursion the Chesapeake we
avaed ourselves OF the kind invitation Of WILLIAM H. AS
iswALL, Esq, President of the Mail Steamship Company
n form one OF the party and the courtesy and liberal hosp
ay OF the owners the splendid appointments Of the Golden
Cue and the taste and judgment with which the excursion
ws conducted, demand more than passing notice.
The special train chartered by Mr. Aspnwal for the
sionle the Washington depot o'clock Tuesday, and
aftea pleasant run Of cospe Of hours safely deposited the
comfny in the ancient and pleasant city of Annapolis
hereFhe President accompanied by the Secretary Of the In
terlo Commodore Ballard and other distinguished officers
was en in charge by committeewithsut any ridiculous
speechmaking-and conveyed 10 the Naval School. We
followt with the crowd and wcrded way the STATE
HousH in order to stand, if but for momen the
which Washington surrendered his commission the Cont
mental Congress- furnishing by that single me nobIes
exampt OF disineresed patriotism to be found IN modern
history fnd matched only in ancient annals BY wha
told OF abnegaton of Cncinnatus. The State House
occuPiesa commanding position and from the lawn boxing
toward tle bay battery planted which shook the air
with naona salute. The company then proceeded to the
wharf, where tAe propeller Haniny the pactice-ship Of
the Naval School, and the steamer Pidnter moered.
The Puter filled, and within few minues the
President arrived and went board the Admo,s where he
was received by the naval cadets in their unifm The
two ve.ss then gc under for the Golden GGse, which
riding anchor beyond the lighthouse, some four or
Eve miles Off The distance was accomplished in few
minutes and as ws rounded point in the bay the noble
steamer in full view, her broadsde toward u.s. and the
stars and stripes floating from her masthead Our first i'm
preston was that was beausful ship but felt disap-
pointed in her sze Her comely model had deceived our
and, seeing so nuch grace they could compass
her huge proportions As approached her dimensions
seemed expands but it until we were under her
sde and looking up at her lofty buwarks which lowered
above that realized that ander the eide
of ship Of twenty-five hundred On reaching her
lecs found large company Of ladies and gentlemen al
ready assembled Soon the Hamilton came alongside and
he President mounted the ladder, and welcomed on
board by Lieut. Patterson of the Navy the commander of
ne Golden Gate, and by Mr.. Aepinwall. Here
happy again to that there ridiculous speech
making, and that Commander Patterson and Mr. AspnwaI
welcomed the President hosptabe gentleman would vel
come guest. As the President conducted af, the
marine band struck national air. and the artillery gave
voice to the appropriate salute.
We took the first opportunity to 90 below, in order
anime the interior arrangements and take Of the
massive machinery But have words to express the
pendor OF the saloon and cabins the taste and comfort
With which the were furnished There was no
,audy and gilt gingerbread fney, bus every thing showed
he most superior workmanship and the best and most du
abe materials. When reached the upper deck again.
We stopped moment TO exchange few words with friend
Soon cast eyes toward the Shore and to our surprise
he Golden Gate was under way. She walked the SO
smoothly her engines worked with such admirable precision
hat we felt notion and could only perceive in
notion BY the rapid vanishing Of outward Objects We
Toned this to LADY, she said that by resting her hand
the buwaks she could feel that the engine work
We tried the experiment. but duler refused to
witness that there engine en- board Soon we
the broad bosom of the Chesapeake, with faces
urned toward Baltimore Thin clouds kept off the heat and
glare Of the sun, while delightful and invgorang breeze
made shudder when thought of the dazzling heat and
sitting dust of Pennsylvania to which we had
to py dreadful trade" But these thoughts were
driven from mind by the cheerful notes Of the band and
he moving panorama 'of fair and brave men," all
determined to have day Of enjoyment. Dinner
nounced Two tables occupied the length Of vast saloon
They were almost entirely filed by the ladies' When they
retired the gentlemen tronged, for hour around the
choice and abundant vands which hopabe entertainers
had provided Having discharged duty in that respect,
we visited the upper air again, in time the city of Ba
more and the memorable Fort McHenry. Our gallant ship
paid her compliments to the fort and then turning off, was
IN her way to Annapolis.
The return enluened by music and the dance until the
anchor dropped, about sunseno accident having
cured to mar the pleasure of the jaun skilfuy and
lery every thing appointed by Lieut. Patterson and Mr.
Aspinwal Within half an hour the propeller Hanl
on was alongside, and the order passed that those per-
IONS bound for Washington must first aboard We fol-
owed in the wake of usous predecessors and found
ourselves on propeller whose decks literally filled
" ladies and gentlemen and, certain shrl voices init
mated, there were some children ALSO When cast off,
hree times three given the Golden Gate, her
omPlshed commander and to her hospitabe We
lad gone but few fahoms before piece Of machinery
way, and the rain began pour down. We then
bout four miles from Annapolis substantial awning was
ver however, and the sails Of the Hamilton prompt
unfured Neither the weather. the darkness the
nshap seemed to dampen the ardor of the voyages We
Wished at the time that had been dampened somewhat
ne loud laughter and prevented the transmission
orders promptly sailors like them to be transmitted
The propeller behaved well under canvass and by half
line we were the wharf at the Naval School, It dark
md raining gently and heard the clear voice of officer
INVITING all to bis quarters until carriages could be provided
ut feeling that could stand slight shower, and having
IN experienced pilot to navigate through the intricate
reets Of Annapolis set sail for the depot where
ived at ten o'clock. The party in detachmens
il about half past ten. By that time all aboard, and
he seamh horse of for Washington. Some time in the
hort hours we reached the depot 1t raining There
we're no hacks in readiness and had mile to walk But
cared nothing for that We had enjoyed day of plea
ure and had seen il rain before BY o'clock we
in bed we'll pleased that for day had forgotten
he aspertes Of political warfare, ard breathed the pure air
IF heaven
From THE "RKPUBLIc OF THURSDAY.
The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES returned to the
y yesterday morning from Annapolis, Maryland, whittier
he with other gentlemen went Tuesday, in special
rain Of cars by invitation, view the magnificent steamship
g Golden Gate" which had arrived from New York on
Sunday.
very large concourse Of citizens we learn were in wait
at the railroad station welcome the PRESIDENT and