The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-20

remarked how this power Is moon pletely arm cd
The American army is barely composed Of som
treme frontiers Of the West to protect the pioneers
and the others, divided in mpsnes and small de-
tachments, are guarding the forts on the coast An
American native who has ne yer quit ted his country
cannot have any idea Of army like Il is also
with an eager curiosity that they look for all the
information on this subject, from travellers. My
national pride was more than battered in $50
ing with what interest President Fillmore was lis
tening, from the mouth OF M. de Bots lie Comte,
to the thousand details concerning wars in
Africa.
From my visit to Mr.. Fillmore, have formed
this double convicton-that the citizen IF The L MT
ed States, to whom fortuitois crcunist ace hI ;
given the supreme executive power, is man full of
wisdom, of uprghtness, and good senti nents; that
faiihiui representative OF his country, he Is sin
cere friend OF France.
Besides the particular audiences easily obtainedof
the President, Mrs. Fillmore has, every week, a
fixed day when she receives persons who have the
honor Of being presented to her. Then there Is
also, every week. during tho winter, a day
Of official reception, when every one is freely
admitted 1t is in the evening that these
great receptions take place. Tho spectacle
All the first story Of the palace is used for these re-
ception, and one must acknowledge that its ar
rangement: are well appropriated for the occasion.
To the right OF the spacious hall which serves for
entrance, two parlors are reserved, according to
American custom-the first to receive the hats and
the overcoats of men, and the other to adjust the
dress Of the ladies' very useful autons for many
OF them walk to the palace They find also there,
pins, combs, looking glasses, aud half dozen of
chambernaids always ready. The dresses thus adj
justed, the presentation begins. After having
crossed central gallery, they enter saloon where
the vsiters in line, in order to proceed to the
next, and so through one or two rooms, into cir
cular saloon, which | should call the hall of the
throne, If the last named article of furniture was
known in America.
1t is in that room, generally, that the President
w finn "
There is staa no chamberlains, not even ushers.
staff, why! There are no soldiers in Washington.
and the President has no military command,
except rs the head Of the government. Chamber
lains, for whom Nobody in the house claims
princely origin. Ushers, even, whstfor! American
good ma ture simpliies all. In place Of being au-
nounced by n third person, too easily accustomed to
miscall a name which he hears for the first tins,
why every one takes care to name himself. Aga
memnon condescends himself to do that, in the TIA.
gedics of Racine. 1t is what takes place in the
White House. Every visitor, in accosting the
President, simply mentions his name, and that of
his lady, If he has one. The reception Of the Pre-
sident is afable and polite to all. He shakes hands
with those he distinguishes. His family is grouped
whose countenance, full Of dignity and benevolencs,
Immediately inspires respect, Is near to him
Then, near her, is Miss Fillmore, who, by the dis
tnction Of her manners, and an elegant simplicity,
avoids those coquettish graces which American
young ladies display too often. 1t is not yet a
year since Miss Fillmore was in boarding school,
where, after having completed her education, she
remained, in order to teach Others what she
had learned herself. Elevated to the Presidency,
her father called her to Washington, and since she
has been there, her amable modesty, her solid and
varied education, have contributed, not less than
the high position of her family, to make her cher
ished by all. MIR. Fillmore has also son. who
fulhls for him the office of secretary One is obliged
to seek for him in the crowd for he puts him
self before the visiters; good symptom, indeed,
which denotes modest merit
th.F tha, tIctn f
Fillmore is found when he receives visters in the
evening. In the ne saloon, and behind him, are
generally grouped some of the members OF the
ministry, and Of the diplomatic corps; some
great political men, or some high persons pre-
scented to him. As for the remaining visiters,
after having saluted the master of the house,
they continue to deile, and pass through tho
opposite door, and cross third and fourth
saloon in order to arrive at the great and majestic
hall which occupies all the eastern extremity Of tho
palace. II is there where all visitors are con-
gIegated
4 he place alluded to has the form Of an i'm menss
and long square, lighted by windows three sides
the furniture of II is simple, but uiciently stump
tuous, and completed with u magni icent carpet,
fabricated by the manufacturers of Massachusetts,,
who offered IL to the President of the Republic All
around the hall are chairs, sofas, and ottomans,
nearly always occupied by the country people, or
by the inhabitants of the Western states.
For the Others the fashion, almost become a GUS
tom, i, to continually walk around this large place
There one can witness the most curious and odd
panorama: there a foreigner the most con
tensed portrait of American nationality, with some
representatives of old Europe There, at last, de-
mocracy is rsonifed by the most complete mixing,
and pleased to say of the m )st respectable of
all classes Of society In the saloons you Craze
the elbow Of the greatest illustrations of the
public and Of those hardy pioneers of the West
whose callous hand has just left the spade,--you
pass by the celebrated orator whom you have heard
in the morning, in Congress and by the store keeper
of whom you bought the gloves you have on your
hands. However, nothing is shocking in this COM
mingling, whore presides the perfect spirit OF
propriety. What is yet more astonishing, not only
the gentlemen, but even ladies OF the most various
conditions, may and do find themselves thus congre
gated, without the custom producing any abuse.
IL is true that Washington, with all its civra-
ton, is not, as is Paris, endowed with those too
amiable ladies, whose dazzling elegance would APP
pear at least out of place in the patrarchal assem-.
bcs OF the White House. At the reception of the
President, there is mixing, 1t is true, but very
respectable one, where the daughter Of the man
without high position worthily occupies her place
near the most brilliant young ladies' OF society.
Most Of them are pretty. One is more elegant
than the other. One shows her white shoulders out
OF a brilliant silk dress, manufactured at Lyons,
while the other is modestly dressed with merino
Tissue, perhap, fabricated also in Frasce. But both
have an equally proper dress, aud II one IS the more
coquettish, is not general the who wears the
morno dress.
As for the good farmers, for the planters coming
from the banks of the Mississippi, from the wilder
IL easy to know thom by their burnt mplexions,
by their strong shoes, and above all by the eager
curiosity with which they consider all that passes
before them. How precious u the freni who IS
able to explain ali-tell them the names OF all the
celebrities-show them the Secretary OF state,
Webster, that powerful orator, whom Engl and
may envy to America; Henry Clay, his rival; ten.
scott, yesterday conqueror Of Mexico, to-day a
candidate for the Presidency passing there with his
two fair and beautiful daughters; our worthy com
patriot Soulc, now American citizen, but who
never will osc his French heart, and who, in n TO
reign language, has succeedcd-a remarkable fact
-ln being of the first orators Of the senate But
il is not truly In iispcnsabe to come from the shores
OF the Mississippi TO be excited with lively curl
osity In seeing all the distinguished men, called by
great people, to take part in the destiny of their
country admire heartily those pretty young
aides, exempted by custen from. the custody OF
their mothers and who innocently make use OF
their liberty with coquettish grace. As for the
pure bloUded Americans, their greatest astonsh-
ment is to the diplomatic corps, covered with
ribbons, decorations and crosses II Is brilliant, u
Il "A Doyeliy for them | do not know i( they are