Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-01-16

1 FuHDnil Salu ne never III MS lllc saw Il Hu-
man creature so completely thunderslruck.
lie never appeared again at Head Quar-
tiers.
Yet it must not be understood from
these instances, that there was the least
want of courtesy IN his general manner
the reverse is true; he was truly aud UNI
tormy polite but II was a grave pniteness,
infinitely removed from the hearlless artl-
fetal polish which is acquired by frivolous
minds, from long converse with the world.
There was simplicity, and even severe
dignity about it, which was inherent in the
man, and which never left him. Ia the ca
ses have mentioned, he was rudely tres
passed on; and no man could trle with
Washington.
MY FIRST SIGHT OF WASHINGTON.
My first sight of him seems like remote
vision it was only from distance aud IN
my eaty childhood. | had been walking
up Market street (then not more than half
its present lengthy when saw approach
ing from the South great cayalcade, at
tended and surrounded by floods OF people,
all whose looks seemed Ia be bent on one
object On dark sorre horse, which he
rode with military grace and case, Vas an
cooked hat which appears IN all paintings
Of the battle scenes of the Revolution, and
attended on either hand by officers OF ms
staff. They were ali SO heavily loaded with
dust as TO be entirely of one color Hats.
caps boots, hands, saddles, hodsters, hors-
cs, seemed ali Of one uniform drab, as If
they had been riding for hours along
highway without stopping TO remove the
dust as 1t accumulated upon them. They
told ne that was General Washington; and
afterwards heard my father read from the
papers of the day, AN account of his having
been crowned as he passed the bridge at
Gray's Ferry, with a chaplet Of flowers, and
greeted by a bard of beautiful young ladies',
chanting a song of welcome to the Hero
who had closed the e,cntiul struggle for
freedom by the then recent victory of York
town. ! was too far of to recognize has
features but the mounted figure Is even
now distinctly before my minds eye and
! instantly recognized it again. when | saw,
for the first time, Trumbull's Picture OF the
surrender at Yorktown, that now occupies
/, one Of the paunels "a the Rotuuda Of the
Capitol The Washington there drawn IS
precisely what | saw coming INTO the city
BY the road from Grays Ferry
WASHINGTON At CHURCH.
Nv next view of him was a nearer and
: more distinct one, lit was as a worshipper.
My parents, who were Episcopalians, had
front pew ia the gallery OF Chrlsts
Church, IN Philadelphia; aud from that ia
yorabie post 81 observation, noticed IN tile
middle AISLE pew lined with crimson vel
: vet, fringed with gold, into which saw
highly digniied gentleman enter, accom-
panied by Two others, younger than himself,
and who were most respectful IN their de-
pertinent towards hun, who, as | have since
learned were members of his military fam
, ily. ! was but young boy, and the I'M
preston, as | well remember, on my youth
ful mind was, that | have never seen SO
grand gentleman before. Everybody else
seemed TO be of the same mind for | do
r not consider It a SANDER on the very re-
spectacle congregation worshIppiug IN that
Church TO say, that far more looks were
/ fixed upon that pew than on the pulplt, (un-
/ less, indeed. il Happened to be occupied by
that most excellent aud venerable Of pre-
/ lates Bishop White The department Of
f Washington was retefent and attentive
e his eyes, when not on the prayer book, were
e on the officiating clergyman, aud no wit
less or irreyerent worshlpper could plead
. Washlngton's example l have since been
in the Church at Alexandra in Virginia,
+ which was his Parish Cnurch-haye hand
led the prayer book he used, aud seen his
well known autograph in the front of his
/ bible, aud here the same impression exist
ed as to his regular and exemplary attend
ance aud demeanor lie could not always
be present at the Church at Philadeldha, IN
the afternoon, being pressed by the exgen-
: cy of public affairs, which, IN the mind of
Washington, we're ever held 10 be matters
Of necessity. Hence he gave orders, that
, in case certain important dispatches were
, received during his attendance in Church,
they should be brought to him there and
, have seen them delivered into his hands
lie opened them Immediately. and dellber-
ately and auentisely read Them through:
theI. LAYING them on the seat by his side, he
resumed his prayer book, aud, apparently,
gave his mind 10 the solemniiies OF the place
aud the hour.
/ his ADDRESS TO CONGRESS WHEN ELECTED
/, FOR THE LAST TIME.
: But | once had All opportunity far more
: favorable, of beholdlug thus greatest of men,
: under circumstances the best possible for
D exhibiting him to the fullest advantage, Ii
I was privilege which could happen but
5 once to any man; and | esteem the bour
+ when enjoyed 1t, as one of the brightest
z moments | was ever permitted to know. Its
d remembrance yet glows yiyldly on my mind:
: years have not dimmed It, the whole scene
= is yet before me aud need not say with
= what force repeated public occasions of
d like kind, have sInce recalled It to remem-
d brance. Yes, it was my favored lot to see
d and hear Presiden, Washington address the
+ Congress of the United States, when elect
n ed for the last time, of men now living,
d how few can say the same.
i | was but a school boy at the time, and
= had followed one of the many groups of
!. people, who, from all quarters, were making
c their way TO the Hall in Chestnut street, at
d the corner of Fifth, where the two Houses
{ of Congress then held their slttings, and
= where they were that day to be addressed
= by the President, on the opening of his Sec
+ ond term OF office. Boys can often manage
y to work their way through a crowd better
| than men can M all avauts A sn hannaned