Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-25
DAILY EVENING STAR.
CITY ITEMS.

troSupsfay evening, 4utSSiS. y. V. g H. ~ w u
,,d The enierprisins propetors OF the above HOTEL
..,,7uraed its opening by grand banquet, al which
20, one hundreds eaests sat down. 1t would be
.oness IN mention that the bill OF fare contained
-,,, de,,rscy both in and ont of season, that the
..,,es were first rate, and the corps of walters
.,,,;nr and attentive. Mr.. e. C. Willard, the
-,unycr brother Of the prorticicfs, who will at
.,od 70 the office, was particularly conspicuous for
-. sa and activity that he displayed on this occa-
-, appearing to be- if it were possible, in half
,o,en p,ncfs at oncc--tie establishment, we sin
..,sty believe, could not do without him. Every
va. delighted, And the tout c-,rnblr that the
,;n;n, saloon presented, when the guests were all
.o,,ed was Of the n,ost gratifying description. At
,be ,pper end Of the table, there were seated the
o.. EDWARD Everett, the Hon. VIM. Gwin, Benz
Ode TarIoe, Esq, w. w. Corcoran, Esq, J. w.
,r,,,v Eso the Mayer, the Rev. Smith Payne, Rev.
n, French, Commodore Paudns, Commodore
,,rhrick. Commodore Smith, General Henderson,
NJ, Truman Smith, Marshal Hoover, ex-Mar-
-,,, Uallach, William u. Winter, ESQ, F. Dodge,
r. Major McRea, and B. r. French, ESQ.,
commissioner Of Public Buildings; II. A. Willard,
Fen one of the proprietors presiding, supported on
=. r;yst by the HOY. Edward Everett, and on his
-, by the Hon. WIN. Gwin. The remainder of the
t were seated at the other part of the table that
"a. placed lcngthwise with the room-tke whole
hs,u, in the form Of the letter T.. The arrangement
allowed OF plenty Of spacc tor the walters, who were
,bus enabled to peroIa their duties without any con-
a.on. and does credit to the proprctors for the tact
thai they displayed. Among the guests, we must
mt omit 10 mention the mechanics, who were en-
Moved in the building and fitting up of the house,
and who deserve the highest credit for the ability and
skill that they displayed, well for the prompt
,es- with which the departments under their
charge were executed. The following are their
names: Mr.. ]. c. Hardness, architect; Mr.. ]. A
Eukpatrick, stone IiasoH; Mr.. Thomas Lewis, brick
mason; Messrs. Mclaughlin & Wilson, carpenters
Nessrs Parker * SPading, painters, Messrs. Sioussa
Brown, pasterers; Mr. schief1cy gas filter; Mr. T..
Dryer, Of Baltimore, fresco painter, Mr.. Flersu
plumber, and Mr.. J. w. A. Strickland, of the House
OLA. r. Stewart 4 Co, ct New York, who sIpern-
tended the tapestry, SC.
Previously sitting down, d benediction was pro-
Hsunced by thu Rev DR.. Pyne, and after the assem-
bIed guests had done ample Justice to the entertain
ment provided for the use, the ceremony of giving
The ioasts commenced.
OgIe Tsyoe, Esq. proposed as the first toast, 'sThe
health of the MessTs. Willard" which was drank
with enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. II. w. Willard arose and in response thanked
the gentleman mir. Tayoe) for his kindness in pro
posing the sentmeut rCmaIking that he was unable
express his feelings appropriate manner but
that the honorable gentlemen on his right (Mr Ev-
eTst) had kindly offered tn sustain linn, and would
ay IN more appropriate manner, what his own
feelings dictated, but which he (Mr. Wlllardl could
tt..IIp in tsoFJt
The Hon. Edward Everett being called upon to
return thanks for the Messrs. Willard, rose up which
was the signal for long and renewed cheers. The
Hon. gentleman began thus:
rose to speak for the Messrs. Willard but I am
afraid that must speak for myself. Ourfriend Viii
lard has made slight mistake i'm saying that he did
not BIKE to make his own Acknowledgements, ard that
had kindly offered to speak for him, although it is
most true that when requested to do by my friend
(MI. Tayloe) readily consented. do it with great
CbeeTfulness, but If there was an occ aston on
which man might speak for himself, il on the
present, and Mr. Willard need not dstrust his sbil
ny do so. There ars occasions when deeds speak
louder than words, [aPpsuse] and this is one In
stead Of Mr.. Willard returning thanks U.s. il is we
that are under obligations to him. I'm fact, 1 Think
mat IN paying our respects to Mr.. Willard, this
evening, we are but dong duty, though certainly
duty most easily performed, loud cheers.l There
are few duties III life that require less nerve Zap
plauss than to como together, and good dinner
There Is very little self denial [laughter) in that
i"u''u uCiudl Is nDt Ine principle WHICH gen
orally carrles TO Hotel, although il sometimes
haIPcns that we havet to practice il, wleR there.
Ie speak, however, seriously, IL is not, sslhout
sonie emotion that find myself here. There are
many interesting associations for me connected with
this house Under It's roof, l have passed some of
the happie-t years of my life. Under the old regime
this building was divided into separate houses, and
was, with my family, the occupant of one Of them
Tor several successive seasons. Here, under its roof
at 800 miles from Boston, were as comfortable As
al home, and have no doubt that those who place
themselves under your prOtecIiOn burning To Mr..
WIllard) Will find IL so likewise. TCheers1 Under
this root have had the hOnoi and happiness, In
company with my nessmates, of entertaining at one
and the same tlme John Quincy Adams, Iapplause
thief Justice Marshall, renewed cheers Judge
Story, lclIeerr Mr.. Calhoun loud and long cheers
MI Clay. ldIItol Mr. Webster, [ditto.l These are
all gone, but together with them can name another
now living, and not unworthy 10 be associated with
mem, Washington Irving, Applause. Think of
men IKE these, six or seven of whom / have now
named, gathered together at the same time around
the festive board under this roof. That was indeed,
the east OF reason, not merely the flashes of merri
ment which SET the table i'll roar, but that gushing
out oi convIva eloqucncc, that cheerful Interchange
81 friendly feeling III which The politician and parti
IAN are forgotten. Yes, gentlemen, there were
giants IN those days, cheers,l giants in intellect but
IN character and spirit they were gentlemen and in
tnelI familiar intercourse with each other, they had
all the tenderness of brethren.
l have been a good deal knocked about in the
world, to Use rather coarse phrase, and have spent
some years of my life in travelling in different coun
ines, which has led me TO know from experience
now much comfort may be enjoyed in a good public
house. cannot, indeed, agree with Shenstone in
Ms beautiful expression relative 10 the inn at Henley
m England:
"Whos'er has travelled life's dull round
Nhere 'er ms stages may have been,
May sigh 10 think that Ire has found
His warMest welcome al an iuuv
cannot concur IN this feeling Sh-nstone srIs-
gave uiterancc to II because he was bachelor.
Laughter. Dr. johnson, who was &C custom, often
" au"te tese iines, a. we are told by Boswell had
never enjoyed any real comfortable home life But
, W. must all he ready 10 agree, that come of the
mus PHEASANT moments Of ur lives have been spent
~ well administered hotel such Il. our friend vii
iaiu VIII no doubt give the coglmuniy
Ohs Woru more, gentlemen, and nave done. I
r'm'moef reading an account of a meeting some
wat similar to this, that took place at Nauvoo.
ohg uhe h"fnIons. An entertainment had been
''h py lle landlord of the place the celebrated Joe
Hmiih, when toast 10 the following effect xas nro
posed IN his honor:
D our worthy landlord, whether as a prophet i'm
W. church. general IN the field ma ei.traie on the
'"' {" Is landlord at the head of his table, he has
Nv equals and no supeTiors." Loud laughter
Dui III'hh' w lizard, probably makes no preten-
mfd' III which, am sure, you Will agree with me
a' w hN@ lew equals and no supcnoTs IAppause.l
LII III, WIN your permission, propose rs a toast
ne health Of our friend Willard and prosperity
HIS F-'dDilshmenf; may il prove a benefit 10 the
nome Z" the stranger, and profitable
'h,sIpIse u fire proprietor"
J., w Maury, Esq, the Mayor. propossd a. . toast
ne health 1i the mechanics who haze assisted 10
ana NJ up thus establishment in 50 short time
iohl us commencement
Nv health o! the Hon. Wm. Grin of California
am LII lheI gwen, Dr. Gwin arore and said