, 1853-10-08
The President and his Cabinet.


The reporter Of the New York CONNER
cisl, in. his account Of the banquet to the
President at Metropolitan Hall, thus sketch
es the personal appearance and bearing Of
the President and those members of the Cab
met who accompanied him TO New York;
"The current portraits of President Pierce
give very fair representation or idea of
the man, Perhaps he appears somewhat
younger than the majority of them repre-
sent him His bearing is digni6cd when in
repose, less so when engaged in conVersa-
tion, and especially when receiving persons
presented to him. At such moments his
countsnance is lighted up with wreathed
smiles, or in more homely phrase, is " all
over smiles" but they arc transient, snd
have somewhat the appearance OF being
steseotyped. The eye is fine, brilliant, in
ielligent. The forehead is rather low and
receding the facial features angular. His
figure is slight, active, and graceful ; his
gestures in speaking are abundant, perhaps
to surplusage, but easy and natural. He
carries 10 excess the habit of jerking out tho
conclusion ol his sentences, bending forward
and suddenly fpringng up and throwing
back the head as the closing word falls from
his lips.
The next toast was Mr.. Guthrie, the
Secretary of the Treasury 10 which Of
course that gentleman responded. The
I Hon James Guthrie is man to attract OBJ
servation anywhere. Of good stature and
stalwart frame, he is plain, almost rustic in
his attire, and sits erect and firmly. The
countenancc is strongly marked, and would
indicate, even 10 the most superficial obser-
yer, high personal integrity, great energy
Of purpose and power Of will, and general
J almost rigidity Of character. The trsl
impression Of harshnesS, however, rapidly
subsidies as one continues 10 study that no.
BILE, frank, clear countenance. The strong
er lines become more manifestly but the
traces of tboughtfulnesS and habit OF re-
Election The inner man shines forth, and
you feel that with strength of character Is
blended a genuine beneVolrncs, that ever
and anon beams from the eye and plays
around the mouth. The impression Instant
ly made BY this happy blending Of elements
Of character is most pleasing. Before you
are aware how deeply your feelings are In
lerested in the gentleman, you detect your
self divining that Mr.. Guthrie is Just the
man you would like to have for friend
that he must be an excellent neghbor, and
ljueieious adviser that 10 a young man es-
peciAlly his counsel and oversight would
be invaluable and your faith in the man
grows as you study him, until you almost
wish you had occasion for reposing conf
dence in him. Nor is this feeling at all
abaIed, but rather increased, when he speaks,
for the voice is much less rigid than the iea-
lures. .
The Hon. jefferson Davis, Secretary Of
War, next responded 10 toast compliment
ary 10 himself The honorable gentleman
is 10 almost every attribute, physical and
mental, a contrast to Mr.. Guthrie. There
is little that is prepossessing, and nothing
that is commanding in his appearance. He
might mingle with the crowd,and none would
point him out OF select him for any special
mission. Least Of all would he be rated as
a warrior. As speaker he disappointed
US. He docs not lack Auency in any re-
markable degree, but is greatly wanting in
force. His style is inflated. He INDUCES
in very transparent rhetorical tricks, and
works no conviction in the minds Of his
hearers. He labOrs under the misfortune,
or has the fault, as the case may be, Of
seeming to lack sincerity-of desiring to
tickle the ears rather than affect the heart or
Judgment Of his hearers.
The Hon. Caleb Gushing was the next
speaker. lie sat next 10 MIR. Guthrie, and
as We looked at the twain, thoughts passed
through our mind that we are not disposed
wholly to commit 10 paper Why rs il that
few have confidence in Mr.. Gushing as a
public mani His antecedents are certainly
not such as to invoke trust or reliance
But then other men, as well as he, havo
performed political somersaults, without en-
tirely losing the popular confidence. There
siIs the gentleman, under the shadow Of the
massive honesty of tho Secretary Of the
Treasury. The face is smooth, beardless,
whiskerless oval in form, and slightly an
rular in profile. Underneath those half
dropping evelds are the windows Of hiS
soul. Look in. You cannot. The 81 lass
is not clear, or there is no light within.-
There is the difficulty. The gentleman is
not willing that you should see into those
chambers Of imagery The curtain is stu
diously drawn, and you strive IN vain to
read Mr.. Gushing through bis eyes. This
YOU soon feel and the next thought Is, that
his ability of concealment is more than
coual to his other abilities, which are con-
lessedIy great"
THE INMGRArIoN We learn from sew
eral persons who have Just arrived across
the plains, that the great bulk Of the immi-