Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-07-21

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Tennessee, short time after his election. and
before his departure from the Hermitage to
Washington. The absence Of any presiding
lady, and the peculiar situation of the Presi-
dent in his domestic relations, rendered the
White House gloomy and unattractive in the
early part Of General Jackson's Presidency
But his adopted son and private secretary, An
drew Jackson Donelson, having married lady
of Tennessee, Mrs. Donelson received comma
ny at the Presidential mansion for the whole
or part of General Jackson last term.
When Mr.. Van Buren, succeeded Gen. Jack
son as President in March, 1887, he had been
widower about nineteen years. He had
married in l800 Miss Hannah Hoes, of Co
lumbia County, N. Y, and that lady died in
1918, leaving to her husband four sons. AL
though there was no lady to preside at the
White House, when Mr.. Van Buren, entered
it as President, yet it was opened periodically,
as had been the custom, to the public, and the
honors of dining parties and drawing rooms
were performed by the President with his we'll
known tact and politeness. He always pro-
duced the most favorable impressions on stran-
gers of both sexes to whom he was introduced.
During his Presidential term, his son, Major
Abraham Van Buren, married daughter of
Colonel Singleton, of South Carolina, and that
lady, for brief period, presided at the draw
ing rooms.
During the brief month in which General
Harrison occupied the Presidency, his wife re-
mained at his residence at North Bend, Ohio.
He left one son and three daughters, all liv-
ing at or near North Bend His female rela-
tives, who were present in the executive man.
sion, at the time of his decease, were Mrs.
William Harrison his sons widow, and Mrs.
Taylor, of Richmond, his neice.
The family of John Tyler, who succeeded
Gen. Harrison, in April, 1841, consisted of
his wife, three sons and three daughters
The maiden name of Mrs. Tyler, was Letitia
Christian. She was a daughter of Robert
Christian of Virginia, who was married to
Mr.. Tyler in 1913. She was a lady much es-
teemed for her many social virtues. 1t was
but seldom that she was seen in society at
Washington, on account of her i'll health, and
she died in that city in September, 1912. Her
daughters, and Mrs. Robert Tyler, who was a
daughter Of the late Thomas A. Cooper, Ira
gedian, Of New York, received company at
the White House. In June, 1874, President
Tyler was married at New York; to Miss Ju-
lia Gardiner, danehfer Uf taa s. Honorable
David Gardiner, of this city, lady much ad-
mired by an extensive circle of friends and ac-
quaintances, for her beauty, accomplishments
and amiable character. During the season in
which she presided at the White House she
attracted great attention by her polite and
conversational powers, which had long given
her high rank in the fashionable circles of
New York and other cities
The wife of President Polk was highly
accomplished lady of Tennessee, celebrated
for her beauty and pleasing manners, as well
as for her Christian virtues Her drawing
rooms at the White House were among the
most brilliant and attractive which have ever
been held there; and her concluding levee, on
the 1st Of March, l849, was perhaps the most
splendid assemblage of ladies and gentlemen
which has been seen in this country, not less
than five thousand persons, it was. believed,
being present on the occasion. Many Of these
had come to Washington to witness the inau-
guration Of Gen. Taylor, on the 5th Of March,
1849. When a lieutenant in the U. S. Army.
Gen. Taylor married Margaret Smith, Of Ma
ryland, sister Of the late Major R. S. Smith,
of the Marine Corps. Their children were
one son and three daughters; the youngest Of
the latter married Colonel Bliss, Of the army,
and, on account of the delicate health of her
mother, Mrs. Bliss did the honors of the White
House. She was lady much admired by all
who saw her, as she was highly esteemed by
the circle of her acquaintance Lady Emme-
line Stuart Wortley, who visited this country
in l849, says of the President and his daugh-
ter g" General Taylor received us most kind
ly. He had two councils to preside over that
morning; and when we first arrived at the
White House he was actually engaged in an
extra session of council (the cabinet)-in Short
overwhelmed with business Mrs. Bliss, the
charming daughter of the President, was in the
drawing room when we first wo4t in. Mrs.
Taylor has delicate health, and does not do
the honors of the Presidential Mansion. Mrs.
Bliss received us most cordially and courteous
ly, saying her father would come as soon as
his presence could be dispensed with Pres
emily after, the President made his appearance:
his manners are winningly frank, simple and
kind, and though characterstically distinguish
ed by much ghtforwardness, there is not
the slightest roughness in his address. There
was quick, keen, eaglelike expression in the
eye, which reminded me little of the Duke Of
Wellington.
| was quite sorry when the time came for
us to leave the White House. The President
insisted most courteously on conducting us to
our carriage, and, bare-headed, he handed us
in, standing on the steps till we drove off, and
cordially reiterating many kind and friendly
wishes for our prosperous journey, and health
and safety"
The advent of Mr.. Fillmore to the Presiden-
cy, on the death Of Taylor, in July, 1850, add