The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-05-24


The following letter was addressed by a
member of Congress to his wife, during the
administration of President John Adams. II
describes dinner at the Presidents House,
and gives a pleasing illustration Of the do
mestic economy of that period:
PHILADELPHIA, June 9th, 1797
Nh Dear Marta-I wrote you a few lines
Yesterday. and promised you long letter by
this days mail The grounds Of my promise
were, that having dined at the Presidents, |
certainly could not lack for materials to COM
pose q very handsome letter indeed, and one
of no small importance. Our House were so
earnestly engaged in debating the question
aohetEer a MN has right to defend hiDaself
qohea attacked By robbers or ossassins," that
We did not adjourn until after o'clock (the
hour at which we were to dine.) We there
fore. went straight from the House of Repre-
sentatives to the Presidents and were introdu-
ced by name to the President, who shook US
by the hand, and then he introduced us to
Mrs. Adams, who rose up to receive our bow.
We then sat down, and the waiter handed
round a glass of punch, which, permit me to
say, was very agreeable, after having sat for
five long hours, hearing a 0ery dry debate on a
very clear subject. In few minutes dinner
was announced, and one of the gentlemen
handed Mrs. Adams into the dining room
The President followed, and the company
followed him. Mrs Adams sat at the head
of the table, and the Secretary at the foot,
and the President sat at one side near the
middle. The company took their seats alto
gether promscuously, except that the Chap
lain of our House, who said grace, sat at Mrs.
Adams's right hand. Grace having been said
before we took our seats, we had nothing to do
but to attend to our business. But here it is
necessary to give a description of the bill of
fare, and the arrangement ofthe board; but
am very much afraid thatI shall not only be
inaccurate, but that | shall fail in giving a
brilliant and interesting description of this
important subject. As / wish, however, to be
as good as my word, shall attempt it. There
were about 20 persons ut table. The utensils
were only common blue china plates, glass
tumblers, and wine-glasses. The table was
decorated or garnished with glass stands. five
in number. On the two extremes were dishes
of only common lettuce or salad next to
these, towards the centre, at each end, was
piece of pastry work, resembling a large cake
baked in tin pan, and turned upside down
and decorated with rose buds just opening.
In the centre there was a large cake of the
same form, but it was incrustated on the out
side with a fine white frosted surface, spangled
with sugar plun1s in the shape of cooked hats,
radishes, dc.
The dishes were nine or ten in number viz,
at the head--a piece of beef "a mode at the
foot large roast pig, then, alternately, fish, a
leg ofmutton, tongue, boiled fowls, ham, corn
cd beef, a dish ofsn1all birds, chicken pie, and
perhaps two dishes more; cannot be certain
All these, however, were preceded by soup,
not calfs-head but common. The vegetables
were peas, salad, potatoes-new ones but very
small, cranberry sauce. The desert :-tarts,
custards, jellies, ice cream, blanc mango,
Strawberries, cherries, (yery poor,) raisins, al
monds, dc. And the wines Madeira and
Port
Mrs. Adams was very sociable, and helped
to carve, &c.The President carved the ham,
which was before him, and was very at
tentiye TO all his guests. After few glasses,
Mrs Adams Withdrew with her daughter, Col.
w S. Smiths wife, who said nothing that
heard all the time she sat at table. We drank
the United States, and then no toasts or senti-
ments, but did just as we pleased and took a
french leaUe when it suited. The President
told the gentlemen, as he saw them retire, that
there was coffee above, ifthey chose it. The
day was hot, and / believe but few went up. /
sat until there were but three or four left, and
then retired.