The Washington union., 1858-02-10
Ex-PREsIDENT PIERCE AND LADY.

We find in the New Hampshire Patriot very inter
esting letter dated Funchal Island Of Madeira Decem
Der 30 1857 from which extract the following notice
of President fierce and his nestimabe lady who were
passengers with the writer board the United States
steamship Powhatan for that island whittier the ex
President has jouneyed for the benefit Of Mrs Pierces
health. The writer says: ~. @
1t will he gratifying to the numerous friends Of Mrs
Pierce for indeed have yet to learn who not learn
that she bore the voyage with surprising ortitude and
though prostrated some days by rough sea- rallied
again. and reached Madeira in good health as when
she left the United States For considerable part of
the passage she walked the deck daily and with SO firm
and elastic step to SURPRISE as well as CRAFTY
those who knew her exceeding delicacy and fraty.
She seemed to enjoy the scenery, and the
movements OF tho ship, and the drill and muster of
the men and when on the Sabbath morning she woke
up breathing the balmy air Of Madeira the church bells
softly pealing upon her eas and the proud mountains
and picturesque scenery bursting upon her eyes, her p
its instantly rallied and the next day she established her
self IN her new home and most charming it is
Devoutly is it to be hoped that lady Of many
highest and best qualities of the head and heart and Of
whom human voice spoke but in praise and even
that panied her. may receive all that benefit this
admirable climate which her friends anticipate Should
her health be improved by winter residence here Gen
Pierce proposes visiting Spain and Italy in the summer
and may indeed protac his travels the continent
yond year.
need not say that the presence of Gen Pierce added
much to the interest of the passage Leaving the Pres
dent at Washington, and taking with him only his
manhood he all hearts by his coresies and atten-
tons, mngling freely with the officers equal and
visiting the sick regularly the physician When he
left, the highest military honor was shown him The
yards all manned the marines drawn up under arms
and the men stationed at the immense guns while the
band, in their red Jackets ready to strike up the
music. Arn-n arm the General and Mrs Pierce walked
to the gangway, where Capt Pearson's boat awaited
them when Gen. Pierce suddenly stopped turned about
and uncovered and addressed both officers and men in
one of the netes most pertinent and eloquent speeches
which, ms the officers confessed, they ever heard.
Captain Pearson briefly and sensiby replied in behalf Of
himself and his felow-oficers; and when the boat
fairly under way, the guns roared such thunder
never heard terrible without thundcrbolts and
bullets The reverberatons from the mountains, the
peaks and the immense gorges admirable rolling
about, and upwards and backwards and interrningling
till it could not be told from whence they started the
whole mountain seemed to shake. Reaching the shore
carriage awaited them like the top of old stage let
down upon equally old wood.sIed and drawn by a
yoke Of oxenl Such the only carriages in Funcha
and in Of them the late President of the United
States and his fair and honorable lady entered nothing
doubling, and conducted to their paatial home