Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-07-03
time seems only to increase the freshness of its


The last time | saw General Washington wa,
in May, 1880, during the second session of thu
first Congress under the present Constitution
1t being held III New York, and the last which
was convened in that CITY, | was then in my
twenty-second year Ny brothcr-thc late Eli
jah Bo0rdman, afterwards, and at the time o
his decease, United States Senator from Con
Notwithstanding an excursion to New York,
accompanied him. in order TO see the city. which
had never visited, and to take u look at Con.
grcss. which had a g-eat desire to see in ses
sion. We arrived in the city on Saturday eve
ming. We agreed to 90 to the church the NJ xt
morning where we supposed the President would
attend. for the purpose of seeing him; though
we had both seen him while in command Of the
army, and my brother, indeed, many years old
er than myself, had served n campaign under hi,
orders. The President then resided i'll the cen.
tire house of what was called Mr.. Combs block,
on the western side Of broadway, between Trim
itv Churcn and the Bowling Green. To accom-
plish our object, VIC went first to the front OF
Trinity Church, intending towat there until the
Presidents carriage came up, and, if it stopped
there, to follow him in but if it went by, to re-
pair to St Paurs, knowing that he would at
tend service at one ofthem. When we reached
our proposed stand. we found large number
OF gentlemen occupying the ground doubtless
influenced by the same motives with ourselves
and hal already formed two lines reaching from
the church door to the middle of the street and
q few yards apart. The Presidents coach soon
came up, and stopped at the mouth of the ave-
nue. formed 10y the spectators. lie stepped out
OF il with his hat (such as he used to wear while
IN command the army in his hand. and walk
Ell through the bowing lines Of odmirug gnlcrS
with that gravely serene bearing and majesty Of
countenance such as. in my estimation, 10 other
face ever bore. lie was followed by Mrs. Wash
ingtOn, escorted by gentleman of the family,
and by the private secretary and lady. Ills
dress upon the occasion was precisely like Stu
art portrait of him, teXcept the sword In wit
black throughout silk stockings. and silver
buckled shoes his hair dressed in front just as
Stuarts portrait has it on the back it was en-
closed in black bag of silk shift such as in
those days the first magistrates of States often
wore. if favored with full and flowing head OF
hair. The entire costume was exceedingly
graceful and becoming. Our seats in the church
being remote from his we could only see that
he was very intent upon his prayer-book, and
possessed the air of sincere devotion.
Ii so happened that a Captain Clark, coast
er, from New Haven. Connecticut, boarded at
the same house with us in thc city, and from
him learned that he had been applied to to
carry the President out to good fishing-ground
in distant part of New York harhor where he
proposed to amusc and rccreate himself for a
day or two in fishing. He informed me that
he should take his vessel from the Fast River
around to the North River side, to a wharf di-
rectly in the rear of the Presidents house, and
there receive him on board--Greenwch street
not being then built upon. Determined to avail
myself Of another opportunity of seeing the
great object of my youthful admiration, | went
alone 10 the wharf indicated by Captain Clark.
and took my stand upon it. The President at
the appointed time came out at his hack door,
attended by some two or three OF his family and
q servant, and stepped ON board the vessel,
where he met with General Cadwallader, Mem
Der OF Congress from Pcnnsy ylvania, and one or
two other gentlemen who were to share in the
proposed amusement, with whom he conN erscd
for a few moments. while the vessel got under
way. Captain Clark having informed me that
he should remain out one night, and return in
the afternoon Of the second day, again kept
watch, and when | saw the vessel approaching
the city, rcSorted TO my former stand upon the
wharf, and again saw the President when he
came up to the wharf, leave the deck ofthe ves-
sci, and return to his house. heard some of
his conversation in this free and uurcstraincd
intercourse with his companions, but no circum-
stances could detract from his wonderful di.ni-
ty of manner and dcportmcnt. This close and
minute inspection only added to my previous
idea of his character. The tcncS of his voice
were deep and clear, and his smile peculiarly
winning and pleasant. afterwards asked Cap
tam Clark if the President was successful as Il
fisherman. "les," he said; 'aH Mc .fst raD,e
to his hook" Upon these occasions, he was in
very different attire from the one above de-
scrbcd. He wore round hat with very
large brim, light mulberry overcoat, with an
undefdrcSs of Il corresponding color. His hair
was in very long qteue, reaching to his waist
band buttons; and the ends of the hair below
the riband showed a sprinkling ofgray-a slight
one, though, for man of fifty eight.
| have thus, perhaps with tedious minutcness,
described the personal appearance of General
Washington at the last moment ever saw him.
except in the mental contemplation of his un-
dying glory.
i. S. There is fault in Suiart's portrait.
in representing his face too heshy, or, as Judge
Washington expressed it to me more than forty
years ago, "too fat" The best representation
of his looks that have ever seen is profile in
"Sparks' Life Of Washington" D. S. Il.