The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-05

I
est danger OF being punished by law.
Renaiatscssees Of Wsshlas atom.
The subjoined extract Of a letter from
Rev. DR.. Ashbel Green long time Presi-
dent of Princeton College and one OF the
early Chaplains Of Congress, has jus, been
published
After great deal of talkipg, and writing,
and controversy about tue permanent scat
OF Congress, under the present Constitution,
ii was determined that Philadelphia should
be honored with its presence for ten years
and afterwards its permanent location should
be in the city Of Washington, where il now
is. In the mean time the Federal City was
building, and l,he Legislature Of Pennsyl.
vana voted sum Of money to build house
for the President, perhaps with some hope
that this might help to keep the seat Of the
General Government In the capital, for
Philadelphia was then considered as the
capital oi the State. What WAS lately the
University OF Pennsylvania was the struc-
ture erected for the purpose. But as soon
us NItu w asuiiIktOu bn ttS uiuNuSluus, bUu
u good while before it was finished, he let it
be known that be would not occupy, and
should certainly not 20 to the expense of
purchasing suitable furniture for such a
dwelling for il is 10 be understood in those
days ol stern Republicanism, nobody thought
Of Congress furnishing the Presidents
house or if perchance such thought did
enter into some aristocratic head, il was too
unpopular TO be uttered. President Wash.
ington, therefore rented house Of Mr.. Rob-
srt Morris, in Market street. between Fifth
and Sixth streets, en- the south side, and
furnished IL handsomely, but not gorgcously
There he lived with Mrs. Washington, Mr..
lear, his Private Secretary, and his wife,
aud Mrs. WashiDgtons grandson, Gusts,
making part o. the family. Young Gus
ts had a private tutor employed by the
President, who was engaged to atteud on
his pupil one hour in the winter mornings,
before breakfast, and who then commonly
breakfas,ed with the President and his
family. The President ate Indian cakes for
breakfast, and after the Virginia fashion, a.
though buckwheat cakes were generally on
the table.
Washpgtons dining parties were enter
tanned in a very handsome style. Ills
weekly dining day, for company, was
Thursday, aud his dining hour was always
four o'clock in the afternoon. His rule was
TO allow five minutes for the variation Of
clocks and watches, and then 20 on TO the
table, be present or absent whoever might
He kept bis own clock in the hall, just with
10 the outward door, and always exactly
regulated. When tagging members OF Con.
gress came in, as they ofisn did, after the
guests had sat down 10 dinner, the prcsi-
dents only apology was Gentlemen, Tor
sir,) we are too punctual for you, ] have Q
cook who never asks whether the company
has come, but whether the hour has come.
The company usually assembled in the
drawing room about fifteen or twenty min.
utes before dinner, and the President spoke
to every guest personally on entering the
room. He was always dressed in suit OF
black, his hair powdered. and tied up in
queue behind, with a very elegant dress
sword, which he wore with inlmtabe grace
Mira Washington ofteD, but not Away,
dIDed with the company, sat at the head oi
the table, and il, az was occasionally the
case, there we're other ladies' present. they
sat al the foot of the table, and we're ca
pected to lie quietly attentive 70 oil the
guesu.
The President himself sat halfway from
the head % the foot OF the table. and on
that side be would place Mrs. Washington.
though distant from him, Oh his right haDd
lie Always, unles clergyman were preseD,
at bis own table, asked blessing 10 stand /
ing posture. II clergyman were pre@n,
be sas requested both 70 ask blessing and
10 return thanks after dinner. The centre .
d the table contained five or sx large silver (
Or plated walters, those u the ends circular /
or rather oval on one side, 20 a. to make the 1
arrangement correspond with the oval shape /
Of the table. The walters between the end .
pieces were in the form Of parrslleloyrsm.
the ends. about ooe third part Of the length
Of the sids and the whole Of tLese waters
were flIed With alabaster figures, taken
from the ancient mythology, bu, nope ~
them snch 90 " offend, in the smaIe., D.
gree agsins, dellcacy. On the outside 0i
tbe oval formed by The WATERS were placed
the various dishes, always without cover,
and outside the dishes were the plates a
small roll Of bread, ebcloeed 10 q napkin.
vS laid by the AIDE of each plate. The
President, il ]. bIieye1 generally dibed 20
0ne dsh, and ths, Of simple kind n
Oferei something eihe' 10 the hrs, of -ec.
Ond co1rs which Wa very rich, hs s.aal
RI ; va That j. tOo good for M lie
had .!vef plot cap ~ m1g o' beer placed
by hs plate which b. drank vhie diring
H. bDG ote glas u wre darmy dinnef.
ALd cDnm1EIy ODe alter lie ueL rC,.fri
'i.s .s4i,a having gOoe liile t,iore lin.
ani 30 Lis scrs'Ary ~ sGIsrin,erd - "a.
1 J. u.L-- IL. a L. N.a.t.... II I--.-..--- IL