Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-09-26
RICHMOND WHIG.
"rHE REPUBLICAN COURT" DESCRIBED by
THE LATE GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE
GUSTS.
1 IKlom ne NctionaI I.f,lIig,r,,r-

from the National IsfslfigsHcer1
Observing in the New York Journal of tioy,uerc,
lev days ago. some complimentary aluons to the late
George Washington Parkc Gusts of Arlington we were
remi.ded that we had in our possession unpublished
contribution from bis pen In relation the social hah-
tndes which prevailed st our "Republcan Court" in the
days Of the First President As these "Reminiscences
may be deemed TO have received interest the
death OF their writer has prcneJ the hope of any ad
dtonal communications such our readers were an.
hualy favored with on the ssd of February during the
life of Mr. Cuss have concluded no longer TO with
hold from them the last contribution penned 10y "the
child OF Mount Vernon"
rhE REPUBLICAN coURr IS Tus rinsr PRrsf-
DENT.
The Presidential Mansion in Philadelphia was the pro
pery of Robert Morris aud had been the
ofSir William Howe, during the occupation Of Philade
pha by the British army in l7777S. The situation
eligible, being in an airy aud pleasant the city
with considerable or open space adjoining IL con.
iiguous to the public budings Considerable additions
aud Improvements were made the original building
wth view 10 Its accommodation of the Presidents
household; still the small aud the whole e.
abishment but indferentIy fitted for the purposes re-
qurcd.
for, the sabng for twelve horses being extensive and
commodous, and the coach-honses large and convent
cnt
washingtons unmitigaicd un,riug employment and
labor made it necessary tat he should have some mode
OF public reception for the many yisiters who were
continually seeking opportunities of paving their
the "'"''
PRESIDENTS LEvEE
on Tuesdays commencing at three and ending at four
O'Clock At these receptions there shaking of
hands the Chief receiving his visitors rs President of the
nited states aud not ten. Washington The foreign
Ministers eyee in full costume and often
troduced persons of distinction from their respective
countries. All strangers of distinction embraced the ot-
pornnity of the evee pay their respect. To the Chief
Magistrate The President was plainly but Handsomely
dressed, his hair in full powder and wearing tres.
sword He was attended by his principal secretary Mr.
Lear, by Maj Jackson and the other gentlemen of his
ianily. He addressed few words of courtesy TO The
MeIe nrp-a ted
formed in groups for conversation and the stroke of
four o'clock retired, the levee being at an end
DRAWING ROOM
When Mrs. Washington received company IL was on
Friday commencing about seven and ending about ten
o'clock. Two rooms thrown open The furniture
that thought handsome in those days would be con
sidered barely decen, in modern times The principal
ornsment glass chandelier in the largest room
burning wax lights. The chair of the lady of the Pre-
stent was plain chair lined with green morocco
leather.
The ladies visiting the drawing room were alwavs At
tended 10y gentiemtn. Ii the habit for very
young grs to be present At the drawing room but only
those oil the age when It ia proper for ladies 20 into
company. Upon the ladies being introduced tbey ver
seated and the President who always attended the draw
ing rooms passed round the circle paying his respects to
each IN succession, and IL common remark among
the chit chat OF the drawing that the Chief was no
ineonsiderabe judge Of female beauty snce he was oh
served to try longer than usual when paving his com
dephia in that time.
kefreshments handed round by servants in live
~ and about that period hrst appeared the luxury now
so universal of ice cream luiroduciious TO eminent
personages and conversations of the drawing room,
Cards were altsgciher unknown.
But the leading and most imposing feature of the draw
ing room was the men of mark the "Reyolutonares'
both civil and military who to be seen there The
od ocers delighted 10 pay their respects to the wife of
Washington, and TO caI up the "reminiscences of Tho
headquarters and of the 'mes that tried mems souIs
lhcss glorious old cheyaers the greatest Bsas OF
the age and the recollection OF their acknowledgements
together with their elegant manners made them acepta
BILE TO the ladies everywhere They formed the ellie of
the drawing room. General Wayne, the renowned
Mad Anthony, with his aids-de-camp, Lewis aud De-
Butts, frequently attended, with Mifn Walter Stewart
Colonel Hartley and many Others. Indeed there was
often TO be met WITH the mansion of the First Pres
dent an assembage of intellect aud honor public virtue
aud private worth exalted merit and usrious services
such as the world will never again.
Among the foreign officers of distinction visitors of
tue drawng.room the Vicomte de Noailles of the
French, and Major Beekwth, of the British armies
There was no etiquette in the drawing room simplici.
~ with dignity prevailed. There all was afabity with
the polite and elegant manners of that distinguished ace
One privilege alone existed The seat next TO the Pres
dents lady was always occupied by Mr. Robert Morris
This was no matter of arrangement but yielded TO
the excellent lady by consent In those infant
days of the Republic great mans merits were pretty
generally graduated by the estimation in which he was
held by the beloved Chief Now il was perfectly well
known 10 ancient days that, of all Revolutionary
worhics, none-no not one was nearer and dearer a.,
the heart Of the Chief than Robert Morris His inyau
ble services the of American independence at
periods when had neither a coin in our treasury nor
credit To obtain one freshly remembered ia the old
time aud claimed for the nancier of the RevoIutnn
the title OF public beueitrt1r.
Such was the Republican Court In the DAYS Of Wash.
lngton Dgnhed ia IT. simplicity, imposing from the
grandeur OF it, associations it shed lustre upou that
renowned era OF our eary history when America hav-
ing consunmated her great experiment OF sefgovern-
nent gave her example TO other nations and an empire
20 the world.