The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-06-27
correspondence,
Extract Of a letter, dated:

correspondence.
Extract Of letter, dated:
WEST PorNr, N. Y, June IL, 80.
Dear Sir Il wrote you from New York
week ago yesterday. just after had done
SO, John Van Buren, called to take me to
Judge Roosevelts, where spent the evening
delightfully."-. Miss Harriet Lane was there,
on a visit to Mrs. Roosevelts, and some
twenty or more other persons were present
among them the Swedish Minister to this
country, and Frank Waddell, an old friend,
who had not seen for thirty years, &C., &c.
Miss Lane invited me to join small party
who were coming up here the next day, on
the pretty little war ship bearing her name
recently returned from Paraguay. They
authorized me, furthermore, to invite Kerr,
Of North Carolina, and Page, of Mississippi
(members of our Board, and choice spirits)
who were with me in New York. Chas. j.
Faulkner, of Virginia, stopping at the same
house with us, was invited by Schell, Collec-
tor of the Port. We four went on the ship
(which was lying out some distance) in row
boat. The day was delightful and we en-
ioyed it exceedingly. The party was small
mot more than thirty or forty in all-and
we had a glorious time.
The 'sHarriet Lane" tricked out in her
gala dress, with flags and signals all flying,
was a sight worth seeing! The music and
the booming of the guns were most exciting.
The shores Of the Hudson, with hundreds Of
beautiful seats along them, never appeared to
better advantage. No ship of-war had gone
up the river as far as West Point for many
years before, and she consequently was an
object of no little curiosity, as woll as ad-
miration. She ran up to near Newburgh
then turned and came down to the lower land
ing. Miss Lane of course received much at
tention here-and the visit of those OF the
party on her name-sake passed off most agree
| ably.
During last week, besides the daily routine
of the examination, we have had military ex-
ercises every day-many of them entirely
new to me, and highly interesting. This
house (Roe's, or the West Point Hotel) a.
well as Cozzens is all the time full of visitors
who come and 60. daily-thus making it /
| scene of constant excitement.
| Every thing is greatly improved since Iva
last here. Many more branches are studio,
and all. think, mora thoroughly. Nearl
all the buildings are new, since my last yisi
and many of them very beautiful. If Their
is any more charming spot in the world thai
West Point have yet to see it.
have met, of course, u great many oil
friends here-Mahan, Bartlett, Church, Hu
J ger, and score or more Of others, wit
whom | have found my associations mos
agreeable.
On Saturday dined over the river wit
Gov. Kemble, who is rich bachelor; has
! very pretty place-and lives as gsntlema
0 ought to ltUe. No fuss nor ceremony but
glorious dinner, with superb wines, card
billiards, &c.-and every thisg Stree an
q easy" Gen. Scott was Of the party, with M
han, Bartlett, Huger, and some half dost
others. After dinner had the. satisfa cte
/ of "beating the first Captain Of the age'-
course by sheer good luck-at q game
. whist, at which he seemed d--bly annoye
! We returned over the river, in row bo
after ten O'Clock at night old Scott with U
He is as full of talk as ever-very agreeab
and instructive.
: We shall adjourn either tomorrow or ne
}, day-after which will visit my friends al
u relatives along the Hudson.
It ia very cold here-.hc creates. d-aI
back on my visit. We have fires nearly eve
% day. A majority Of my fellow members
J. the Board are gentlemsn-in the true sen
y Of the word-and most intelligent and agre
! able ones. Yours truly, v. P. v.
ID rTGov. Willard, OF Indiana, refuses
! sanction the decision of the Penitentia