Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-10
Visit of the President to the Great Eastern.


TO THE GREAT EAsrEEN-scESKs AND IScI-
DENIS ON BoARD-ToAsrs, SPEECHES, &c.
Co'-spondsnes Of TAe Star. = - -
On Board GREAT EAsrKRx,
2k O'Clock p m.-Aug. y, 1863.
The train bearing the President and his suite
arrived at the Annapolis junction about half past
% o'clock q. m. to-day, when there was a slight
delay on account Of having to change seats from
the Baltimore to the Annapolis train. Among
those accompanying the Presidents party, whom
inadvertently omitted to mention in nv first
letter, were Mr.. Trescott, Assistant and-Aetin
Secretary Of State; Col. Taylor, Assistant Com
missary General; Paynaster General Leonard, Of
the Army; Benz Ogle TayIoe, Esq, and lady,
twho, though political opponent of Mr. Bucb-
anan, being president of the Bell and Everett Asso
citation In your city, is nevertheless a warm per.
sonal friend Of his;) Mrs. Secretary Cobb, and
Col. Emory, Of the cavalry. All being comfort
ably seated In the Annapolis train, which con-
sisted of twenty-five cars, we moved of about
quarter to ten-the President and his party occu-
plying the last car, Annapolis was reached about
noon. Immediately on arriving at the depot, the
President was waited upon In the cars by Lieut.
Wood, and one or two other officers Of the Naval
Academy, and, after the usual salutation invited,
together with Miss Lane and Secretaries Toucey
and Prescott, to take seat In carriage which
had been provided for him, and proceed to the
residence of Capt. George 8. Blake, the esteemed
and efficient superintendent of the institution
The President expressed his thanks to the officers
for their kindness, but said that be would prefer
walking to the Academy, az the distance was not
great. 1t being insisted upon, however that be
should ride, he consented on condition that the
three eldest ladies in the party should have the
privilege of accompanying him. This announce
| ment caused considerable merriment. ipasmuch
az the ladies all shrank back and seemed 10th 10
accept Of the kind invitation. FINALLY however
party was made up, and the President drove
| slowly of, the others of the party following on
/ foot
On reaching the yard national salute of 81
| guns fired from the reyenue-cutter Allen.
| Capt. Sands, which at the slme time ran up the
Presidents Tag consisting Of piece of blue
bunting, with the same number Of stars are on
the American ensign) The superior band of the
| establishment also welcomed this distinguished
party with the Presidents March rendered in
| an admira BILE manner
The company was met In the ward nv Sunt
Blake, and escorted by him, after all had been
| introduced, to his residence, where they were re-
| ceived in hosptable manner by the worthyiady
oil ths superintendent, and most agreeably enter
tanned for up" ards of three-quarters Of an hour
1 w lille here the party awaited themselves of the
| excellent opportunity afforded of beholdiDD for
the first time, from tue eastern portco Of the
| building, the Great Eastern, as she Law ON the
broad bosom of the Chesa peake at a distance Of
| five miles. From this point il had the appearance
Of large island the masts ana boilers appearing
like so many leahess trees After this brief bnt
| pleasant relaxation the President in comnanv
| with superintendent Blake and one or two other
OF the Naval officers proceeded to the little pro-
| Pener Ahacosua, under the command of Lieut.
| L. Scott Fillebrowne, which was living at the
/ wharf at the foot Of the Academy z grounds AS
soon as the President and his party had embarked
on this small but exceedingly comfortable vessel
/ he was again saluted with 81 guns ffom the rev
| eHue cutter lying d short distance off The Ana
| costa steamed down the Severn towards the MAN.
| moth steamship, the view of the CHESAPEAKE
| whose waters were exceedingly calm and beau.
tiful and the rich scenery ON all sides stf,rding
| the greatest delight to the party
On approaching the Great Eastern the officers
OF that vessel as token Of recognition caused the
| American colors to be run up at the main
and a salute Of the number Of guns usual on sucb
occasions TO be fired. The Anacostis, after steam
lag twice slowly around her, approached the gang
| ~ay,wben she was made fast. CAPT Vine Han
Hoh. Capt. Carnegan, X. N, Mr. Gooch and
| others of the Board Of Directors of the Command
then appeared, and were formally introduced 10
each OF the party, when they were escorted nv
these gallant and gentemanIy officers 10 TIE mo-,
oeck, where they were welcomed by three en-
thuslastic cheers from the large crowd on board
lnumoeflng not less than eg hi thousand persons.
which caused a reverberation of sound unon tbs
bosom of the noble Chesapeake such as we think
In all probability has never been ex ne 4 snced r.
| Tore; Inc party was then conducted to every
portion OF the immense shi p, and as fun and sat
lsfactory explanation Of everything OWEN as ths
limited time admitted A ftsr a VERY thorongh
examination Of the vessel, the party was inyit-d
70 Pa.ahs o. asnmP'uous rePast provided by the
may as well state here for fear of forgetting II
tnd', on account Of unavoidable circninstanc,S
ms h1ceilenoy Gov Hicks, who was expected
70 De present on the vessel and receive the Presi
dent, was compelled to leave In the early train ~
ms morning for the West as much to kis own re-
gret as 10 others.
ToAsr TO THE President.
The party having amply discussed the many
good things 80 handsomely prepared for them
Capt Carnegan rose and said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: On occasions like the
present, when Sovereign or a President honor,
his subjects with his presence etiouelte forbid.
and custom sane ions the omiSs on Of any remarks
preliminary TO the toast. Honorinp therefor.
sne PRESIDENT OF the United States as We should
Sovereign, without further preface or Commend
invite you to drink the health Of the President on
the United states -
III at the table rose almost simultaneously, and
did as requested "-
ToAsT TO QUEEN vIcroRIA.
The President then rose and said:
Ladies ana Gentlemen: Ii affords me great
pleasure to offer to this company toast which I
Know Will De received with enthusiasm The
toast Is: To the illustrous sovereign and mos, o.,
eellent lady, Queen Victoria
his was drunk with enthusiasm
Dt. sake, Commissioners of Public Buildings.
proposed as a SENTIMENT The health ~ H.
officers OF the Great Eastern
CAPT. HALLS RESPONSE
CdPt hal: In response rose ana said
Mr. President, and lad es and gentlemen.
am very much Obliged to You indeed for your
kindness In honoring us with this visit and a.
cePting OF the humble attentions OF the osSos,,
and crew Of the Great Eastern AS one Of the
9mcers whom you have just seen proper 10 tos,t
feel II incumbent upon me to saw a WORD or t,,,o
III reply. 1t would be in very bad taste for me TO
aetaln you In this close atmosphere by the de.
hvery OF speech therefore will only saw. in
neha OF the ofhcers that in this our nrst visit 10
Inls great and NOBLE country, we have experienced
so much Kindness from the American people that
we snah certainly leave the country with a great
deal OF regret, and shall bear with us the Kind eat
remembrance, ,s, OF America For myself. I feel
toat my nautical career would have been vrrv
incomplete had it not embraced a visit Ia Amer.
lcai lapplausel and sincerely trust that this NAV
not be my last visit '-'' --'1f
The Presidents RESPONSE
said: 'e oilSefs,
Oentiemen: l cannot permit the remarks lust
MADE oy your senior officer to pass without
word OF reply. feel very much indebted to the
omceIs OF the Great Eastern for the kindness and
aaen,loh tney nave shown TO my party and to
myself ] should regret exceedingly III this was
tne last VISIT that Capt; Hall was 10 make to the