The New York herald., 1861-12-18

the occasion and crowded around him as though he
snow" and hal not to pay his respects to the
Commander. in Chief
py unt Vi perseverance the general with Mrs McClel
ian leaning on his arm reached President and Mrs.
Lincoln, where quite a lively occurred. The
President grrsped the general with both hands,
saying, MY dear general, am glad TO sec
you and Mre Mcclellan" The President then conducted
Mrs Mcclellan to Mrs Lincoln and the four joined in
versaton TIE cordiality manifested by the President
and the Generals in Chief towards each other gives the lie
10 the repeated assertions that there not perfectly
COCO understanding between them and that the forme
does not have confidence in the latter.
Mrs. Mcclellan was new star in the Presidential man.
sion and shared the honors with Mrs Lincoln with a
modest grace and dignity that won her hosts OF ad-
mrerers She is Of medium height and fno form.
Her eye ia hazel, splendid and speaking Her face
Is not what sickly stripping fresh from
college would call handsome, but beams with gentle
ness, affection, intelligence and determination Mrs.
Mcclellan was modesty but richly attired She retired
with the General at an early hour
Secretary Cameron Smith and welles and ladies' were
present also Assistant Secretaries Scott OF the War De-
partment, and Seward, Of the State Department with
their ladies'
The great fact which marked tho levee with some
degree Of importance, and which may hereafter be quoted
as significant is, that the Ministers Of England France
Spain and Prussia did not appear at the levce but the
Ministers of Russia Sweden, Bremen and Nicaragua
were present and tho Russian Minister especially
cordial IN his conversation with The President. The mis-
ceianeous company was quite brilliant and numerous.
The Presidents house once moro the appear
anco Of comfort and comparative beauty Two coats Of
Pure white paint the outside renew its right TO be
designated tho " White House, The Interior during
nct civ The bac x,a1aap al and
almost entirely yreoTnamented Very little new furniture
has been introduced much Of the old yet subsan-
ai having been procured in the time Of Monroe and is
not only valuable that account really very hand
some from its que style Much Of this old furniture
however has been rcvarnshcd and the chairs have been
cushioned and covered with rich crimson satin brocate
tuftcd and laid in folds on Ne backs rendering modern
appearance. Upon entering the great East Room two
prominent things strike the oyc--the paper the walls
and the carpet the floor. The Grst Partisan style
OF heavy velvet cloth paper Of crimson garnet and gold
II gives massive appearance to the room, and Is quite
rich In The daytime rather dark; but when tho
soft light Of the great chandeliers umnates the ii
doveopes its full richness and harmonizes shade
The carpet Is an ingenious piece of work, not
because Of its rich quality exquisite design,
but because OF the fac, that ii piece and
floor ng hundred feet long and forty eight
feet wide There is nothing 1ashy extrayagant about
its appearance. Tho admiration OF tho behoder
suddenly excited by view Of the whole surface, in
genously and beautifully are the various figures and
colors harmon2ed. II is like constellation Of stars
where the beauty OF is lost in the combined
grandeur Of the whole II is very heavy Administer,
with three medalons gracefully arranged into grand
medallion As walk its velvet surface from
tre to sides, or from to corner the most
chaste and beautiful surprises of vases wreaths and
bouquets Of flowers and fruit peces!excte love Of
true art The carpet in its mechanical construction
well as in its artistic design, is wonder. 1t made
Glasgow Scotland upon the only loom existing in the
world capable Of weaving so large. Mr. W. H. Carry
Of Philadelphia, went TO Europe and after examining va
rous patterns different ctes including Paris and Lon
don, proceeded TO Glasgow and designed this His mis-
sion
Tho next attractive features among the ornamental In
the East Room the curtains and drapery at tho eight
windows. The inner curtains Of the richest white
needle wrought Lace made in Switzerland. Over these
and suspended from gold gilt cornlces French
orocates, trimmed with heavy gold fringe and
tassel work The embrace curtain PIN at the side OF
each window is Of sod brass and covered gold gilt
The design is cominglng Of banners, arrows swords,
anchor chain, &c, in,erwoven behind tho American
shield upon the front Of which is raised figure eagle
Opposite the great east window Of the the door
appearance Of the great East Room this
been crained with lace and crimson brocate trimmed
with gold fringe and tasse to match the window opposite
The eight mirrors the East Room the that have
been there for years Passing from the East Room en-
tie Green conversational II has been newly
papcred carpeed and curtaned and greatly improved.
Next the Blue or Presidents reception This is
tho only room, when Mr.. Buchanan left the house.
that was very well furnished. new carpet has been
placed upon the floor; otherwise the is the
condition il when Mr.. Lincoln took possession.
Next we to the Red Room This is properly Mrs.
Jinco!ns reception room. Everything in it
ceptth splendid old painting Of Washington. The fine
pictures OF Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and other
members OF the royal family, presented to
the President Of the United States for the Pre-
sdentia Mansion by the Prince OF Wales, that
hung upon the walls Of this room, are missing.
learn that they were removed TO Wheatand with Mr.
Buchanan. He also took away from the White House
large number of Chinese japanese curioscs intend
cd upon presentation for the mansion All these
missing Nevertheless, under the general direction of
Mrs Lincoln 10 whose excellent good taste chiefly
indebted the beautifyng Of tho Presidents House,
this room not need those pictures II model Of
elegance and modesty combined The most per.
feet harmony prevails throughout. The sofas,
chairs &c. covered with rich crimson brocade satin
The guests room, now known as tne PrlHce OF Walcs
room since that youth occupied IT, has been thoroughly
ornalnented refurnished The carpet is beautiful
Wilton The paper is light tinted purple with golden
figure OF a tree in bloom The principal fca
ture Of the the bed. It is eight feet wide and
nine feet long solid rosewood The sides cushioned
and covered with purple figured satin The head board
is piece of rich carved work, rising eight feet
above the bed, and having oval top. Twenty
feet above the floor, overspreading the whole, is
magnificent canopy from the upper carved work Of which
the drapery hangs in elegant folds being in the form OF
crown, the front or4anent upon which is the American
shield with the Stars and Stripes carved thereon The
drapey is rich purple satin fringe, and otherwise
namented with the finest gold lace Tho carved work
adorned with gold gilt. The curtains to the
made Of The finest purple satin damask and trimmed 20
correspond with the canopy The centre table is Of sod
carved rosewood is quite costly and exceedingly beau.
tful.
The private apartments OF Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln
more modestly butsvery beautifully ornamented and
furnished. The Presidents library is chastey and not
extravaranty rournished. Green the color that pro-
dominates in this room Tho where the Cabinet
eengs are held and where the President is usually
be found is very neatly papered but should be better
furnished al the furniture Is exceedingly old, and is