The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-11-25
Special Correspondence Of The SIM.

THINGS ABOUT wAsHGNGToN--AN INTERVIEW
WITH THE rREsIDENT-THE PREsIDFNTs
OFFICE AND MS HOUsE-A CRADLE WANTED,
PRRBArs-TRADE WITH SOUTH CARoLISA-
REVIEW OF GENERAL SMITHS DIVISION.
Washington, Nov. 23i.
They are getting ready for the winter at the
White House, and notice some changes max.
ing there which will effect a decided improve
ment in the internal appearance OF the Prcsidcn-
tial mansion. magnificent carpet has just
been laid in the East Room, which is single
breadth Of nearly forty feet, woven upon north
of England loom, the only one in the world
equal to such work. 1t is of plain light pat
tern, quite similar to its prodcciS sor, but its
bran new aspect gives fresh lustre to the
Room, and brings out the colors OF the rich
green and gold papcrins Of the walls, as though
that too was now, which is possibly the case.
Feminine genius is evidently at work here as
well us in various other matters of cleaning and
renovating now being attended to in the Lincoln
household, giving tho head of the nation bit
of experience in the matter of house-cleaning,
from which all good husbands have periodically
to suffer.
Speaking of family matters, IL there such
thing az a cradle belonging to the White
House, or has the reign Of a bachelor President
banished all such suggestive bits Of furniture?
Rumor has it that there Is soon TO be a call for
one there, and from all can learn, APPEAR
anccs certainly warrant the report.
l had evidence Of the Executives love of a
joke at an interview with the President yester-
day, In relation 10 some matters connected with
the Port Royal expedition. Scarcely had the
party was with taken their seats when Mr.
Iinanlu aiartaI hia attendant n aaarph If has
last copy of Vanity Far, somewhere in Mrs.
| Lincolns ROOM aud when it came read 10 us
| with great delight the exclusive report, secured
for that veracious paper, Of the speech Of well
| come made 10 our officers visiting Beaufort by
! the. single representative OF the chiValry left
there. may add that the President expresses
| his strong approval of the cautious course pur-
sued thus far by our army under command Oh
| Gen. Sherman, at Hilton Head, in thoroughly
securing their present position before advancing
| to new cOnquests
The Office OF the President, in which we were
received, is in the second story Of the White
House, at the rear, overlooking the beautiful
| lawn, and with view Of the broad Potomac
| winding under the long bridge in the foreground,
/ and stretching away to the beautiful hills OF
| Virginia, fading of into the distance. Beneath
the window were a party of young girls in the
Presidential grounds, sitting under the shadow
of aclump OF tall trees, protecting them from
the heat Of the MONDAY sun, which in this lati-
tude has not yet wholly lost its power. An.
other youngster, evidently genuine Lincolnite,
was sailing about the room in a most independ-
ent manner, on a pair OF parlor skates, with one
eye hanlagcl, as though the trcachereus play
things bad already given him fall. MIR. LIN
coins Office is plainly furnished, with large
map Of Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and tn,
United States, hanging about the walls for ready
reference. The waiting-room adjoining is d
similar apartment, moro scanii'y furnish
cd, hung about with charts of the
coast survey, which with several plaster bust,
standing here and there. are distigured
by the pencil marks Of some tasteless
Nandal. In one corner stood long open box,
| with the cover addressed IN large letters ''Abra
ham Lincoln, President of the United States, Of
containing six feet Of rich plank, covered
ON both sides with sheet iron, and having
straps at the sides, as though intended "a
be carried as some sort Of shield probably tho
present OF AN oficious inventor.
| have observed the reports that Senator Sim
mons Of Rhode leland, Is about TO open a
trade with South Carolina, and CHANGING to
know precisely how much trsth there is in
them, will hero set the matter right. Mr..
Simmons is much interested in the question OF
securing the cotton discovered at Port ROYAL,
and is urging upon the Government the import
ancc OF taking some measures for this purpose,
and arrangements will no doubt be speedily
made to this end, and are indeed now actively
| ~ pl'HlA'Ns lNiH MUCH ~ true, nut " Is not
true that the Rhode Island Senator is about To
go South with a cargo of Yankee notions though
II is his purpose to speedily visit Port Royal on
sort of tour OF observation and inquiry, as near
as can learn.
most interesting review of Gen Smiths
division, at which hut few were present, occur
red yesterday afternoon, near townsville, over
10000 men participating
During the sham fight which closed the pro-
ceedings, the troops drawn up into line of bat
tie, kept up most vigorous and destructive
FIRE upon an imaginary enemy, and for short
| time the roar of the cannon and the sharp crack
Of small arms was quite exciting. To Judge
from the amount of noise made, the damage in
flicted upon the imaginary enemy must have
been fearful, our men escaping injury, except
ing one who fell from his horse during a cavalry
charge. The division showed to most excellent
advantage, and II the men stand as well to
their guns in the actual conflict, you can expect
a good account Of them. The day was clear and
beautiful, and the ground chosen Admiralty
adapted to such display, being the precise lo-
cation of an actual fight, which occurred not
long fince.
The Washington Repvblicdn has the follow
ing incident In Its account Of the Review yester,
day: Al