The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-30

then taken into custody for not moving on.
But here was no confusion Or disorder. Our
carriage reached the porch in It's turn, without
any clustering, swearing shouting, backing, or
other disturbance, and We dismOunted With as
much ease and comfort az though we bad been
escorted by the whole Metropolitan Force from
TO inclusive.
The suite of rooms on the ground floor were
lighted up, and military band was playing in
the hall. In the smaller dra wing room, The
centre OF a circle of company, we're the Presi-
dent ana his dAughter-in-aw, who acted as the
lady of the mansion; and very interesting,
graceful, and accomplished lady, too. One gen
teman who stood among this group appeared
to take upon himself he functions OF n m0ster
OF the ceremonies. saw no other officers or
attendants, and zone we're needed.
The great drawing-roOm, which l have
already mentioned, and the other chambers
on the ground.hooT were crowded to excess.
The company was not, IN our sense OF the term,
select, for it compTehended persons of very
many grades and classes; nor was there any
great display of costly attire; indeed, some of
the costumes may have been, for aught know,
erotesQue enough. But the decoIum and
propriety Of behavior which prevailed were
unproken by any rude or disagreeable incident;
and every man. even among the miscellaneous
crowd in the ball who we're admitted, without
any orders or tickets, TO look on, appeared to
ieel that he was part of the institution, aud
was responsible for its preserving a becoming
character, and appearing to the best advan-
tage
That these visitors, too, whatever their
station, were not without some refine.
ment of taste and appreciation of intel
lectual gtits, and gratitude TO those men
who by the peaceful exercise of great aDili-
ties shed new charms end associations upon the
homes OF their counuymen, and elevate their
character in other lands, was most earnestly
testified by their recep ION of Washington Irving,
my dear friend, who had recently been ap-
pointed Minister at the Court of Spain, and who
was among them that night IN his new charac.
ter for the first and last time before going
abroad. / SiOCprplv haliava that in oil ha od
ness OF American politics, few public men would
have been so earnestly devotedly, and affec-
tionately caressed as this most charming writer;
and have seldom respected public assembly
more than did this eager throng when saw
them turning with one mind from noisy orators
and officers of state, and tlocking with a gene
rous and honest impulse round the man of quiet
pursuits; proud in his promotion, as rejecting
back upon their country, and grateful TO him
with their whole hearts for the store of graceful
tances he had poured out among them. Long
may he dispense such treasures with unsparIng
hand!
The term we had assigned for the duration of
our stay in Washington was now at an end, and
we we were 10 3egln to travels for the railroad dis
tances we had traversed yet, in journeying
among these older towns, are on that great con-
tinent looked upon as nothing
| had at first intended going South-to
Charleston. But when / came to consider the
length of time which this journey would occupy
and the premature heat of the season, which
even at Washington has been often very trying,
and weighed, morever, in my own mind the
pain of living In the constant contemplation of
slavery, against the more than doubtful chances
of my ever seeing it. IN the time had to spare,
stripped of the DISCUSSES IN which it would GER
tainly be dressed, and so adding any item to the
host of acts already heaped together on the
subject, | began to listen to old whisperings
which had often been present to me at home in
England, when | little thought of ever being
here, and to dream again of cities growing up,
like palaces in fairy tales, among the wilds and
forests of the West.
The advice 1 received in most quarters,
when began to yield to my desire OF travel
ling towards that point of the compass, was,
according to custom, sufficiently cheerless !;
my companion beng threatened with
more perils, dangers, and dscomforts than
l can remember or would catalogue If could; {;
tut Uf which IL VIII Uv 5u1iUiont 90 ronaark th
blowiRgs-up in steamboats, and bTeakngsdown
in coaches were among the least. But having a
Western route sketched out for me by the best
and kindest authority to which could have
resorted and putting no great faith in these dis
couragements, soon determined on my plan of
action.
This was to travel South only to Richmond in
Virginia.; and then to turn, and shape our
course for the far West, whittier beseech the
readers company in new chapter.
ITO be contenued.1