The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-06-11
The CelestiaIs nj the Tomb OF wash.
fuGtou.

The Ce1ostials nj the Tomp Oh wnsn'
ingtss.
The yenerated ground Of Mount Nernon-the
Mecca of America-where rest the bones and
ashes of the Father OF his Country, on the
banks Of the Iimpid Potomac, dear to the
heart OF every patriot and lover Of liberty, not
only to every American, but to the brave and
freedom-lovins sons OF every nation illumed
BY the light OF Gods SUM the shrine, too,
where the brave and the fair Of Americas chill
dren will wreathe In memory's tablet the lau-
rel with the rose, and immorteiiss over the grave
Of him who was arst In war, hrst In peace,
and arst In the hearts Of his eountrymen,"
presented yesterday the strange spectacle, but
none the lees Interesting one, Of being honofed
BIZ the presence of the sons Of the Celestial
Empire, who came from the distant Eastto
OFFER their tribute OF admiration and respect ct
the shrine Of the hsllowed and eonsecrated
burial place OF the far-famed and venerated
yirginisn. A wonderful sight, truly, to Wit
ness the sons OF Asia, disciples Of Confueius,
honoring the grave Of Washington, ten thou.
sand miles from their own howcry acme. But
to the matter OF fact narrative.
It was announced in yesterdays REFupLi-
CAN that Secretary Seward, of the Department
Of State, and Secretary McCulloch, OF the
Treasury Department, had placed at the ser
vice Of the Chinese embassy the revenue cut.
ter Northerner, Capt. s. MCGOWAN, to visit
Mount Vernon, on yesterday. At the ap.
pointed hours O'Clock, p. m.-the members OF
the embassy and invited guests were promptly
aboard, and at the word Of command the cut
ter cast her moorings from the wharf, and At
the tingling Of the bell the Northerner sped
down the Potomac like thing Of life on the
surging and dancing waters. The party on
board consisted Of His Excellency, Anson Bur.
| iingame and lady, ENJOYS, secretaries and In
terpreters OF the Chinese embassy Hon. Hugh
McCulioch, Secretary Of the Treasury Mrs.
| II, McCulloch, and Miss Marie Louise McCul-
loeh; Col. r. s. Chiffon, State Department,
lady, two daughters and son; Prof. Henry
Barnard, Commissioner Of Education, and son;
Capt. Dolliver,. revenue service, Boston; H.v.
o'Conner, New York Herald J. p. Foley, New
York Tribune; b. De Randolph Keim, New
| York Herald; II. J. Ramsdeli, Boston Journaij
James Z. Taylor, Frank LssIie's IHusiraied
He,cs; W. B. shaw, Boston Journal; J. Nc
Fariand, Philadelphia Telegraph; Capt. John
Me9owan, Lieut.. Q. T. Chase, Lieut.. 7. X
Traves, Lieut.. J. II. Rogers, Chief Engineer
J. J. Roberts, Assistant Engineer J. NJ. Dex
| ter, Assistant Engineer Geo. NJ. Robinson, oil
the revenue cutter Northerner.
| In about an hours run the Northerner ar
rived out opposite Mount Vernon, and as she
drew too great depth Of water to run up along
side Of the wharf, the excursion party were
landed In boats. As Chief Tain jumped into
the boat his queue was dipped into one OF old
Neptune's tears, and It was with much inter
est we witnessed the particular solicitude with
which he wiped It dry. Upon landing, the party
proceeded Immediately to the tomb OF George
Washington and the old mansion. At the
tomb, the Interpreters explained to the en-
bassy the interesting features about 1t, ant
also the old mansion. At the latter place the,
were received BY Mrs. Pamilia Cunningham
Regent OF the Ladies' Mount Vernon associa
ton, who took pleasure In enlightening then
upon many interesting "reminiscences in con
nection with the mansion and the Washington
family. All were amazed when informed b.
the Interpreters that the Envoys were well In
formed Of Washington and his history In thei
own country, In fact, the Chinese know NOR,
about our country and Its affairs than WI
know Of theirs. We question II one out Of I
hundred Americans can tell whether Con
fucius was butcher boy or prize-hshter; or tn
present Emperor Is black or white, man o
boy, married or single, or when he Aseende
the throne Of the Celestial Empirei
The Embassy supplied themselves profusel
with photographs Of the tomb and the mansio
from various points. After viewing tn
grounds fully, the Embassy got aboard on tn
return home. While the party were at Mour
Vernon an elegant repast had been pr
J pared In recherche style, to which ample ju
tice was done by all on board. The Celestial
"went into" the ham, tongue, cake, strawbe
ries, ice cream, and champagne with as niue
gusto as their more practiced brother in gal
Economical arts.
After the dcjunair the Celestials were KEEP
busy writing their autographs as usual. Cap
MCGOWAN fred of two shells for their gratif
cation and delight, and as they passed Fort
Foote and Washington they were honore
with a salute from the guns Of the post
When the Northerner was passing Fort Wasl
ingtou a beautiful rainbow encircled the he
iron and the nag Of the free and the brav
went down tat sun set) glittering In the daw
of Gods "promise of hope" Thus ended on
OF the most pleasant affairs we have ever bee
on and they have not been few.