The New York herald., 1869-05-06
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
Return of Collector Grinncll from WASH
ington-Tae Weekly Levee at the CoIlec'
Io,,o.,. A0lca

Return of Collector Grinnell from Wash.
ington-Tac Weekly Levee mt the COIlec-
Iector's Onice.
Yesterday morning Collector Grinnell, having re-
turned from Washington, repaired, as is his ''cus
tom' OF late TO his oice in the big granite mauso-
leum in Wall street, whence Uncle Samuel draws so
large proportion Of his salary. Probably no gen.
Jeman in this city has for months past been awaited
with such anxious yearnings, after an absence OF
couple OF days only, as was Mr.. Grinnell yesterday
and 1t must have been intensely gratifying to
HIM to ind SO many friends all with good charac-
tiers, amply endorsed, bristling from their pockets
lounging about the approaches to his office, and ex
pressing anxiety as to the state Of his health
the equanimity OF his temper, &c. With his usual
good-natured resignation he took his seat and pre-
pared for the reception yesterday, being the occa
sion OF what Is known as the COLLECTORS weekly
levee." The doors were opened and the eager vis
tors were politely bowed into his apartment; ana
after smiling their prettiest and looking imposing,
honest, energetic and trustworthy, they in turn
fumbled their coat skirts for their credentials Large
solled and crumpled envelopes were produced, and
the documents contained therein were submitted TO
the Collector, with an intimaion that II he wanted
good, faithful clerk inspector, gauger or, In fact,
''a man OF all work. }" that dnpretentlous individual
was at that moment confronting him. Indeed, every
VISITORS face seemed to bear the inscription 81 am
your man. to dot, Mr.. Collector ~ After inspecting
their papers the Collector usually addressed few
words OF inquiry and encouragement to his callers,
and with "high hopes and beating hearts" the
aspirants 10 the government service donned their
hats and noiseessly quilted the heavily carpeted
room. At last the callers began to accumulate In
large numbers and were admitted faster, until they
finally formed a Gordon around the room, with
'Dated breath and whispering humbleness" await
ing presentation. In the ante-room large crowd
was also assembled, all available seats being occu-
pied, many standing in hooks and corners, and
others laundering in the way OF the clerks
energetic individual would inject himself into
the room, breathless and hat in hand, and
wearing an expression that indicated that he was
'bound to have appointment" And 1t was strange
to see some OF those impuslve men stagger and
stop short as they saw the groups whose "turn was
to precede theirs. There were among them OLD men
and young men, pOrtly and thin, bald men and men
of very hirsute finish, intelligent looking and ig-
norant looking candidates, and good many who
looked as though they useless in any capacity.
All the applications laid over for consideration,
Of course, soon as received. Wednesday is the
only day in the week upon which these suppllcantS
are entertained, and from twelve O'Clock noon TO
Yesterday 1t was late in the afternoon before they
disposed Of An interesting fact to many OF those
who propose to "bore'' the Collector next Wednesday
the announcement that great Is the rush at
the Custom House for appointment that many or
those who had filed their applications some days
ago have since called upon Mr. Anthony, Mr. Grin
nell's private secretary, and withdrawn their app-
cations, believing that the chances were very slim
where so many wished to participate. Numbers OF
these parties stated that they not going TO quit
the field entirely but were merely about to change
their base OF operations from the Custom House to
the Post once. Postmaster Jones Will probably an
nounce his regular 'receptons' within few days.
levees OF his superior onlcer the Postmaster Gen.
eral, az Washington.