The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-01
Original "Reminiscences OF General .
WasilingtOD.
AND OF THE CONGRESS WHICH SAT IN PHIIA-
DELPHIA WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT.

DELPHlA WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT,
We have been favored with the following
original letter OF the late Rev. DR.. Ashbel
Green, which has never been published, and
hence will be interesting to our rendcrs.-
True Witness.
After great deal of talking, and writing.
and controversy about the permanent seat
OF Congress under the present Constitu-
ton, it was determined that PHILADELPHIA
should be honored with its presence for ten
years, and that afterwards its permanent
location should be in the city OF Washing
ton, where it now is In the mean time the
Federal city was in building, and the Lecis-
ature Of Pennsylvania voted q sum OF
money to build a house for the President,
perhaps with some hope that this might help
in the capital, for Philadelphia was then
considered as the capital OF the State
What was lately the University of Pennsyl-
vnnia was the structure erected for this
purpose. But as soon as General Washing
ton saw its dimensions, and good while
before it was finished, he let it be known
that he would not occupy it-that he should
certainly not go to the expense OF pur-
chasing suitable furniture for such dwell
ing; for, it is to he understood, in those
days of stern republicanism nobody thought
Of Congress furnishing the Presidents
house; Or il perchance such a thought did
enter into some arStOcratic head, it was too
unpopular to be uttered.
President Washington, therefore, rented
4 house Of Mr.. Robert Morris, In Market
street between Fifth and Sixth streets, on
the south side, and furnished it hand
somely but not gorgeously. There he lived
with Mrs. Washington, Mr.. Lear, his pri-
vate secretary. and his wife, and Mrs. Wash
ington's grandson. Gusts. making part OF
the family. Young Gusts had a private
tutor, employed by the President, who was
engaged to attend on his pupil one hour in
the winter mornings before breakfast, and
who then commonly breakfasted with the
President and his family. The President
ate Indian cakes for breakfast after the
Virginia fashion, although buckwheat cakes
| were generally on the table. Washingtons
dining parties were entertained in q very
handsome style. His weekly dining-day for
company was Thursday, and his dining
| hour was always O'Clock in the afternoon.
| Ills rule was to allow five minutes for the
variation of clocks and watches and then go
| to the table, be present or absent whoever
might. Tie kept his own clock in the halt,
| lust within the outward door, and always
/
| oi Congress came in, us they often did, after
| the guests had sat down TO dinner, the Pre-
| sidcnt's only apology was, "Gcntlcmcn Tor
| slr) we arc too punctual for you. | have a
| cook who never asks whether the company
| has come but whether the hour has come"
| The company usually assembled in the
| lrawing-roum about fifteen or twenty
minutes before dinner, and the President
| spoke to every guest personally on entering
| the room.
| lie was always dressed III a suit CT black,
his hair powdered and tied in a black queue
behind. with very elegant crossword,
which he wore with inimitablc grace. Mrs.
| Washington often, but not always, dincd
with the company, sat at the head OF the
| table, and il. as was occasionally the case.
| there were other ladies present. they sal on
| each side Of her. The private secretary sat
| at the foot of the table, and was expected TO
| he quietly attentive to all the guests. The
President himself sat halfway from the
head to the foot Of the table, and on that
| side he would place Mrs. Washington,
! though distant from him. on his right hand.
| HralwayS. unless clergyman were present,
at his own table asked blessing, in Il
| standing posture. Ii clergyman were
| present, he was requested both to ask Il
| blessing and to return thanks after dinner.
| The centre OF the table contained five on six
| large silver or plated walters, those OF the
ends circular, or rather oval OH one side, so
rs TO make the arrangement correspond
| with the oval shape Of the table. The
| walters between the end-pcccs were III the
form of palalclo%ramS, the ends about one
| third part oi the length OF the sides; ana
| the whole of these walters were filled with
aalaster figures taken from the ancient
| mythology. but none Of them such as to
offend in the smallest degree against deli
cacv. On the outside Of the oval formed by
| the walters were placed the various dishes,
ALWAYS without covers; and outside TIC
| dishes were the plates. A small roll OF
| bread enclosed in Il napkin Wa; laid by The
side Of each plate. The President, it is be-
lieyed. generally dined on one dish, and that
of very simple kind. II offered solle-
| lhinr either iii the first or second course
which was very rich, his usual reply was,
..That is too good for me" lie had sill
| yer pirt-cup OF Mtg Of beer placed by his
plate, which he drank willie dining. he
| took one glass OF wine during dinner and
commonly one after. He then retired the
| ladies having gone q little before him) anu
| lett his secretary to supcrintend the table
till the wine-bibbers Of Congress had salts
fed themselves with drinking. His wines
were always the best that could he obtained.
1 Nothing could exceed the order with which
his table was served. Every servant knew
what he was TO do, and did it i'll the most
| uuict and vet rapid manner. The dishes
and ulatcs were removed and changed with
silence and speed that seemed like en-
chantment.