Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16

representatives. OF course. il Is said
that up to 1922 there were but four for
eign Ministers having their homes in this city,
namely, those from England, France, Mexico
and Sweden, but even 10 locate the stopping
places of these four requires much patience
OF the first two representatives accredited to
this country after the city was founded George
Hammons, who served from 1871 to 1885, APP
pears to have maintained his residence in Phil
adepha, while Sir Robert Liston his sue
CessOr, undoubtedly did likewise However
when Anthony Merry came here in 1903 to
serve his Britannia majeStyS government he
leased the two houses built by Robert Peter at
&618-20 X street northwest there being here
prior to this time but one foreign representa-
tive with the rank of Minister, and that was
Marquis Carlson M. de Irujo from Spain Ed
yard Thornton and L. A. Pichon were charge
Q'affaireS from England and France and Pedro
Petersen consul from Denmark
These two K street dwellings were linked
with two other similar groups in the same
street. built by Robert Peter for his sons They
were all erected about 1897, but the two at
Twenty-fourth and K streets were consumed
by fire before they were completed The two
at 25O6 and 25O8 K street were removed some
time ago, and on the site apartment house
was erected. However, one of these houses
was occupied in 1915 by Anthony st. John
Baker, charge >d'affaires of Great Britain and
by his successor, @. G. AntrobuS.
The houses at 2618-20 K street are particu-
larly noteworthy because Mr. and Mrs Thomas
Peter were visited there by Gen. Washington,
Mrs. Peter being the granddaughter of Mrs
Washington, and, before her marriage Martha
Parke Gusts, daughter of John Parke Gusts.
These houses have been slightly remodeled
and pebble-daShed and seem to be in a good
state Of preservation. The one to the west,
with a bay window which has been added In
recent years, is where George Washington was
guest ON August S, 1899, upon the last occa-
sion he visited this city
TNHIS is also the first British legation IN
Washington outside of Georgetown and in
addition to being the residence of Anthony
Merry it was also the home of his successors,
Francis James jackson and David Montagu
Erskine, the latter being recorded as 'the
friend OF the United States, because Of his
contention for the rights Of America previous
to the War Of 1872" He occupied it from
1905 to 1909.
1t was during Mr. Merrys sojourn here that
the poet Tom Moore was his guest, and also
at that time question of precedence arose
between Mr.. Merry and the great Democratic
President, Thomas Jefferson, that left bad
taste in the mouth of the envoy.
The dispute, we are told, was inspired by
Mrs. Merry and her husband nursed il tin IL
grew into an international incident Sir
Augustus John Foster, who served as British
Minister from 1871 until the beginning OF the
War OF 1872, tells US Of the trouble, which
incidentally, took place at a White House re-
ception. He says:
1.-THE first foreign Minister who suffered
under the new system was the Danish envoy,
M Petersen-the one who suffered most was
the Spaniard-but the English had their share.
The President took care to show his prefer
ence for the Indian deputies on New Year
day BY giving US only . bow, while with them
he entered into q long conversation have
nkaon SvaA H.
rules OF politeness, or even hospitality as prac-
t1ced all over the globe on the occasion Of n
nrst entertainment given to foreign envoy
70 whom even Savages would naturally en-.
oeavor 10 make the entertainment agreeable
I conclude Mr.. Jefferson and Mr. Madison were
too much Of the gentleman not to feel ashamed
OF what they were doing, and consequently did
it awkwardly, as people must do who affect
PAD manners for particular object
allude to the sudden alteration In the eti-
quette heretofore practiced by George WASH
9ngton and Mr.. Adams dinner being an
bounced. Mr.. and MRS. Merry were SO thor
oughly unaware Of this intention that they
pad not had time to think of what they should
40 ON the OCCASION and Mr.. Jefferson had not
requested any one present to look to the
strangers; so, when he took to dinner the lady
next him, Mr. Madison followed his example
and the Senators and members Of the House
pf Representatives walked OF with their re-
epect1ve DEMONSTRATING the astonshed Merry
NWho was OF the old school, having passed a
great part Of his life at Madrid) gazing after
them, till at last he made common cause with
his better half; Offering her his arm with a
formal air, and, giving hint to one of the
servants to send for his carriage, he took her
TO table and sat by her-the half ashamed and
half-awkward President not even attempting
an excuse
And this same scene was, for cOnsistency's
sake, repeated nearly in the same manner at
the house Of the Secretary Of State. Ever
afterward Mr. Merry refused their invitations:
MESSAGES u be. he dina