Year: 1860

an hbHghsh view OIHts Reception There


Account Of the Presidents Leyee.


The correspondent Of the London Times,
who travelled with the Prince of Wales in
this country, thus writes of His Royal High
ness's visit to Washington:


The Prince has arrived at this strange
city, whose streets Of ill-built houses con-
meet the most noble public buildings, and
where one has to admire the city as a city
always in the future tense. 1t will and must
in history be one of the greatest capitals
that the world has seen, but as yet it seems
to want deal Of building, alterations and
improvements before it can be a worthy legis-
lative center of this great empire. Another
hour, however, must suffice for recording
my impression of this great, strange, une-
quail city, for | have barely time now to more
than jotdown few incidents of the Princes
reception.


That there was great crowd at the sta
tion may of course be taken for granted, but
it was well rallied off, and no hustling, as
with the mobs of Detroit and st. Louis
was allowed at any time. General Cass
Secretary of State, with Mr.. James Bu-
chanan and James Buchanan Henry, nephews
of the President, were on the platform, and
received his Royal Highness as he alighted
from the train. There was a very brief
pause while General Cass, on the part of the
Chief Magistrate of the United States, cor
daily welcomed the royal visitor to Wash
ington, and few introductions took place,
but there was no ceremony or delay Of any
kind, and the party at once entered the
Presidents carriage and drove to the White
House. They arrived at the executive man
sion soon after four o'clock.


The President, as regal and as venerable
in his appearance as any king who ever wore
a crown, stood Just inside the portal of the
White House, and, as the Prince stepped for
ward, shook him by the hand with cordi-
ality of welcome that was unmistakable. 1t
was more meeting between private friends
and gentlemen than really historical re-
ception given by the chief of the greatest
republic TO the heir of the greatest monarchy
in the world. The President led his guest
at once to the blue drawing-room, where he
introduced Miss Lane, his niece, and Mrs.
Ellis niece of the late Vice-President King.
But beyond these few facts know nothing,
except that all the guests at the White House
are staying there without formality, and as
any other party of distinguished travellers
whom it might please the President to enter
tain. Only one exception is made to the
general rule of affairs at the Executive man
sion, and that is while the Prince stays there
1t is no longer an open house to ALL, but
police are stationed round it, and none ex-
cept those invited are allowed to enter.


THE PRESIDENTS LEvEE.


There was a levee, at which every body
came that wanted, and to which many came
that were not wanted, if one might Judge
from their extremely negLigee costume.
There were plenty of ladies there in bonnets
and shawls, and some individuals who
sauntered into the room with their hands in
their pockets and who otherwise conducted
themselves in a way which, certainly, as far
as L have seen. is not usual amOnp the
American gentlemen who unfortunately do
chew tobacco.


The President did not remain in any spe-
cial place or take prominent part in the
reception at all. Like his chief guests, he
was dressed in black, though not in full
dress-a sort of male demi-toitette, which was
quite sufficient for the occasion.


People passed in, gazed at the Prince,
bowed to him and the President, and then
passed out. In fact, it seemed less recep-
tion than mixed deputation, from which
ladies were not excluded. 1t was not good
time of the year in which to give such a
levee, for Washington is almost empty now,
compared to what it generally is. There
was total absence of formality or restrc-
tion either as to dress or person of any kind,
and yet, as a rule, there was quiet decorum
in manners, which, considering that all who
chose to come might do so, would have done
honor to any general assemblage in Europe.


Here and there could be seen some thing
very outre, and as l have intimated, even
offensive; but these were the rare exceptions
to conduct. The dresses of very many GER
tainly showed an utter disregard of the ordi-
nary usages of society on these occasions
but mere dresses make very little difference,
and, after all, it must be remembered that it
was early in the day:


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