Year: 1869

"huT tue Breh10eul II DOluR ut lfOuH


Says the N. Y. HerdIds correspondent


After his arrival yesterday his Excellency
bathed; in the afternoon, in company with eX-
Secretary Borie, he walked on the bluff, calmly
smoking n cigar, and In the evening he attended
a concert at Howland's Hotel. | have not been
able to detect upon his almost Interchangeable
countenance any expression that would lead me
to suppose that the condition of Cuba troubled
him in the least or that the unsettled claims
for the depredations of the Alabama
caused him the least wOrriment. 1t was evil
IDENTITY his intention to have peace during his trip
and, thus far, | see no reason why he should not
have it,, unless Mr. Greeley should arrive to-day
is expected he will. Then there may be dis
turbance for a while, if any of the 1rt5uneS
suggestions have not been promptly and pro-
perly carried out hope that the Presidents
equanimity may not be disturbed by any such
inopportune arrival, for everything is working
smoothly and satisfactorily now, and 1t would
be a great pity to have the quiet of the seaside
disturbed by the advent of political wire
pulers.


The Presidents family have kept themselves
very exclusive They take their meals in private
and refrain from exposing themselves to the
vulgar gaze of the crowd. Now this is very
proper if they see fit to do so; but it would be
better taste, | think, if they would mix u little
more with those whose touch would not contami-
nate, and who would, | know, refrain entirely
from annoying them by impertinent curiosity.
Their dignity would not suffer, l am sure, and l
warrant that time would pass in more agreea-
BILE manner by being socable and forgetting for
the time being that their home is at the White
House, and their usual friends only Senator'S
Representatives, and the high officials of State
who live and congregate in and about Washing
ton city. Last evening, when the quiet little
dance took place in the drawing-room. the or
chestra struck up our national airs, and all were
on uptoe of expectation that the President and
family were coming. But no, they did not come,
and the quadrille went on without the faces of
the dancers showing the least sign of disappOiDt-
ment, for we are all sovereigns in our own est-
nation.


Ex-Secretary Borie remains with the Presi-
dent, and certainly is the most sociable and
agreeable man of the party. have been very
favOrably impressed with him; and even if he
did change some of the unintelligible, jaw
breaking names of our highly efficient steam
fleet to others easy to be understood; and even
if he did have high estimate of the knowledge
and experience of Vice-Admiral Porter (and who
has nOt!), and saw fit to have him for his right
hand man in the Navy Department, cannot
help believing that he would have made a very
efficient, and in the end exceedingly
popular, Secretary of the Navy. True,
he is not a bloated politician-not man
given to cunning and intrigue-and not being
so probably was his greatest fault and the rea-
son why it was thought that he would not an
swer for n Cabinet officer in the present healthy
condition of our political affairs. For my part
| sincerely congratulate him on what | consider
fortunate escape. He can now be the friend
of the President without being one of his Cabi-
for gentleman of quiet tastes. To be one of the
Cabinet, subjected to the visits, annoyances, and
opportunities of large majority of Senators
and Representatives in Congress assembled, and
office-seekers generally, l consider the greatest
curse that any of our people can be subjected
to; hence Mr.. Borie may consider himself for
tunate in being rid of the position so early in
the history of the present administration.