Newspaper Page Text
gills’
THE NEWS.
WASHINGTON, AUGUST 22
.. *
REVIEW OF COMPLIMENTS.
Mr Chariton,
THE PRESIDENT of the United States left
Washington the first of June, on a tour cf offi
cial examination into public concerns in the
eastern Sc northern sections of the union. The
mighty absurd parade that lias accompanied Mr
Monroe, (whom I had supposed to he quite
free from any desire for formal distinct ion) has
induced me to review the progress of his jour
ney, as described in private letters and public
journals. When in the city of Baltimore, (the
first notorious place which he visited) say tile
papers he expressed his entire approbation of
the citizens/ of Baltimore.” ‘Uns was perhaps a
just compliment to the citizens of that city;
but it was idle affectation in him to express if
in a public manner; and foolish vanity in the
people to print it. Here lie received an address
from the city authority, which he duly answer
ed. Me also received an invitation to a public
dinner, which he declined from motives of pub
lic concern, but “ in the moat feeling manner ex
pressed his lively sense of the civilities and atten
of hi-- ffUniv- ‘dizens” Whether lie express
ed himself so pa beta ally as to move bis audi
ence to tears, “ the deponent saitli not.”
‘l he President passed on to Philadelphia in a
Jess public manner, but when arrived near that
citv at precisely “ a quarter before four o’ cinch,”
as if a legal decision balanced on the very time,
he was met bv many military and citizens,
** with loud huzzas to greet his arrival This
huzzaing suits in the first transports of victory,
be it in t:;e cock-pit nr race-field, but great lv
degrades a respectable object. The President
was rowed up to the city “by expert oarsmen,
dressed in scarlet res Is, -shite sleeves and trow
seAye, this was a material point, and com
municated ius? in time to satisfy a commenda
ble curiosity ! Moreover we are informed “ the
J‘ resident vjus dressetl in a dark blue coat, buff
Test, deer-skin buff colored breeches, and top
boots ; f:s wove a military cocked hat of the fashion
■which sons worn in the revolutionary war, and a
b/tnek bowed ribbon of the same fashion as a cock
ade.” This was to manifest to every body that
he was a revolutionary hero, for which 1 es'ecm
him, but not for bis proof-dress. “ His horse
which was -with his servant in -waiting at Grass
f<- fry, was a roan, buff saddle urulLeopard-skin.”
This precious scrap of intelligence exci es our
curiosity, without allaying it—for whether the
horse Was nickid or reached, or the servant
white or black, or mulatto, weave uninformed.
The account proceeds ‘■‘the shouts of joy
which rent the air as the President descended
from thebri ge, and entered on the review ground
so ire true and heartfelt expressions of public res
pect.” Whether those shouts which lacerated
the air on this occasion, were eii’ irely expres
sions of public respect, tne reader may better
judge when informed that the brigade had al
ready been under arms for three hours. After
Che review, “ the President expressed himself
highly gratified at their appearance and military
deportment.” And this was their due after such
a penance under arms The brigade, &c. ac
companied the President on a march through
the streets, during which, “every street was
thronged, every window, even the roofs of houses
were crowded, and every corner gave occasion to
new greetings.” Where his servant and roan
horse were at this great time, the account does
not state—but it does state “ that the President
is deeply impressed with the manner of his recep
tion” I take it the consequent oppression of
so much service made a feeling impression on
the man. Another address was here presented
by the municipal authority to “ his excellency,”
as he is ignominiously termed, to which lie an
swered promptly. After doing wliat could be
done, the city corporation expressed their re
gret dial they could do no more—and “ h.se.r
----• cellency with great sensibility thanked them for
their politeness and kind intentions.” It is fur
ther stated that lie made some friendly visits,
which was to be sure exceedingly kind in a man
who had friends to visit. The public papers
Bay they “ would detail more minutely, but it would
look so like flattery, that it must be abandoned,”
Alas! What a pity these things yet unknown,
are withheld for fear of battering “ his excel
lency,” who was already wofully besmeared
wi'h it.
On the arrival of the President at Trenton,
the bells were rung and guns fired in abun
dance. The town officers made him an extem
pore address, to which he spontaneously repli
ed. At New-York the President was received
with great show, reviewed a brigade on bis ar
rival, and after taking possession of some ele
gant apartments fitted up in great style in the
City-hall, for the purpose of seeing and being
seen by company, the city council imposed on
him another address, to which be made an ap
propriate reply. He was conducted to his lodg
ings at a Hotel, and the City-hall and Theatre
were brilliantly illuminated and decorated in
the evening. Ail would have passed off well,
had not the papers announced that the Presi
dent would “ receive company at his rooms be
tween one and three o'clock,” as though whoever
wished to call on him, would not inquire when
be was to be seen. It was published that “at
half past one, he proceeded from Gibson's Hotel in
Wall-street to the City-hull, where he received the
salutations of the citizens.” Boxes No. 2 and 3
in the Theatre were appropriated, for the Presi
dent and suite, and handsomely decorated.
“ ’The President and suite entered there about the
middle of the first act—the audience rose up as by
unanimous consent,and greeted him with long ~ nil
reiterated huzzas. His excellency continued dur
ing the play, and through one act of the after
piece, -when he retired with his suite, amid the
plaudits of an admiring audience.” Oh, how ex
quisite ! How enchanting must it have seemed,
to have been bawled into the house, and bawled
out of it again, amidst the good-natured grin
ning of some thousand people! Ob, the charms
of office ! But bow impellent to the heart, to be
informed, as is the case, that while “ his excel
lency'’ was intently following the scenes of the
play, a rogue of a painter, an Italian too, spite
of vapor, lights anti spittle, took an inimitable
likeness of this great man—and the report
spread throughout the bouse as soon as it w
finished ! Oh memory, oh hope, “ help our un
belief.” On his departure, the President was
merrily huzzaed and hurraed, as before. I must
not neglect to mention that, at New-Tu unswiik,
N. 1. tlie President was offered an elegant horse
of Mr Degraw, to ride into town—on which he
did ride, to the great gratification of the peo
ple, the horse, and the owner. Tint tve have
clearly lost sight of the servant and roan.
My good nalured, gentle reader, vliat will
von say of good old Connecticut, who actually
tired puns and rang bells, and held Paining on
the arrival of the President in that S„ te ! Yes,
this is the fact, as printers have told its. Un
fortunately, the Piesident did not an te at his
lodgings until Sun-set ; and was oiliged to
forego the pleasure of eating their has v pudd
ing till the next day. He went to Hertford a
day or two after his arrival m New-fiavn, and.
stayed one night, and visited the deaf aid dumb
asylum. While there, as at New-llavet, he re
ceived an address., which civility bade him to
answer. He also visited the U. S. Arriorv at
Springfield, Mass ; and was treated wiU what
l consider marked and respectful attention in
contradistinction to such attentions as other ci
ties shewed bn.i. lie was salutd with anofTTY*
address, and returned an answer. The Pres*
dent then visited New-London and Stoning'toii
Con; and Newport, If. I ; where his arriv;|
was announced by Telegraphs, bells, cannon*!
tsc. At Newport fie passed the Sabbath, anJ
went to hear a sermon.
Yv hen the President approached near to Bos
ton, expresses wore darting in every directior
A deputation from the Roston committee ofai
rangenients went 40 miles to meet the Presiden
and tell him w hat they proposed to do. Kxtr
papers, and extra advertisements were issuct 3
to announce the constant approach of-\lr Mon .
roc, and particular hours and half hours wen
appointed to expect him. At Troy in Massa
chusetts, is a projected site for a navy-yard; 3;
this impovant place, it is said, Mr .Mourni
won and not have visited, had not the citizens o’
Newport engaged to carry him there in tvvi)
hours by hind (18 miles)—and though one horsif
was killed, and others wronged, the President
was delayed two hours on the road. If this fie
the usual expedition and anxiety of the chit f
magistrate, 1 think the national defences will he
hut superficially examined. After stariii.g,
” hen and where the President ate and slept,
and what troops he reviewed, and who he shook
hands with, et cetera ; we have him entering
Boston, that place of places of empty show and
vain parade. Arrangements were made where
and with whom he should breakfast, dine and
sup, long before his arrival in Boston. It must :
not be forgotten that at Dedham, Mr Monroe :
walked from his private lodgings to a public |
inn, to receive the salutations of many persons
desirous of that honor. This was indeed vast- i
ly c >ndiseeding and considerate. “ A few mi
nutes past 12 on the Ist of July, the President
entered Boston, immediately on which event he
was met by ; a et mmittee, Sc formidable array 7 o*
horses, carriages and people, who in grand pro
cession marched him over the city, while music ■
was playing and flags fly ing in the city and its
harbor. On art iving at his lodgings, ‘amidst t ’
brilliant crowd of ladies and gentlemen of emi
nen.ee,’ lie received a formal address, to xvliicl i
he again answered, [in its proper place I hat
neglected to mention that at Providence, If. 1
vvlufre the President arrived at 9 o’clock a
night, he soon afterwards ‘ took a station in tug “
piazza, to gratify the immense assemblage in front
with a view of his person, the streets being illu
minated for the purpose]
Early on the 3d .Tidy the president infilled zeith
much minuteness but with rapidity’ thefxtensive
navv-yard at Charlestown, and the sh'is Consti
tution, Java, Macedonian and Giijrrier, he
partook of an elegant dinner with Mil Hull the
lady of the commissioner. Now this vifs no more
nor less than breakfast, before which the Pre
sident had so minutely examined sojgreat a na
tional defence ; and at which break fit upwards
of 200 persons were present. T/k President
was on the right, anil Gov Brooks of the left of
J)lrs Hull,- and the splendor of the iLnial insig
nia, united-with the lustre of ‘ beavtifand accom
plishments, heightened the ensemble}) fa banquet
which display ed the taste of the fair hostess,
and the munificence of the gallant commodore.’’
On my word now, this is a puff direct on guest
and visitor—and well worthy of St James’
square pens. We are happily‘informed that in
ail his movements, The President is attended
•>y a numerous cortege. In other words, lie i$
attended by a train of idolaters who wish to V
nefit by the presence of their worshipping iaHT
age. About noon, continues this faithful histo
ry, the President mounted his charger [roan I
presume] and proceeded through Charlestown
&c. I hese last two words being in g*reat capi
tal letters occupying an entire line of types, as
it to draw the public attention to theim, like a
showman announces the feats of his learned pig.
In Cha lestown he received another address, to
winch the President was pleased to reply Af
ter many other things which he did, (the most
private but not unimportant being undivulgi and)
the President attended a sacred oratorio, w ith
winch lie expressed himself much pleased To
be sure 1 and then—honored Mr Otis w ith his
company a brilliant party. On Sunday the
1 lesu.cnt attended divine worship, and rccsiv-
I I'd the communion. Tn H e inform’ sion he
f called at the lion Mr Lloyd's and took .. view of
| the harbor and vicinity l.e also visited the de
• lightful’ residence and sightly garden 1 1 Card-
I nrr (beetle, hut wliat secluded parts ofihe gar
i tlen he went to, is no*, stand-—and m the eve
ning honored Mrs Humphreys with a visit, and
partook of the hospitality of the General’s ele
gant mansion. On Monday the President break
fasted with his honor the Lieut Governor. In
the same day he attended the con mencement
at Harvard University, where he received an ad
dress, and degree of doctor of laws. On his
mum to Boston lie alighted at the house of
ben Welles; for which reason the value of the
house is greatly enhanced we may suppose.—
“he President and cortege [waiters] dined
v 1 1 1 1 the former President Adams, w hose dill
r table was conspicuously stated to consist
forty corners. In the afternoon Mr Ad-
‘Ttirs accompanied the President and his boilv
phigpe to Mr Quincy’s, where the whole stop
ped a short time; after which important ac
tion the President made a call or. B. Uiekbm-n
esq. and on G. Sttllivab esq ; and hor.oitd Mrs
George Black with his company, and spent the
residue of the evening in a brilliant circle-of
bcau-ty, accomplishment and fashion. Whose
beauty, what accomplishment, and what t>hi
oii so emblazoned the room, we are ignorant of.
A round of harmonious festivity of fiv, cla< s was
concluded with a brilliant ball. What brilliant
again } Sure Boston folks must Lei - 11 for time
to c< me. But has the President gone from
Boston ? Oh yes, the accounts say he was huz
zaed whenever he appeared in public, and was
greatly cheered when he left the city. While
in Boston he. spent an hour with Mrs Gerry, wi
dow of the late \ ice-president, and was highly
gratified with the recollections of his fsirmer
friendship with tins lady in earlier life. Aye,
ay e—not wooing, I hope* your excellency. The
President also attended the Circus, and was
highly gratified at lhe astonish ins; feats of per
formers and horses. The President’s entrance
was greeted rapturously in plaudits by the pen-
r 'p 7 ’ ,; ’d lessened motions by the horses. Where
ver the President w ent he was adulated to a ful
some degree. As lie passed through Salem,
say the papers, every window sparkled with fe
male beauty. Humph ! I’ve heard that yanfccy
girls were pretty, but did not think every house
afforded beauty enough to illuminate it. ’Tis
more than Georgia girls ran show. In the eve
ning a brilliant assemblage of upwards of 500
elegantly dressed ladies went to the Salem
Town-Hull to sec the President. This brilliant
scene was enlivened hv a free and polite inter
course, and an excellent band of music.
Y\ bile at Marblehead the President also no
ticed the method of preserving and curing fish
| in this place, and witnessed the unoffending
I frankness of the industrious and well deserving
: Rl vn e.iii e in the fisheries. Tile P esiil n't
! ;lt length arrived at Salem, where there was if
I possible more parade on lhe occasion than at
! Boston. -V committee met him and presented
an address ; the brigades were reviewed ; and
great dinners ale. On one of the evenings of
his slay the President attended a concert at the
Town-Hall now first opened, and named i;i ho
nor of Ins visit Monroe-Hull; at which were
present as was usual with the yankeys a brilli
ant assemblage of beauty and grace, to wit, six
hundred ladies and four hundred gentlemen. ‘
Os the decorations of this hall which was said
to consist of the oaken leaf and gold, every
tongue and pen in Salem spoke in praise. The
‘ladies were generally gratified by an introduc
tion to the President, who in a most conde
scending and affable manner passed round the
room for the purpose ; which no doubt the Sa
lem ladies will forever remembe r. Now follows
the most extravagant expressions which lhe
President’s whole journey has afforded. It was
truly a sublime spectacle to seethe first ma
gistrate of the nation—the ruler of eig t milli
ons of people descend from his elevated office
and mingle with thepeople ! Ye gods and 1. t,e
fishes! wliat is meant by sublime here ? Bid the
President’s company impress ihcir minds with j
a grand, awful, fascinating and divine feeling ?
Did his presence exalt their thoughts above
the things of time to those of the source of
light arid support of eternity 1 If so, Mr Mon
roe should he condemned for robbing Heil v of
his peculiar attributes. And so it was descend
ing in the President to mingle wish the people ?
The yankeys and 1 differ about that—for a man
in office is a public slave, and when he associ
ates with tho-o who employ him, he certainly
communicates with his masters rather than
with his subjects. This exposition shews the
taste of the New-Englantlers for royal distinc
tions, if no more. Let me proceed—On Wed
nesday (says the papier) the President visited
the chanty-house—and suffered to pass under
his own eves all the arrangements made for the
comfort and employment of the poor. Oh-how
infinitely kind was the President to safer the
poor house concerns to attract the meie notice
of his eyes The people surely are more crazy
here than elsewhere, to consider the President
as a sufferer by his eye-service to charity. He
was hospitably and elegantly received at tlie
house of the Hon N. Sillsbee esq. member elect
to congress. Not ye* done with complimenting
their own citizens I perceive. What was the
etiquet of'his elegant receptk nl should like to
know. W'hen the President visited the Athe-
naum he was received by the Men R. Pickniun
( jr. in the manner of ancient families; and as
■ terwards retired. Whether Mr Picknn.ii was
1 honored by kissing the President’s hand ; hv
.joining his elbow to the President’s; or by
’ hugging him, is not explicitly stated. On
Thursday the President breakfas ed bv invita
tion with the Hon Mr Thorndike; and with a
large and very respectable company sat down
[ to a most sumptuous and elegant table. The
i greatest cheerfulness and satisfaction appeared
; in the countenances of all the guests, who were
highly gratified at the hospitality of their liberal
entertainer. This sentence seems to intimate
that it is an unusual thing for the peo
ple there to express cheerfulaefs & fa
tisfadion around an elegant table.
When the President Jcck hit leave ar.ei
Itnfrrtr 1 his carriage, a huge concourse s f
the inhabitants chtered him •with loud an i
sfip’ ca ,C(l bsuzstMt.” Never let lhe New
p*knglndcis ridicule the fouihemers for
i carrying on fheir (boulders, and huzza
; a fuccefsful candidate at popular e
| lections, after ibis difplav of own
| tribes, ** lhe most brilliant (the ofd
; term) circles ione formed around the
President—but he displayed no symptom
i D JJ uU p ue i and gave no notice of the h urt
! which were to limit our pleasui a—the
i Sirtne chttrfuln fs, freedom, and pie.ence
ts mind, appeared through all the services
each day required of him ! Oh dear !
\vnat a trying lcene to front so many
mere faces than he ever (aw in the field
. at Bladeniburg. And such good eat
: ing in brilliant circles at elegant tables,
was enough to rob him of his presence
Jof nind. When in Dolton “ the atten
\ lion of the President -was arrtjfcd by the
I beauty and ponderojtly of a service of glass
ware ; and on learning its origin, he ex -
prejful much gratification.” \\ho would
have thought oi co great a man’s atten
tion being arrested by the ponder of ity of
glass ware r To conclude with the Pre
fident’s visit to Salem, I will extract
this editorial—“ We hardly dare to take
our pen to mention any thing but the Pre
sident ; so rich are ice its the ajjtclions
te-wards him, and the bljftngs he has
brought v with hms.” Pihaw ! what hy
pocritical canting—fix months ago Mr
Monroe could nor have been elected in
Salem to a conflable’s office; and now
d’y’see, his presence afford? riches and
blefiings in abui dance. Who will be
lieve these brawling fychophants ? A
rriid cheers and tears, hurras and huz
zas, the Pre fid est went from Salem to
Newburyport, where he was crignt
ulated as dual...and thence to Portf
mou h, N H. from whence we have
the following precious morsels of in
telligence, by express : “ The Prfident
took tea on Sunday evening at (lev. Latte
don's...breakefnjled on Mania* at (,en.
Steers—dwed -with the Hon Mr Mason
—took tea at Mrs Alvvyn’s —and in the
evening attended a concert, -where the
greatejl part cf the toiun ajjhnbled : ths
hall is represented as being splendidly
drejful, and a throne ere fled, on -which
the Prejident was staled /” A THRONE !
This caps the climax I’ve gone far
enough with the President to fee him
take a throne. Let us be done. What
is a throne but fora king ? and who is
a king but a tyrant ? and wliat is a ty
rant but a curse to a people ? and what
is a political curse but torment on earth
as a foretafie of ilie toiiures of hell?
Two months ago Mr Monroe poll.fled
my unbounded confidence ; I esteem
ed him, I revered him—lsut now I per
ceive be has given bird’s eye views to
national defences, and submitted en
tirely to public adulation. Oh, how
disgraceful ! My dear, plain, honest
republican, consider how much a free
people degrade their dignity by such
idolatrous condu£l ; and enter ye not
into temptation. H—.
By the brig Intelligence,
from Palermo, vve learn that
it was reported there, that the
American consul had sudden
ly left Algiers.
OOC
STRAYED or stolen from the
plantation on which the subscriber
lives, 5 miles below Washington,,
a pair of chesnut sorrel horses,
blaze faces and switch tails, one cf
thtm has two white feet, and the
other but one, in all othrr respeds
were matched ; thty are hersfs
that formerly run in the stage from
Milledgeville to Savannah, they are
about 15 hands high, one of them
is about 7 years old, the other old
er—any person who will deliver
said horses to the subscriber, or to
Mr John Charlton, Washington,
shall receive a reward of ten dol
lars, and if stolrn, fjty dollars for
the thief and hors;?. Avsmt 7.7.,
1817, A. M. Charlton.
