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About The news. (Washington, Ga.) 1816-1821 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 22, 1817)
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.
