Mysteries of Washington City, during Several Months of the Session of the 28th CongressAtwater, Caleb
History
Mysteries of Washington City, during Several Months of the Session of the 28th Congress
Atwater, Caleb
United States. Congress (28th, 1st session : 1843-1844); Washington (D.C.)
Walking along the avenue towards Gadsby’s, I heard a loud voice behind
me, and turning around, I saw following me, with a quick step, Levi
Woodbury, now a Senator from New Hampshire, formerly a Secretary,
first of the Naval, next of the Treasury department. I was happy,
indeed, to meet such an old friend, after a separation of more than
eleven years’ continuance. He was in the best health and spirits, and
exacted a promise from me, that I would spend that evening with him and
his family, at Mrs. Hamilton’s, on the avenue. At early candle light I
went to see him, but, in addition to his family, I found there a large
number of old friends, members of Congress and others. It was a most
agreeable meeting of old friends, who had once been the supporters of
General Jackson. Old scenes were recalled to our minds, and all were
very happy for the time being. Gov. Hill of New Hampshire, was the
only one who did not laugh heartily on that occasion. His nomination
for some little office was before the Senate for confirmation, and his
fears, if he had any, were well founded, because his nomination was
not confirmed, but rejected not long afterwards by the Senate. Among
the ladies present, were Mrs. Woodbury and her three daughters. They
are New England’s best beauties--they have handsome forms, and they are
beautiful in face, body and mind. The whole family, father, mother
and daughters, present one of the best family groups I ever saw in my
whole life. Their persons, minds and manners are in perfect keeping, of
which New Hampshire may well be proud, as ornaments, physical, mental
and moral, of the Granite State. Seeing them, and listening to their
conversation, I thought, though I did not say so, that, unless the
unmarried members of Congress had hearts harder than granite itself,
and colder than northern icebergs, these young ladies would soon have
good husbands and good homes in our delightful Great Western valley.
Give us millions of just such people in the West, to cultivate and
adorn the largest, the best and most fertile valley on the whole globe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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