USA > New York > New York City > History of New York city from the discovery to the present day, V.1 > Part 25
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Such was the spectacle; so simple, so dignified was this august ceremony! Contrast it with the impious mockery of Heaven and the degrading pageantry displayed to mislead the children of earth, which attends the coro-
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nation of European potentates, and every American must feel proud, and justly proud, when he contemplates the picture it presents of the institutions and manners of his own country! "It seemed," said a young gentleman in a letter to a distant father, "to be a solemn appeal to Heaven and earth at once. Upon the subject of this great and good man," he added, "I may, perhaps, be an en- thusiast ; but I confess I was under an awful and religious persuasion that the gracious Ruler of the Universe was looking down at that moment with peculiar complacency upon an act which, to the American portion of His creatures, was so very important. Under this impression, when the distinguished Chancellor of New York announced, in a very feeling manner, the words 'LONG LIVE GEORGE WASHINGTON,' my sensibility was wound up to such a pitch that I could do no more than wave my hat with the rest, without the power of joining in the repeated accla- mations which rent the air."
The proceedings of the day had all been marked by that gravity and solemnity befitting the importance of the occasion. It was; however, a day of unmingled rejoicing; and, after the more imposing civic and religious ceremonies were over, the popular feeling broke forth in the usual manifestations of gladness. The festivities closed by an illumination in the evening of unparalleled splendor, and by a display of fireworks under the direction of Colonel Bauman, of the artillery, which had only been equaled on this side of the Atlantic by the memorable pyrotechnical exhibition which took place at West Point during the Revolution, when our French allies were celebrating the birth of the Dauphin-the unfortunate young prince who subsequently, after his father's execution, himself fell a victim to that spirit of freedom which those French officers imbibed in this country, and which, running to riot after their return, drenched the whole surface of France in blood.
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Great pains had been taken by the principal citizens and the public authorities in the preparation of appropriate transparencies. At the foot of Broadway a splendid painting was exhibited, representing the Virtues of FORTI- TUDE, JUSTICE, and WISDOM, intended as emblems-the first of the PRESIDENT, the second of the SENATE, and the third of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Of the propriety of the first, the world had had the fullest evidence; and the two others were well applied then, however great would be the solecism of such an appropriation of those attributes in later and more degenerate days. The Federal Hall , was illuminated with great splendor, and attracted uni- versal attention. The Theatre, then situated at the corner of Fly-Market Slip, was likewise tastefully illuminated by various patriotic and attractive paintings. The ship North Carolina, lying off the Battery, displayed a glorious pyramid of stars, lustrous and beautiful as the lamps of heaven.
The illuminations of private residences which attracted the greatest attention were those of the French and Spanish Ministers-the Count Moustier and Don Gardoqui. These Ministers both felt a lively interest in the rising destinies of the young republic, and lost no suitable occa- sion for testifying their friendship. Their houses were situated in Broadway, near the Bowling Green, and they seem to have exerted a generous rivalry in their prep- arations for celebrating this event. The illuminations of both were in a style of elegance and splendor alike novel, attractive, and beautiful. The doors and windows of Count Moustier displayed splendid borderings of lamps, with fancy pieces in each window of tasteful and compli- mentary designs. But the decorations of the Spaniard's mansion excelled. The tout ensemble formed a superbly brilliant front. The principal transparency represented the figures of the Graces, exceedingly well executed, among a pleasing variety of patriotic emblems, together
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with shrubbery, arches, flowers, and fountains. The effect was greatly heightened by the disposition of moving pic- tures of persons and figures in the background, so skillfully devised and executed as to present the illusion of a living panorama in a little spot of fairy land.
But we will not dwell too long upon the incidents of this joyful evening, as other objects crowd upon our atten- tion. The inauguration was succeeded by a round of fêtes of a different description, the recollection of which it is our design briefly to revive, before concluding the present chapter.
For several subsequent days the time of the President was much occupied in receiving visits, official and un- official, of individuals, societies, and public bodies, calling to pay their respects to the first magistrate. In all instances, their reception was such as still more to endear the illustrious man in their affections ; for, although inured to the camp, and in earlier life to the still rougher service of border warfare in the wilderness, no one could dispense the courtesies of the drawing-room, or the ceremonies of state, with more true dignity, blended with a just measure of affability and condescension, than Washington.
Extensive preparations had been made by the sub- scribers to the city dancing assemblies to pay the Presi- dent the compliment of an Inauguration Ball. The honored lady of the chieftain, however, had not accom- panied her august husband to New York, but was to follow in a few days. The anxiety for her arrival was, therefore, great; though, of course, proportionably less than it had been for the President elect himself. But a short time intervened before her approach to Elizabeth- town was announced, accompanied by the lady of Robert Morris, of Philadelphia-then in the Federal Senate. She was met by the President at Elizabethtown Point, who proceeded thither, with Robert Morris and several other
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gentlemen of distinction, in the barge already described, rowed, as before, by thirteen eminent pilots, in handsome white dresses. The passage through the bay again pre- sented a brilliant spectacle ; a salute was fired on passing the Battery ; and, on her landing, she was welcomed by large crowds of citizens who had assembled to testify their joy.
The ball was truly an elegant entertainment. The old "City Assembly Rooms," in which it took place, were in a large wooden building standing upon the site of the old City Hotel .* In addition to the distinguished pair for 'whom it was given, it was honored by the Vice-President, the Speaker of the House, and most of the members of both branches of Congress; Governor (George) Clinton, Chancellor Livingston, Chief-Justice Yates, of New York; the Hon. John Jay, General Knox, the Commissioners of the Treasury; James Duane, Mayor of the city; the Baron Steuben, General Hamilton, the French and Spanish Ambassadors, and many other distinguished gentlemen, both Americans and foreigners. Never was a lady, either in public or private life, more popular than Mrs. Washing- ton; and, from the moment of her arrival, the most respectful attentions had been paid to her by the principal ladies of the city, and by those likewise of celebrity from a distance. A numerous and brilliant collection of ladies consequently graced the saloon with their presence, and the decorations were such as in all respects comported with their presence and the proud occasion. Among the leading circles were the lady of his Excellency Governor Clinton, Lady Sterling, Lady Mary Watts, Lady Kitty
* The City Hotel-the Astor House of that day, and built by Ezra Weeks- stood on the west side of Broadway, on the block from Thames to Cedar Streets, and was for many years the most distinguished establishment of the kind in the country. It was the site of the "King's Arms Tavern" of a hundred years previous, which was also in its day one of the most prominent points of interest in the " fashionables " of " old New York."
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Duer, La Marchioness De Brehan, Mrs. Langdon, Mrs. Dalton, Mrs. Duane (the Mayoress), Mrs. Peter Van Brook Livingston, Mrs. Livingston, of Clermont; Mrs. Chancellor Livingston, the Misses Livingston, Lady Temple, Madame de la Forest, Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs. Knox, Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Gerry, Mrs. Edgar, Mrs. McComb, Mrs. Lynch, Mrs. Houston, Mrs. Griffin, Mrs. Provost, the Misses Bayard, and many others of the most respectable families in the State and from abroad. The whole number of ladies and gentlemen at the fete exceeded three hundred.
There was more of etiquette in the arrangements for this complimentary ball than was thought by some to be exactly consistent with our republican institutions, and more, in fact, than was altogether agreeable to the feelings of HIM in whose honor it was observed. In connection with the managers of the assemblies, Colonel Humphries and Colonel William S. Smith were selected to adjust the ceremonies, and their arrangements were reported to have been as follows :- At the head of the room, upon a plat- form handsomely carpeted, and beneath a rich drapery of curtains and banners, was placed a damask-covered sofa, upon which the President and Lady Washington were to be seated. The platform was ascended by a flight of three or four steps. The costume of the gentlemen was prescribed; their hair was to be dressed in bags, with two long curls on the sides, with powder, of course, and all were to appear and dance with small swords. Each gentleman, on taking a partner to dance, was to lead her to the sofa, and make a low obeisance to the President and his lady, and repeat the ceremony of respect before taking their seats after the figure was concluded. The decorations of the assembly-room were truly splendid and very tastefully disposed.
At that time there had been no more brilliant assem-
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blage of ladies in America than were collected on this occasion. Few jewels were then worn in the United States, but in other respects their dresses were rich and beautiful, according to the fashions of the day. We are not quite sure that we can describe the full dress of a lady of rank at the period under consideration so as to render it intelligible. But we will make the attempt. One favorite dress was a plain celestial blue satin gown, with a white satin petticoat. On the neck was worn a very large Italian gauze handkerchief, with border stripes of satin. The head-dress was a pouf of gauze, in the form 'of a globe, the creneaux or head-piece of which was com- posed of white satin, having a double wing, in large plaits, and trimmed with a wreath of artificial roses falling from the left at the top to the right at the bottom in front, and the reverse behind. The hair was dressed all over in detached curls, four of which, in two ranks, fell on each side of the neck, and was relieved behind by a floating chignon.
Another beautiful dress was a perriot, made of gray Indian taffeta, with dark stripes of the same color, having two collars, the one yellow and the other white, both trimmed with a blue silk fringe, and a reverse trimmed in the same manner. Under the perriot they wore a yellow corset or boddice, with large cross stripes of blue. Some of the ladies with this dress wore hats a l'Espagnole of white satin, with a band of the same material placed on the crown, like the wreath of flowers on the head-dress above-mentioned. This hat, which, with a plume, was a very popular article of dress, was relieved on the left side, having two handsome cockades, one of which was at the top and the other at the bottom. On the neck was worn a very large plain gauze handkerchief, the ends of which were hid under the boddice, after the man- ner represented in Trumbull's and Stuart's portraits of
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Lady Washington. Round the bosom of the perriot a trill of gauze, a la Henri IV, was attached, cut in points around the edge.
There was still another dress which was thought to be very simple and pretty. It consisted of a perriot and pet- ticoat, both composed of the same description of gray striped silk, and trimmed round with gauze, cut in points at the edges in the manner of herrisons. The herrisons were, indeed, nearly the sole trimmings used for the per- riots, caracos, and petticoats of fashionable ladies, made either of ribands or Italian gauze. With this dress they wore large gauze handkerchiefs upon their necks, with four satin stripes around the border, two of which were narrow and the others broad. The head-dress was a plain gauze cap, after the form of the elders and ancients of a nunnery. The shoes were celestial blue, with rose-colored rosettes.
Such are descriptions of some of the principal cos- tumes of the ladies who graced the inauguration ball of Washington ; and, although varied in divers unimportant particulars by the several ladies, according to their respect- ive tastes and fancies, yet, as with the peculiar fashions of all other times, there was a general correspondence of the outlines, the tout ensemble was the same.
The President and his lady were introduced and con- ducted through the saloon to the seat provided for them by Colonel Humphries-a man of fine accomplishments and manners. General Knox had just been appointed Secretary of War, and his lady had been charged with so far resembling Cæsar as to have been somewhat "ambi- tious." Be that as it may, it was said in those days that she so arranged her own movements as to enter the saloon with the President and his lady, following them to their station and ascending the steps, with the evident design of obtaining an invitation from the President to a seat upon the honored sofa. Unluckily, however, the seat was
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too narrow for the accommodation of three persons, and the lady of the war minister, with deep and apparent mortifi- cation, was compelled to descend to the level of those who had shown themselves to be less openly aspiring. No other incident worthy of especial note occurred during the even- ing, or none which attracted particular attention.
Among the gayest and most courteous of the cavaliers present was the Baron Steuben. Well educated and bred in a German court, having also mingled much in the splendid court circles of Louis XV, in Paris, where he had usually passed his winters previous to his emigration to ' America, the manners of this gallant officer were formed upon the best model of graceful ease, affability, and dig- nity. He was thus, perhaps, as well qualified to teach the tactics of the drawing-room as those of the field ; but, too much of the real gentleman to appear in the least degree assuming, he was a universal favorite. His dress was of rich black silk velvet, with the star of his order upon his breast, and he had ever some witty or playful remark for every person and every occasion, which was received with additional interest from his German accent and the little and often ludicrous mistakes to which he was liable from his imperfect knowledge of the English idioms.
The saltatory exercises were such as were usual in those times and on great occasions. There are a few of both sexes yet living who then mingled in the dance, but the incidents of the festive night linger in their memories like the fragments of a broken vision in times that are passed. They remember only that the exercises went on
" With smooth step Disclosing motion in its every charm, To swim along and swell the mazy dance."
presenting to the eye, as in Milton's beautiful description,
" Mazes intricate, Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular Then most, when most irregular they seem."
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The illustrious chieftain himself did not hesitate to countenance the elegant amusement by participation, as the heroes and statesmen of antiquity, the demi-gods of the Greeks and Romans, had done before him. Mrs. Peter Van Brook Livingston and Mrs. Hamilton were succes- sively honored by the chieftain's hand in a cotillion. He afterward danced a minuet with Miss Van Zandt, subse- quently the lady of William Maxwell, Esq., vice-president of the bank. There was dignity and grace in every movement of this incomparable man. But in the minuet, which is held to be the perfection of all dancing, he appeared to more than his wonted advantage. The min- uet contains in itself a compound variety of as many turnings in the serpentine, which is the line of beauty, as can well be put together in distinct quantities, and is, withal, an exceedingly fine composition of movements. It is, therefore, the best of all descriptions of dancing to dis- play the graces of person and attitude, and never did the majestic form of Washington appear to greater advantage than on the present occasion of elegant trifling. There was, moreover, youth and beauty in the countenance, grace in the step, and heaven in the eye of his fair partner.
Shortly after the brilliant spectacle which we have thus attempted but imperfectly to describe, the President was complimented by another similar fête, which he also honored by his presence, given by the French minister. The pageant was one of uncommon elegance, both as it respected the character of the company and the plan of the entertainment. As a compliment to the alliance of the United States and France, there were two sets of cotillion dances in complete uniforms. The uniform of France was worn by one set, and that of the United States-the Revolutionary blue and buff-by the other. The ladies were dressed in white, with ribands, bouquets, and garlands of flowers, answer- ing to the uniforms of the gentlemen. But it would be
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alike wearisome and unnecessary to enter into further particulars
The levees of President Washington were far more select and courtly than are those of the Presidents of later days. They were numerously attended by all that was fashionable, elegant, and refined in society; but there were no places for the intrusion of the rabble in crowds, or for the more coarse and boisterous partisan, the vulgar electioneerer, or the impudent place-hunter, with boots, and frock-coats, or roundabouts, or with patched knees 'and holes at both elbows.
Proud of her husband's exalted fame, and jealous of the honors due, not only to his own lofty character, but to the dignified station to which a grateful country had called him, Mrs. Washington was careful in her drawing- rooms to exact those courtesies to which she knew he was entitled, as well on account of personal merit as of official consideration. Fortunately, moreover, democratic rude- ness had not then so far gained the ascendancy as to ban- ish good manners, and the charms of social intercourse were heightened by a reasonable attention in the best cir- cles to those forms and usages which indicate the well- bred assemblage, and fling around it an air of elegance and grace which the envious only affect to decry, and the innately vulgar only ridicule and contemn. None, there- fore, were admitted to the levees but those who had either a right by official station to be there, or were entitled to the privilege by established merit and character, and full dress was required of all .*
* Some show, if not of state, at least of respect for the high officer they were to visit, was exacted down to the close of Mr. Madison's administration. Mr. Monroe required less formality and attention to dress, and the second President Adams less still. But respect and reverence for the office still kept the multi- tude, who had no business there, from the President's drawing-rooms until the year 1820, when-but tempora mutantur !
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Mrs. Washington was a pleasing and agreeable, rather than a splendid woman. Her figure was not commanding, buit her manners were easy, conciliatory, and attractive. Her domestic arrangements were always concerted under her own eye, and everything within her household moved forward with the regularity of machinery. No daughter of Eve ever worshipped her lord with more sincere and affectionate veneration ; and none had ever cause to render greater or more deserved homage. When absent, he was ever in her thoughts, and her mild eyes kindled at his presence. She was well educated, and possessed strong native sense, guided by all necessary prudence and dis- cretion. She rarely conversed upon political subjects, and when the most expert diplomatists would attempt to draw her out, she had the faculty of turning the course of con- versation with equal dexterity and politeness. At all the President's entertainments, whether at the table or in the drawing-room, notwithstanding the regard to etiquette heretofore adverted to, there was, nevertheless, so much kindness of feeling displayed, and such an unaffected degree of genuine hospitality, that golden opinions were won alike from the foreign and domestic visitors.
In those days late hours were not necessary to fashion ; and many of our fair metropolitan readers, who are in the habit of dressing at ten to enter a distant drawing room at eleven, will doubtless be surprised to learn that Mrs. Washington's levees closed always at nine! This was a rule which that distinguished lady established on the occasion of holding her first levee, on the evening of January Ist, 1790. The President's residence was in the Franklin House, at the head of Cherry Street. " The day," says a letter* of John Pintard, Esq .- who was then in the hey-day of youth and life, mingling with the fashionable world-" was uncommonly mild and pleasant.
* To Colonel Morris, of the New York Mirror.
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It was about full moon, and the air so bland and serene, that the ladies attended in their light summer shades. Introduced by the aids and gentlemen in waiting, after being seated, tea, coffee, plain and plum cake were handed round. Familiar and friendly conversation ensued, and kind inquiries, on the part of Mrs. Washington, after the families of the exiles, with whom she had been acquainted
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WASHINGTON'S RESIDENCE IN 1790, AS IT APPEARED IN 1850.
during the Revolutionary War, and who always received marked attention from General Washington. Mrs. Wash- ington stood by the side of the General in receiving the respects of the visitors. Amid the social chit- chat of the company, the Hall clock struck nine. Mrs. Washington thereupon rose with dignity, and, looking around the circle with a complacent smile, observed : 'The
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General always retires at nine, and I usually precede him.' At this hint the ladies instantly rose, adjusted their dresses, made their salutations and retired."
General Washington had, on that day, been waited upon by the principal gentlemen of the city, according to the ancient New York custom of social and convivial visiting on that day. " After being severally introduced, and paying the usual compliments of the season," says Mr. Pintard, "the citizens mutually interchanged their kind greetings, and withdrew, highly gratified by the friendly notice of the President, to most of whom he was personally a stranger." In the course of the evening, while speaking of the occurrences of the day, Mrs. Wash- ington remarked : "Of all the incidents of the day, none so pleased the General," by which title she always desig- nated him, " as the friendly greetings of the gentlemen who visited him at noon." To the inquiry of the Presi- dent, whether it was casual or customary, he was answered that it was an annual custom, derived from our Dutch forefathers, which had always been commemorated. After a short pause, he uttered these remarkable words: " The highly-favored situation of New York will, in the process of years, attract numerous emigrants,. who will gradually change its ancient customs and manners ; but let whatever changes take place, NEVER FORGET THE CORDIAL, CHEERFUL OBSERVANCE OF NEW-YEAR'S DAY."
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CHAPTER III.
IN the year 1792, the construction of the TONTINE ' BUILDING was begun by an association of merchants, orga- nized in 1790, and incorporated in 1794, under the 1792. name of the "Tontine Association." Its object was to provide a business center for the mercantile community. The original building fronted what was then known as Coffee-house Slip-now the corner of Wall and Water Streets. The merchants had long felt the need of some place where they could assemble and discuss the probable results of trade and the various questions of the time, and, during their leisure, indulge in a cup of prime old coffee, without walking 'to their distant homes in State Street, Bowling Green, and the lower part of Greenwich Street. Among the merchants who pushed forward the enterprise were John Broome, John Watts, Gulian Verplanck. John Delafield, and William Laight. In the vicinity of Broad and Pearl Streets was the old Merchants' Coffee-house; and in front of that, on December 1st, 1791, the sheriff of New York, Marinus Willett, sold under a writ of renditioni expo- nas, the dwelling and lot of land then " in the tenure and occupation of Anthony Bleecker, formerly held by Francis Lucas, and known as No. 22 Wall Street, reserving the right of way, 'if they have any right to it,' through an alley adjoining one side of the said property, and leading from the adjoining farm and garden of Francis Clark."
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