MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY VOL. XXI APRIL, 1889 No. 4 WASHINGTON AND SOME OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES TH HE nearer we approach our great national jubilee, the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the American republic, the nearer Washington and his contemporaries come to our homes, our firesides, and our hearts. There never was a time in our country's history when the principal actors in the scenes of 1789 occupied so conspicuous a place in the public mind as to-day, or when their lineage, attainments, experiences, and general characteristics were studied with such genuine enthusiasm and satisfactory results. Washington has become much more to us under the new light than the hero of our victories-in war and in peace he is a familiar personal friend and benefactor. His name is upon every lip, his deeds are recited over and over again in every periodical, and his career furnishes a theme for orators on millions of platforms. His spoken words, his written letters, and his varied movements are all invested with a new significance. He seems almost to be approaching New York in the flesh to retake the oath which has echoed through a century. Of those remarkable statesmen who awaited his coming in April, 1789, Senator John Langdon held the most interesting position. Chosen president of the senate while yet there was neither President nor Vice-President qualified for duty, he was really the first acting President of the United States. When the votes were counted by the new body of legislators, he wrote the official letter conveying the information to Washington of his · election, and Charles Thompson delivered it in person to the Presidentelect at Mount Vernon. The letter was as follows: Sir New York, April 6, 1789 I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency the information of your unanimous election to the office of President of the United States of America. Suffer me, sir, to indulge the hope that so auspicious a mark of publick confidence will meet with your approbation, and be considered as a plege of the affection and support you are to expect from a free and enlightened people. I am Sir with sentiments of Respect Your Obedient servant General Washington Mount Vernon VOL. XXI.-No. 4.-19 John Langdon I had the honor to receive you Official Communication, by the hard of Mr Secretary Thompson, about one O'clock this day. – Having concluded to obey the important & flattering call of my Country, and having been impressed with an idea of the expediency of my being with Compress at as early a périod as possible : Ipropose to commence my your hey on thursday morning which ardhe The day afterns messer. I have the hener to be with sentiments of esteem Ser [Engraved from the original in possession of Mr. John Erving, of New York.] Washington's reply to Mr. Langdon, also his letter written from Philadelphia while on his journey to New York, are presented in fac-simile through the courtesy of their present owner, Mr. John Erving, the greatgrandson of John Langdon. John Langdon was a man of fine presence, large and admirably well Gentlemen Philadelphia April 20 1789 Upon my alighting in this lity Irecegiad your communication it and in arower thereto to inform you that having ho anxious both houses must be to proceed to business, Ishak centinus My Journey with as much dis patch as possible. – To marrow ever if I purpose to be at Trentonthe night fothewing at Bransch and hope to leave the pleasure of meeting you at Elizabeth town paint on Thursday at 12 Oclock With the greate trespect censed? I have the tes??" to be Gent ? Most Oled Hf Mahen John Langden ser ल [Engraved from the original in possession of Mr. John Erving, of New York.] & proportioned, though not so large as Washington, with a fresh but not very fair complexion, clear blue eyes, and a strong, straight, English nose. He was a splendid looking man, not so handsome or imposing as his elder brother Woodbury, the ancestor of the New York Langdons, but with an ample share of that personal beauty for which the Langdons in more generations than one have been celebrated. His gentlemanly breeding was so perfect withal that it is said he passed through forty years of political life without the tradition of a personal quarrel. His politeness was irresistible, and socially he was one of the most charming men of his generation. He was in his fiftieth year when he entered the first senate under the constitution. Fourteen years before this, in 1775, he was a delegate to the continental congress, and was the second time elected in January, 1776, together with William Whipple and Josiah Bartlett. Thus there were three members, and they were instructed that any one of them in the absence of the other was to have full power to represent the colony of New Hampshire, "and not more than two of them should attend at one time." Langdon was delegated to another service by congress, and through absence missed having his name immortalized in the celebrated document of the Declaration of Independence, but his colleagues were among the signers. career. Langdon, as a navy agent, aided the patriots very materially, and built among other vessels the Ranger, in which Jones started on his dashing He was one of the most active of men, and became a resolute leader in the revolutionary party. He was speaker of the New Hampshire Assembly during the dark days of 1777, when Burgoyne was working his way down from the north, and means being wanted to equip a New Hampshire regiment to go out and meet him, Speaker Langdon rose from his chair and addressed the house as follows: "Gentlemen: I have three thousand dollars in hard money: I will pledge my plate for three thousand more: I have seventy hogsheads of Tobago rum, which shall be sold for the most it will bring. These are at the service of the state. If we succeed in defending our firesides and our homes, I may be remunerated; if we do not, the property will be of no value to me. Our old friend Stark, who so nobly maintained the honor of our state at Bunker Hill, may be safely entrusted with the conduct of the enterprise, and we will check the progress of Burgoyne." New Hampshire's sons were quickly on the wing, inspired by the presence of mind and confidence of Langdon, who went with them and participated in the Bennington battle-which exercised such a potent influence on the subsequent fortunes of the war. Langdon commanded a company of volunteers at Saratoga and at Rhode Island. He was also, at one time and another, in almost every sort of service for congress and the cause, without notoriety or remuneration. Washington seems to have had his measure and regarded him with high respect, as indicated by the following letters: |