There shall be armies, thrones, and states, With all their unpredicted fates; Yet none, of millions now in power, Shall move the tongue or hand, that hour. The sceptre, banner, sword, and pen, The white-winged ships shall come and But manned by those we do not know; The breeze that wafts them o'er the waves Shall bend the flowers above our graves. Along the streets shall then move crowds, The plow shall turn the grassy plain, Where now we sit in twilight bowers To hear their vows, forgotten soon. Like shadows o'er the fields of grass This living century shall pass, And fading, as a summer eve, The earth, to those who follow, leave. The press and commerce, church and state, Must gain from others future fate, For you, nor I, nor any one Now living, shall behold that sun. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS THREE LETTERS FROM ROGER GRISWOLD TO HIS WIFE [Roger Griswold, subsequently governor of Connecticut, was ten years a member of congress, 1795-1805, and his family letters from Philadelphia, particularly in the early part of that period, possess all the charm of current gossip. President John Adams offered him the secretaryship of war, which he declined. He was thirty-three years of age at the time of the writing of these letters, and personally one of the handsomest men of his day, with a bright, keen, flashing black eye, elegant manners, finished scholarship, with gifts and graces in conversation that were the delight of his friends. He was the son of Governor Matthew Griswold, and the grandson, through his mother, of Governor Roger Wolcott, of Connecticut. These letters are contributed by one of his great-grandchildren, Mrs. J. Osborne Moss of New York city.-EDITor.] WASHINGTON BEFORE CONGRESS. PHILADELPHIA, December 10, 1795. Dear Fanny: On Tuesday at 12 o'clock the President met the two Houses of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives and delivered his speech. The ceremony was interesting, and I observed that the President was considerably agitated upon the occasion. The room where we assembled is convenient as well for the meeting of the two Houses as for its ordinary purpose. The chair of the Speaker stands on the south side of the room and is elevated three steps above the floor; the seats for the members are ranged in four semi-circular rows in front of the Speaker, the first row being about thirty feet distant from the chair. of the chair is a passage or aisle leading through the seats directly to the front door, and on each side there are likewise passages leading through the seats for the convenience of passing in and out. All this body of seats is inclosed by a bar, leaving a passage quite around the room by the wall. Upon this occasion two chairs were placed on the right of the Speaker's chair on the floor of the House, and a little in front, for the President and Secretary of the Senate, and two on the left for the Speaker and Clerk of the House. The Senate was seated on the right of the Chair, in those seats which belong to the Representatives; the members of the House of Representatives were seated in the other semi-circular seats belonging to the House; the foreign Ministers were placed in chairs on the floor of the House, on the left of the Speaker's chair, and our own Ministers, viz.: Secretary of the Treasury, War, etc., in chairs on the right. The two Houses and Ministers were all seated when the President came in. All arose upon his entering the House. He advanced through the front door, attended by the Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of War, and passing across the area which lies in front of the chair, he ascended the steps and took his seat in the chain of the Speaker. When he was seated all were seated. After waiting a few moments he arose, the House and spectators rising at the same time, and delivered his speech. When the speech was closed he again resumed his seat, and after sitting a few moments arose and retired in the same manner as he entered. The Senate then retired, and the ceremony was closed. It is impossible to give any just description of the feelings excited by this ceremony. The many eminent services rendered by the President to his country all arose on the mind-the interest every one took in the proceedings communicated as it were from one to another an enthusiastic respect for the man who excited it -and the real solemnity observed filled every mind with respect and attention. The agitation which he felt discovered the feelings of a parent, and the ambition to excel in the first magistrate of a great nation. You cannot doubt but that I have been highly gratified on the occasion, and shall remember with pleasure the scene to which I have been a witness. It is quite impossible to conjecture at this early period what course the business of the session will take. Nothing as yet has been done, and there really appears but little to do. I have, however, no doubt but that we shall have noise enough before the winter closes. I called last evening on Mrs. Pereit, and found her in health and spirits. I really think the lady is better situated than she was when encumbered with an ill-natured father and a stupid husband. From Mrs. Pereit's I went to the circus, and attended the equestrian exhibition of Ricketts and his associates. My paper is filled up, and having nothing more to communicate, I can only add that I remain most affectionately yours, ROGER GRISWOLD. A PRESIDENTIAL LEVEE PHILADELPHIA, December 12, 1795. Dear Fanny: Last evening, agreeably to the fashion of the place, I attended the levee of the Lady of the President. Although a very formal business, it is attended with less ceremony than one would expect. The drawing-room is in the second story, and consists of two chambers, very elegantly furnished. Without any ceremony or introduction we walked up stairs and went into the first chamber, and passing through that without taking notice of any person we walked into the second chamber, and being introduced by Mr. Tracy I made my bow to the lady, and without saying a word turned on my heel and mixed with the company, and was afterward introduced to the President. The rooms were extremely crowded. The ladies were seated on the sides of the room and formed a circle quite around. The gentlemen were standing in the middle of the room, conversing with each other or with the ladies or looking around on the company. No ceremony is observed after the first introduction and every person feels much at his ease, and leaves the room whenever he pleases without taking leave. You are treated with tea, coffee, cake, lemonade, etc. The rooms on this evening were so much crowded that one could scarcely move from one part to another. You will very easily conjecture that nothing interesting can take place on these occasions-neither sentiment nor character are developed when ceremony and caution mark everything. Such scenes are fit only to be seen. They cannot be enjoyed. Congress has as yet transacted no business-the week has been spent in forming arrangements and preparations for business. Having nothing new to declare, you must accept my best wishes and believe me sincerely yours, R. GRISWOLD. DINING WITH WASHINGTON PHILADELPHIA, January 1, 1796. Dear Fanny I wish you a happy New Year. This salutation is frequently uttered without real meaning. In this instance, however, it is something more than a mere sound; it originates from the sincerest wishes that your happiness during the year which is now ushered in may remain unclouded. It is now the first day of January and the weather remains as pleasant as is usual in the month of May. The air is clear and the ground remains unfrozen and winter appears robbed of half its severity. I know not what may be the appearance in Connecticut, but I presume the weather remains unusually mild. This moderation of our climate may be agreeable to persons of weak and languid constitutions, but to me, I declare it is of all things the most unpleasant. Give me a clear northwester, with an air sharp and severe, the ground covered with snow, and I can rejoice over the dreary appearance of nature. The nerves become renovated with new vigor, health smiles in our faces and the full flow of animal life elevates us above the rigor of the season. Nothing very interesting has taken place since I wrote you at the beginning of the week; the House has been employed in examining the case of the two persons who attempted corrupting the members to support their petition for a grant of land at Detroit. The rogues, I believe, are guilty enough; but so much parade is made about the business that it is to be regretted any measures were taken by the Legislature with them. The delegations from Connecticut and Maryland were this week invited to dine with the President. Less ceremony took place than one would have expected. The President, his lady and Secretary were the only persons at the table except the guests. The dinner, you may be assured, was elegant and the furniture of the table rich. Six servants in livery attended at the table. We had no grace. Mr. Trumbull was placed at one end of the table and the Secretary at the other. Every man was at home-he ate, drank and said what he pleased, without ceremony. Conversation was unrestrained. We sat down at table at 4 and arose at 6. Each individual left the house when he pleased without saying anything to the Master of the House or anybody else. In short the business is more reasonably conducted than I expected to see it, and I feel more reconciled to the ceremony of eating and drinking with the President than to any other ceremony I have attended. In my letter of the beginning of this week I acknowledged the receipt of yours of the 20th of December. I hope you will find leisure to write by every mail. Wish Nancy and the children a Happy New Year on my account, and believe me sincerely yours, R. GRISWOLD. LETTER FROM PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT TO GEORGE CLINTON Sir: Hitherto Unpublished. [Contributed by S. Victor Constant.] KINGSTON, July 3, 1777. Upon the Receipt of your Letter by Express, the Council of Safety proceeded to the immediate Consideration of the Matters submitted by you to our Determination. We think the probability of an Attack at Ticonderoga and a Cooperation of Genl Howe by an attempt on the Posts in the Highlands a subject of the most serious importance. We have not yet received any Account of an investiture of our Northern Post; nor can we determine at present whether it will be most advisable to order the several Corps of Militia in the Counties of Dutchess & Ulster which you have not put under marching Orders, to reinforce either the upper or the lower Posts. A Short Time will probably enable us to direct their March. In the meantime that not a moment may be lost; we have issued Orders to the commanding Officers of those Corps to hold themselves in Readiness with the Militia under their respective Commands, furnished with three Days Provisions to march at a Moments Warning. I am with great Respect |