President Elect—he arrived from Baltimore last Monday, & altho we had A most terrible day— very cold & snowing all day—yet the Multitude turned out to receive him at the depo, & the poor old Man walked from there to the City Hall without his Coat—Genl Vanness1—whose Carriage is always at hand to serve A President. offered his Carriage & 4 to take him but he prefered to walk—not expecting such A day, the arrangements by the City Committee was, that the company should walk & I suppose he determined that he would do as others did—on Thursday he received the Ladies of Washington at the City Hall & yesterday he came to George Town, & received all who wished to be introduced at the Columbia Bank2 –where A handsome Collation was prepared to refresh him after his fatigue—A Barouche & 4 gray Horses—received him at the Bridge with the Citizens & the College Boys—& Children from other schools—an Arch was thrown from Edward Linthicum Corner3 to the opposite Corner—ornamented with evergreen & Flowers, & A hand-Flag—several Flags were hung out—from different Houses—your Uncle Calvert Stuart4 came here the day before, & wished to see Genl Harrison—Darling5 & myself did not wish to pay our respects at this time, as we prefered doing so, on the 4 of March Robert Dick6 came up— & said he called to see if we wished to go to see the Parade—your Uncle Washn,7 Uncle Calvert, & Mr. Dick were our escorts. Darling stoped at Edward Linthicums hard ware store, with Mr. Dick & your Uncle W—but Calvert wished to go to the Bank, to see all that was to be seen—I told him I would go with him, but not to be introduced. we waited to see the procession come up—& had A full view of the Lion. he is quite A genteel good Looking old Man, who appears to have Health, Strength, & energy enough for the duties he is about to undertake. &
much more honest countenance than Martin. the greatest cordiality exists between the two great Men—Martin, called on the General, the General returned his visit—the General dined with Martin yesterday, so to day Martin dines with the General at Gadsbys where he is staying. Kings are permitted to dine with Kings I suppose. The old man made A speech at the Bank that delighted his hearers, & we are in great hopes that the district will improve during his administration. I wrote your Mother that your Aunt Jane8 had another son—he is to be called James Henderson9 she says he is A very fine Child, brown hair, fair skin & bright Eyes—give Mr. Bun10 A kiss for his Grandmother, & she is much pleased that he has become so accomplished. I conclude I shall soon hear his taking Likenesses. give my love to your Mother & tell her she has never given any direction respecting the $50—I wrote her Your Uncle Washn had placed in my hand for her—We saw your Aunt Dick yesterday, she with your other friends always request to be affectionately remembered to you, your Mother & family. you are much more gay, in Buffalo than we are in the district. No parties in G- Town, except sociables among A sett of young Ladies, not of our sett. & few in Washington, that we are acquainted with— we were at Mrs. Meads—& that is the only night we have been out—give our love to Lum,11 & tell her whenever she is disposed to write she must do so, as we shall be very happy to pay the postage of her Letters. I will write to your Mother next week—your Dr Aunt Britt unites with me in love to you, your Mother, & the several members of your family present our respects to all enquiring Friends. that health & happiness may attend you through Life my Dear Child, is the earnest prayer of your ever affectionate Grandmother MP
1. General John Peter van Ness (1770–1846) was the first president of the National Metropolitan Bank. He was mayor of the City of Washington from 1830 to 1834.
2. The Bank of Columbia stood on Bridge (M) Street.
3. Edward M. Linthicum’s hardware store was located on the corner of High Street and Bridge Street (Wisconsin Avenue and M Street).
4. Charles Calvert Stuart (b. 1794) was Martha Peter’s half-brother.
5. “Darling” was probably Martha Peter’s youngest child, Britannia Wellington Peter (1815–1911), who resided with her at Tudor Place.
6. Robert Dick (1800–70) was the son of Thomas Peter’s sister, Margaret Peter Dick, and Thomas Dick of Bladensburg, Maryland.
7. George Washington Peter (1801–77) was Martha and Thomas Peter’s son.
8. Aunt Jane was Elizabeth Jane Henderson Peter (b.1812), the wife of Thomas and Martha Peter’s son John Parke Custis Peter (1799–1848).
9. James Henderson Peter (1841–60).
10. “Mr. Bun” (or “Bunny”) was William Orton Williams (1839–63), Markie’s youngest brother. “His taking Likenesses” refers to portrait painting.
11. Columbia Wingfield Williams (1828–86), Markie’s sister, was called “Lum” by family members.
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WHITE HOUSE HISTORY (Number 10)