Congress and other citizens-he had declined the pressing solicitations of Mr Madison to ride with him in his carriage

-"To-day I return to the people," replied he, "and wish to join them in doing you honor." Accordingly, mounting his horse, attended only by his private secretary, he mingled with the citizens, and followed the carriage of Mr. Madison. Arriving at the Capitol, he glided in, unperceived, and took his seat on the floor with other citizens, and members of Congress.-After the administration of the oath, led by the President of the Senate, Mr. Madison ascended the steps to the speaker's chair. When he rose to speak, or rather read his address, he was extremely pale-he seemed scarcely able to stand with a tremulous and inaudible voice he read, what none except a few nearest to him could hear. As he proceeded he gained more composure-but his voice continued too low and feeble to reach the opposite side of the house. Yet there was an almost breathless silence in this living mass of beings. Every place on which a foot could stand, or to which a hand could cling, was covered with breathing matter.-The window-seats, the steps, the outside of the railing of the galleries-the pillars-every spot or projection was seized upon. When I recall the great, and the proud-the venerable, the young, and the beautiful, on whom I looked that day, and think how large a proportion have disappeared from earth, many forgotten, as though they had never been, I cannot but exclaim, what a dream is life! vanity of vanities!-Where are now those ambitious hopes-those fond pursuits, those eager desires, presumptuous schemes and darling vanities, which agitated so many human bosoms? Passed away-and we too, with all our wishes hopes and schemes,-we too, shall shortly vanish from this now busy scene. On leaving the Hall of Representatives, Mr. Madison was received by the militia of the district with a military salute-whose line he passed in review, and then mounting his carriage drove to his house through the thronging multitudes, whom curiosity and a patriotic and affectionate interest had drawn from the neighboring cities and adjacent country.

All, whose rank in society entitled them to admittance, followed him to his house, where he joined Mrs. Madison, in courteously and kindly receiving the numerous company of both sexes who eagerly hastened to pay their respects. In

the midst of this crowd, no one was so distinguished as Mr. Jefferson-for he, too, had hastened to do honor to his friend. His countenance was really resplendent with a benevolent joy. A friend, said "I think, Sir, you look so happy that I may with more propriety give you joy, than express_regret on the present occasion." Indeed you truly may-I am at this moment more to be envied than my friend."

Mrs. Madison was simply, but elegantly dressed; and while her manners were as frank and affable as the most republican equality could require, as a foreigner remarked, who had been a resident at many courts-"She looked and moved a Queen." Her dress was of fine linen cambric, most becomingly made, but with little trimming. The sparkling radiance of her countenace superseded the need of any extrinsic ornaments. Every apartment in the house had to be thrown open to accommodate the company; and even then, many could not get in. The street was so filled with carriages that those in the rear had to wait a long while before they could drive to the door.

"So much for having a Presidentess!" observed one"Oh we shall have charming times now," added a lady. "I really think," said a gentleman, "we must hereafter make it a condition that our Presidents must have wives." "Provided," replied the lady, "that they are such lovely and amiable women, as the present.' "An impossibility," exclaimed the gentleman! The fact was, that the uniform good nature, kindness of disposition, frank, gay, cordial manners of this lady, had softened the asperity of party feeling, disarmed prejudice, conciliated general good will, and won a popularity (I mean a social, not a political popularity) for her husband, which his cold and reserved manners never could have done. An intercourse had been opened between him and his fellow citizens which never could have taken place had he been a single man. Hundreds and hundreds thus became acquainted with the man, who, otherwise, would have known only the Statesman. The chiefs of the opposition, thus brought into social contact, not only with him, but with the other members of the administration, and leaders of the republican party, lost in personal good will, much of their political hostility. The benign influence of a benevolent woman, acts on the angry passions of men, as oil does on the stormy waves. In her presence they subside. The exhort

now

ation of Mr. Jefferson, in his inaugural address, was complied with. "Let us," says he, 66 restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection, without which liberty, and even life itself, are but dreary things; "-and this accomplishment of his kind wishes, was brought about more by the influence of those circles in which women presided, than by any other

cause.

What a digression this from the business of the day. A happy day to the hundreds, or rather thousands who participated in its festivities-but for one sad and gloomy idea.

The approaching departure of one of the most beloved of the citizens-for as such was Mr. Jefferson recognized. He had lived in habits of such cordial hospitality with the society-had taken such a lively interest in the welfare and improvement of the city, that in losing him, the citizens felt as if they had lost a friend. From Mr. Madison they hastened to Mr. Jefferson, to pay to him the homage of their regard and respect. He had just reached home and was not prepared for company; but he received the eager crowd that pressed around him, with his accustomed benignity, and a lively sensibility to the demonstrations of their affectionate regrets.

The ladies were among the foremost in these last attentions, and eagerly pressed forward, to utter their kind wishes. "The ladies will follow you," said a gentleman as he presented his family-"That is right," replied Mr. Jefferson, smiling, "as I am too old to follow them."

"I remember in France," he continued, "when his friends. were taking leave of Dr. Franklin, the ladies almost smothered him with embraces. On his introducing me to them as his successor, I told him, that among the rest of his privileges, I wished he would transfer this enviable one to me, but he answered, 'No, no, you are too young a man.'

One of the ladies whispered another," why does he forget, that that objection no longer exists?"

In the evening there was a splendid Ball-but crowded to such an excess that it was almost impossible to move. All the foreign ministers-senators-members of congress, the late heads of departments and Mr. Jefferson himself-were present. He came early, in order to be there to receive the President. What delicate politeness this!

The band of music struck up Jefferson's march on his entrance, and in every instance, the company were eager to lavish on him attention, which he evidently tried to elude.

But they would not allow him to play a secondary part, but throughout the evening paid him the most distinguishing respect.

When Mr. and Mrs. Madison entered, they were received with the same enlivening strains and happy faces. On being led to the upper end of the room, Mrs. Madison took the offered seat, but Mr. Madison turned and mingled with the company. Never was there a greater contrast in the appearance of two persons, than between Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison. The ex-President was all exhilaration, his face beaming with gladness. The President, was pale and spiritless-absolutely exhausted. Some one remarked the circunstance to Mr. Jefferson. "Can you wonder at that?" said he, "my shoulders have just been freed from a heavy burthen and his just laden with it," and as he said it, he shrugged up his shoulders as if to show how free he felt

them.

It would be absolutely impossible for any woman to behave with more propriety than the new Presidentess. Such unassuming dignity, sweetness, and grace, must have disarmed envy, could envy have entered such a happy circle.

Her tall majestic figure made her conspicuous even in the throng of elegantly dressed women, that crowded round her. Her dress was a robe of buff colored velvet-simply made. A rich set of pearls adorned her neck and arms-a Parisian turban ornamented with a plume of bird of paradise feathers, though it increased her height, was extremely becoming. How she supported herself, in this suffocating crowd, was inconceivable so great was the pressure around the place where she stood-for never for one moment did she sit,— when the manager brought her the first number in the dance, "What shall I do with it?" asked she smiling, "I never dance." "Give it to the lady next you," replied he. "No, no" said she, that would look like partiality. "Then I will," said the manager, and presented it to her sister. This is a trifling incident, but it was characteristic.

Early in the evening, Mr. Jefferson slipped unperceived away. Immediately after supper the President and his family withdrew and the Ball soon after closed.

What an unusual scene had this day-this evening exhibited- the new and the old administration even happier than the President that assumed power. So complete was their union, that they seemed to be identified, in principles, measures, and interest; and instead of a new, it appeared but a prolongation of the late administration. Would that it were possible that such unanimity could always continue. What dignity as well as happiness would it confer in our government. S****.