March 13, 1861; The New York Herald
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1861.
The first levee of President Lincoln was given at the White House tonight. It was a monster gathering. The oldest frequenters of the Executive mansion declare that they do not recollect ever to have seen so many people pass through the House at any previous levee. Some of the officers of the House, who served Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Pierce, say they never saw anything approaching it in numbers, and that it was never excelled in brilliancy. An hour before the doors of the house were opened the great driveway was blockaded with carriages, and the sidewalks and approaches to the White House were thronged with ladies and gentlemen, anxiously awaiting an opportunity to enter and pay their respects to the President and Mrs. Lincoln. At eight o’clock the doors were opened, and the house was soon filled. By half past eight the crowd inside was so intense that–it being impossible to pass out of the door, owing to the large numbers outside waiting for admission–it was found necessary to pass the ladies and gentlemen who desired to retire out through the windows. This mode of exit lasted nearly an hour, especially for the gentlemen.
From eight until half-past ten o’clock Mr. Lincoln took the position usually occupied by the President at receptions, and, during the whole time, did not have a resting spell of one minute, but shook hands continually, a large portion of the time shaking the gentleman with the right hand and the lady with the left at the same time, or vice versa, as the case might be, in order to facilitate the movements of the multitude. It was evidently a new sensation for the arms of the renowned old rail splitter. But he bore it well. Col. Lamar, of Illinois, one of Mr. Lincoln’s suite and a prominent candidate for Marshal of the District, occupied a position on the immediate left of the President, and when people insisted upon stopping to be introduced by name, he executed that duty courteously and with despatch. Mrs. Lincoln occupied a position to the immediate right of the President, and, next to her husband was the target for all eyes. Dr. Blake, present Commissioner of Public Buildings, filled his usual position of introducing to the Queen of the White House such as desired to be presented. Mrs. Lincoln bore the fatigue of the two-and-a-half hour siege with great patience. She appeared remarkably well, and performed her part of the honors, in response to the grand ovation paid to her as well as to her honored husband, with the propriety which consistently blends all the graces with an unreserved dignity, and which is much more becoming the wife of a republican President than it would be to attempt to ape the sycophantic, haughty manner of European courts, as has been done in the past. Distinguished among the guests were Mr. and Mrs. Douglas. The interview between them and Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln was very cordial. The members of the new Cabinet were all present except Mr. Seward, who was ill. Charles Sumner appeared the first time for six years, in the most approved style of English evening dress.
The diplomatic corps and the officers of the army and navy were seen mingling in the gay throng, their dashing uniforms flashing in the light of chandeliers, and only eclipsed in beauty by the brilliant and variegated costumes of the ladies, richly decorated with diamonds, and pearls and other precious gems, or by the more attractive and dazzling influences of the many young and beautiful ladies present, whose sparkling eyes, lovely faces and genteel forms were the theme of conversation. Rarely has there ever been witnessed more beauty at a Presidential levee. The elite of Washington society was not only fully represented, but the wealthy and fashionable circles of nearly every State in the Union, from Maine to Louisiana, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Indeed without disparaging others, it may be said with truth that one of the belles, if not the belle of the evening, was from the Golden State, the wife of an officer in the army.
At half past ten o’clock Mrs. Lincoln, leaning upon the arm of an ex-member of Congress from Illinois –much to the chagrin of Senators and representatives who were dressed and dying to have that honor themselves –proceeded through the Blue room to the East room. The President followed, attended by one of his youngest sons. The crowd in the East room, although very great, made way for his Excellency and lady and suite. They passed round the room once, the head of the President peering above all the rest, so that he could be distinctly seen at any time from any point. He was dressed in plain black broadcloth–his inaugural suit, manufactured by Hinton & Peel, of this city–and wore white kinds. Mrs. Lincoln was attired in a rich Magenta colored brocade silk, with raised figure flounces, trimmed, not extravagantly, with rich point lace. Her ornaments were chiefly diamonds and pearls.
Robert Lincoln was not present, having returned to his collegiate studies at Cambridge.
The universal impression is, that Old Abe’s first public reception at the White House has been a triumphant success. Everybody seems pleased, except those who got badly squeezed in the crowd, and a few who lost their coats and hats or got them exchanged, as is always more or less the case at the levees.