Washington Winter Show 2019

47 1787 letter to his mother, he called Mount Vernon “a well resorted tavern” because “scarcely any strangers who are going from north to south, or from south to north do not spend a day or two.” The relentless press of visitors continued to such an extent that, in the summer of 1797, Washington commented to a friend, “Unless some one pops in, unexpectedly, Mrs. Washington and myself will do what I believe has not been [done] within the last twenty years by us, [and] that is to set down to dinner by ourselves.” It’s not surprising that guests retained glowing memories. In 1777, an English visitor named Nicholas Cresswell observed of Washington: He keeps an excellent table and a stranger, let him be of what Country or nation, he will always meet with a most hospitable reception at it. His entertainments were always conducted with the most regularity and in the genteelest manner of any I ever was at on the Continent. . . . Temperance he always observed, was always cool-headed and exceedingly cautious himself, but took great pleasure in seeing his friends entertained in the way most agreeable to themselves. His lady is of a hospitable disposition, always good-humoured and cheerful, and seems to be actuated by the same motives with himself, but she is rather of a more lively disposition. They are to all appearances a happy pair. Elkanah Watson of New York spent time at Mount Vernon in January 1785, and glowingly described in his journal the personal attention guests might receive from their host. Watson, who arrived bearing letters of introduction, later confessed, “Although assured that these credentials would secure me a respectful reception, I trembled with awe as I came into the presence of this great man.” After getting past this initial trepidation, he reveled in being “alone in the enjoyment of the society of Washington, for two of the richest days of my life.” Watson went on to relate a telling incident: The first evening I spent under the wing of his hospitality, we sat a full hour at the table by ourselves, without the least interruption, after the family had retired. I was extremely oppressed by a severe cold and excessive coughing, contracted by the exposure of a harsh winter journey. He pressed me to use some remedies, but I declined doing so. As usual after retiring, my coughing increased. When some time had elapsed, the door of my room was gently opened, and on drawing my bed-curtains, to my utter astonishment, I beheld Washington himself, standing at my bed-side, with a bowl of hot tea in his hand. I was mortified and distressed beyond expression. This little incident, occurring in common life with an ordinary man, would not have been noticed; but as a trait of the benevolence and private virtue of Washington, [it] deserves to be recorded. Throughout his presidency, when the seat of national government was in New York and then in Philadelphia, Washington would invite ten to twenty congressmen and other public officials to dine with him on Thursdays at 4 p.m. These meals were more elaborate than family dinners at Mount Vernon, both in the number of dishes offered and in the table settings. They could also be rather tedious due to the presence of non- Federalist congressmen, who distrusted and criticized nearly every move Washington made. One of them, Senator William Maclay of Pennsylvania wrote, “It was a great dinner,” but “[I] considered it part of my duty as a Senator, to submit to it, and am glad it is over.” As an alternative to these formal presidential dinners, Martha Washington hosted a weekly levée, or reception, on Friday evenings beginning at 7 p.m. and ending just after 10 p.m. No invitations were issued, it being understood that those residents of the capital city with the proper social credentials were welcome—so long as they were appropriately dressed. Widely regarded as the social event of the city, Mrs. Washington’s levées took place in the impressive green drawing room on the second floor of the president’s house, brilliantly lit with candles in the chandeliers and candelabras and by newfangled oil lamps. A dessert table An engraved invitation to dine with President and Mrs. Washington. Miniature portrait of Martha Washington, by James Peale, 1796. Miniature portrait of General George Washington, probably by Ellen Sharples, ca. 1796.