Anecdotes of public men; by John W. Forney.

240 ANECDOTES OF PUBLIC MEN.
Then came the hurry and excitement of moving the different
Departments of the Government, complaints on the part of
members of Congress of high prices of rents and provisions,
and all the numerous intrigues incidental to such a transition.
The appearance of Philadelphia was monotonous enough, though
Christ Church had quite a cathedral air, and the Dutch church
was magnificent. But the city, plain and unpretending, was
chiefly attractive to visitors by its markets, which were declared
to be the best in the world. The Pennsylvania politicians, including such men as Robert Morris, felt that if they could make
Congress, the President, and the Departments comfortable in
Philadelphia, the project of removing to the South would be
abandoned, and therefore some amusing expedients were resorted to, especially to propitiate the President, but without
effect. He was exceedingly careful about committing himself,
would receive no favors of any kind, and scrupulously paid for
every thing. The house of Mr. Robert Morris had been taken
by the corporation for his residence. "It is," said Washington
to his private secretary, Mr. Lear, " the best they could get, and
is, I believe, the best single house in the city." A larger house
was set apart for him on Ninth Street, on the grounds now covered by the Pennsylvania University, which he refused to accept.
The house he occupied while he was President was a large
double house, on the south side of High Street, near Fifth, was
three stories, thirty-two feet wide, four windows in the second
as well as in the third story, and three in the first, approached
by three heavy steps of gray stone to a single door. It was
situated in a vacant lot, used as a garden, and surrounded with
trees and shrubbery.
On Saturday, the 28th of November, I790, the President and
Mrs. Washington arrived from Mount Vernon, and took possession of this their new mansion, and on Christmas-day, the 25th
of December, they gave their first formal levee. The President
was surrounded by members of his Cabinet or other distinguished