Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/180

that it was his wish to adopt such a system, as, without overstepping the limits of republican simplicity, would best maintain the dignity of the office, and secure to the President such a command of his time as was necessary to the proper performance of his duties. About a week after the inauguration, at his request, Mr. Hamilton addressed to him a letter, embracing such suggestions as he deemed appropriate, and these were in the main adopted. The customs thus introduced have ever since governed the intercourse of the executive with society. It was decided that the President should return no visits, that invitations to dinner should be given only to official characters and strangers of distinction, and that visits of courtesy should be confined to the afternoon of Tuesday, in each week. Foreign ministers and strangers were, however, received on other days, and the President was always accessible to persons who wished to see him on business. At a subsequent period his house was open in the same manner on Fridays for visits to Mrs. Washington, which were on a still more sociable footing, and at which the Chief was always present.

Mr. Jefferson, in his "Anas," has this statement: "When the President went to New York, he resisted for three weeks the efforts to introduce levees. At length he yielded, and left it to Humphreys and some others to settle the forms. Accordingly an ante-chamber and presence-room were provided, and when those who were to pay their court were assembled the President set out, preceded by Humphreys. After passing through the ante-chamber, the door of the inner room was thrown open, and Humphreys entered first, calling out with a loud voice, 'The President of the United States!' The President was so much disconcerted by it that he did not recover in the whole time of the levee; and when the company was gone, he said to Humphreys, 'Well, you have taken me in once, but, by God, you shall never take me in a second time.'"