The first time I saw the President was on the first of January, 1846, the morning after the arrival of myself and my son (the Doctor,) at Washington. On New Year's day it is the privilege of every American and his family to pay their respects to the Chief Magistrate of the country, at the White House. Wishing to see this republican ceremony, so unlike any custom of Europe, we repaired to the residence of the President about one o'clock, and not having had time to deliver any of our letters of introduction, we went alone. The crowd was immense, but perfectly well conducted; no pushing forward, no murmuring, no jostling; each was solicitous to avoid, if possible, annoying his or her neighbour, and anxiously apologised if such an accident happened; all were neatly dressed, many of the female portion with much elegance, and the men carried their hats high up above their heads to keep them out of the way. I have been in all sorts of crowds, in England and France; at theatres, operas, churches, balls, routs, elections, and ceremonies of various kinds, both public and private, but I have never seen any assemblage of persons so orderly, respectful, patient, and well mannered as the American people on that day. The Democracy behaved like a Lady.