ntative in Congress from Rhode Island from
December 1st, 1825, until March 3d, 1835; was defeated as the Whig
candidate for Congress, and afterward as the Whig candidate for
Governor, and died at Providence, Rhode Island, October 13th, 1853.

CHAPTER XVI.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL LIFE AT WASHINGTON.

President Van Buren's wife (by birth Miss Hannah Hoes, of Columbia
County, New York) had been dead nineteen years when he took possession
of the White House, accompanied by his four sons, and presided over
the official receptions and dinner parties with his well-known tact
and politeness. In the November following his inauguration, his
eldest son and private secretary, Colonel Abraham Van Buren (who
was a graduate of the Military Academy at West Point, and who had
served on the staff of General Worth), was married to Miss Angelica
Singleton, a wealthy South Carolina lady, who had been educated at
Philadelphia, and who had passed the preceding winter at Washington
in the family of her relative, Senator Preston. On the New Year's
day succeeding the wedding Mrs. Van Buren, assisted by the wives
of the Cabinet officers, received with her father-in-law, the
President. Her rare accomplishments, superior education, beauty
of face and figure, grace of manner, and vivacity in conversation
insured social success. The White House was refurnished in the
most expensive manner, and a code of etiquette was established
which rivaled that of a German principality.

The President endeavored to restore the good feeling between the
Administration and Washington "society," which had been ruptured
during the political rule of General Jackson. He gave numerous
entertainments at the White House, and used to attend those given
by his Cabinet, which was regarded as an innovation, as his
predecessors had never accepted social invitations. Ex-President
Adams, the widow of President Madison, and the widow of Alexander
Hamilton each formed the centre of a pleasant coterie, and the
President was open in the expression of his desire that the members
of his Cabinet and their principal subordinates should each give
a series of dinner-parties and evening receptions during the
successive sessions of Congress.

The dinner-parties were very much alike, and those who were in
succession guests at different houses often saw the same table
ornaments, and were served by the same waiters, while the fare was
prepared by the same cook. The guests used to ass