He then advanced toward Mr. Fox, whom Mr.
Webster presented to him. Mr. Fox read to him his address. Then the
President took out his spectacles and read his reply. Then, after
having shaken hands with the English minister, he walked from one
end of our line to the other, Mr. Webster presenting each of us by
name, and he shaking hands with each one without saying a word.
This ceremony finished he returned to the room whence he had come,
and reappeared with Mrs. Harrison--the widow of his eldest
son--upon his arm, whom he presented to the diplomatic corps _en
masse_. Mr. Webster, who followed, then presented to us Mrs.
Finley, the mother of this Mrs. Harrison, in the following terms:
'Gentlemen, I introduce to you Mrs. Finley, the lady who attends
Mrs. Harrison;' and observe that this good lady who attends the
others--takes care of them--is blind. Then all at once, a crowd of
people rushed into the room. They were the wives, sisters,
daughters, cousins, and lady friends of the President and of all
his ministers, who were presented to us, and _vice versa_, in the
midst of an inconceivable confusion.
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