Washington Irving’s letter—Mrs. Madison’s drawing-room—Her two
sisters—The daughter of Virginians—Granddaughter of William
Coles, Esq., of Coles’ Hill—Her parents join the Friends’
Society—Reside in Philadelphia—Daughter reared in strict
seclusion—Her sunny nature—Married at nineteen to a young
lawyer—Her sisters—Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Cutts—Mrs. Paine’s
fascination of manner and beauty of person—Left a widow with an
infant son—A general favorite in society—Object of much
attention—Courted by many suitors—Marriage to Mr. Madison, then a
member of Congress—The match a brilliant one—The bride of
twenty-three years of age—The wedding at the residence of her
sister, in Virginia—Resides in summer at Montpelier—Winters spent
in Washington—Generous and hospitable—A happy domestic life—Mr.
Madison appointed Secretary of State—Removal to Washington—Gay
social life—Her house a radiating point for friends—A noble,
high-minded woman—Her power of adaptiveness—Loved by all
parties—A strong support to her husband—Dispensed his abundant
wealth with open hand—Received President Jefferson’s guests with
him—Election of Mr. Madison to succeed Jefferson—Mrs. Madison
hostess of the White House—Stiffness and formality laid
aside—Mrs. Madison never forgetful of a name or face—Her field of
action her parlor—Makes her husband’s administration popular and
brilliant—The first four years in the White House—No children by
Mr. Madison—Her table ridiculed by a foreign minister—“Abundance
preferable to elegance”—War with Great Britain—Mr. Madison’s
declaration—Second appeal of the United States to arms—The
British advance on Washington—All the public records removed—The
people in a panic—“The enemy coming”—The people flee from their
homes—Entrance of British—The Capitol burned—The American army
retreats to Georgetown—The glare of light seen for miles—The
President across the Potomac—Mrs. Madison remains to gather up
valuables—Notes to her sister—Houses fired all over the city—Mrs.
Madison urged to fly—Waits to secure the safety of General
Washington’s portrait—Colonel Custis comes from Mount Vernon to
remove it—Mrs. Madison orders its frame broken—Carried to
Georgetown—The White House left in the care of servants—Mrs.
Madison joins her husband—The enemy ransack the White House, and
then fire it—Thieves pillage the burning building—Furniture and
family stores belonging to the President lost—A coarse pun—The
War Department spared because of the storm—The British commanders
regretting the escape of the President and his wife—Wanted to be
exhibited in England—A week of terror—No sleep or rest for the
frightened people—Terrible storm—The British amazed at the force
of the tornado—Appalling disasters—Two cannons lifted from the
ground—The enemy anxious to leave Washington—Mrs. Madison in
Virginia—Fleeing troops and panic-stricken families—Rumors of the
approach of the British—The elemental war—Mrs. Madison awaits the
coming of her husband—Insulted by women—Refused shelter from the
storm—Madison charged with the responsibility of the war—The
tavern closed to herself and escort—The latter forces an
entrance—The lady who did not forget her station—People who had
been her guests denounce her—Mrs. Madison’s anxiety for her
husband—The hours drag slowly by—Reaches her at
night-fall—Careworn and hungry—A courier at midnight—The
President seeks safety in the distant woods—No enemy coming—The
evacuation of Washington unknown to the President—Bids his wife
disguise herself and fly—Hears next day of the retreat—Returns to
the Long Bridge—Is refused a boat—No one recognizes the disguised
woman—Gives her name and is ferried over the river—Finds her home
in ruins—Desolation everywhere—Seeks the residence of her
sister—Sends word to the President—His return to Washington—Rents
the “Octagon” and lives there—Treaty of peace signed—Various
residences of Mr. Madison in Washington—Last reception held by
the President—The most brilliant ever held up to that date—Peace
commissioners to Ghent present—Heroes of the war of 1812—Mrs.
Madison “every inch a queen”—She offers Mr. Clay a pinch of
snuff—Her bandana handkerchief—Fond of elegant apparel—Two
visitors from the West—“P’rhaps you wouldn’t mind if I jest
kissed you”—A graceful salutation—Mr. Madison not attractive to
the ladies—His charming wife atones for his gravity—His
admiration for her social characteristics—A curious
coincidence—Three of the first four Presidents marry young
widows—Two of the Presidents childless, and all without sons—All
Virginians—Anecdote of Mrs. Madison—Recollections of Mr.
Trist—Led to dinner by President Jefferson—Rage of the British
minister—A stir made about the “insult”—Mr. Monroe, Minister to
England, informed of the facts—An expected call for official
explanations—Mr. Monroe delighted with the prospect—Precedence
over his own wife under analogous circumstances—Excellent
materials in his possession—Expresses his satisfaction over an
opportunity to retaliate, which was not granted—Mrs. Madison
always presided at the dinners given by President Jefferson—His
disregard of official etiquette—The British minister and his wife
never his guests again—Thomas Moore lampooned the
President—Disliked everything American—Mrs. Madison’s regret over
the occurrence—Expiration of the President’s second term—He
prepares to leave Washington—Mrs. Madison’s Washington
friends—Sorrow over her departure from the city—Residence at
Montpelier—Quiet country life—The mansion of the ex-President—His
mother an inmate of his home—Devotion of Mrs. Madison to her—The
object of the venerable lady’s grateful affection—A devoted wife
to an appreciative husband—Admirable in all the relations of
life—“Cordial, genial and sunny atmosphere surrounding her”—Her
son—Paine Todd an undutiful son—The sorrow of her life—Mr.
Madison’s kindness to him—His conduct heartless and
unprincipled—Death of Mr. Madison—The end of a noble
career—Offers Congress her husband’s manuscripts—President
Jackson sends a special message to Congress regarding the
subject—Thirty thousand dollars paid her for the work—“Debates in
the Congress of the Convention during the years 1782–87”—Congress
also confers the franking privilege upon Mrs. Madison—Votes her a
seat upon the floor of the Senate—The last years of Mrs.
Madison’s life—Her residence in Washington—Beautiful old age—Her
public receptions on national holidays—The throng of visitors
equal to that assembled at the President’s house—Her death in
1849—Funeral in Washington—Aged eighty-two years—Buried beside
her husband at Montpelier 171