Mount Vernon Association in 1891 from the Lewis estate, for $250—and it
is broken too. It is sixteen inches across and five and a half in depth.
On the rim, both inside and outside the bowl, is an odd pink and yellow
band. Scattered over it are flowers of various colors, in which pink
predominates.
The beautiful Chinese bowl given to Colonel Benjamin Eyre, the
Revolutionary patriot, by Washington, is now in the possession of
Colonel Eyre’s great-grandson, Benjamin Eyre Valentine, Esq., of
Brooklyn. It is about fifteen inches in diameter and five and a half
inches high, of fine Canton china, and bears around the outside of the
bowl a scene in a Chinese town, and at regular intervals flaunting flags
of all the known nations which were then engaged in maritime pursuits,
our new flag—the stars and stripes—being conspicuous among them. This
bowl thus possesses an additional historical interest, in that it is the
oldest known piece of Chinese porcelain bearing the decoration of the
American flag. It is a counterpart in size and shape to the Washington
bowl now in the Smithsonian Institution, but the latter is decorated
with Chinese landscapes and figures. It came into the possession of the
Government through the sale of Washington relics by the Lewis family.
[Illustration: Cincinnati Bowl.]
The most curious Continental punch-bowl that I have ever seen is the
great bowl which is here shown. It is now owned by the Washington
Association of New Jersey, and once belonged to Colonel Richard Varick,
aide to Washington. It is a beautifully-proportioned vessel of Lowestoft
or Canton china, about eighteen inches in diameter. It has a dark blue
border with festoons of gilt, and bears on the side, in well-chosen
colors, all the words and design of the full certificate of membership
of the Society of the Cincinnati. The winged figure of Fame, and the
other symbolical figures are carefully painted, and all the lettering,
including the fine text of the Latin mottoes on seal and crest, is clear
and exact. Doubtless a certificate of membership was sent to be copied
when the bowl was ordered by Colonel Varick. It is in perfect condition,
and is one of the finest historical relics of early Federal times that I
have ever seen. It plainly shows the pride and delight of Revolutionary
heroes in their new country and new associations. There are in the same
building—Washington’s Headquarters—half a dozen other punch-bowls, all
of historical interest, and all large enough to show the vastly
hospitable intent of the new-made citizens of the new Republic.
How pleased good, plain American Republicans were with that Society of
the Cincinnati, and how it tickled their pride to wear the Order! Adams
and Franklin were seriously alarmed at the powerful hold and influence
the decoration seemed to have, and used argument and ridicule against
it. One patriotic and vain citizen had his portrait painted in the
bottom of his punch-bowl, with the Order proudly displayed around his
neck. Around him encircled that favorite emblem, the thirteen-linked
chain; great black links these were, with the name of a State in each.
On the side of the bowl the Order was again displayed in larger size.
There is a gallant ten-gallon bowl in Upper Faneuil Hall, which belongs
to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston. Captain Ephraim
Prescott, when in China in 1795, procured this great bowl as a suitable
present for his companions at arms. The generous captain died during the
voyage home, and on its arrival in port the punch-bowl fell into strange
hands. Thirty years later Hon. Jonathan Hunnewell heard of its
existence, bought it for $15, and gave it to the military company for
whom it was originally purchased. Curious old orders and entries exist
about the purchase of wine, rum, sugar, and “sourings” for the
manufacture of the ancient and honorable punches. “But if sowrings be
scarce & dear, wine & rum only.” You might make a punch without lemons,
on a squeeze, but not without wine and rum.
“Sourings” ought to have been cheap enough. Even as early as 1741 lemons
were plentiful and not at all dear. In the _Salem Gazette_ in 1741, is
this notice: “Extraordinary good and very fresh Orange Juice, which some
of the very best Punch Tasters prefer to Lemmons, at one dollar per
gallon. Also very good Lime Juice and Shrub to put into Punch, at the
Basket of Lemmons. J. Crosby.” So there was with all the punch-bowls, a
regular profession of punch-tasting; just fancy it.
Occasionally there is some definite means of tracing the age of one of
these pieces. Thus the fine, perfect punch-bowl owned by William C.
Townsend, of Newport, is said to have been brought out by Captain Jacob
Smith, of the Semiramis, a ship that, returning home in 1804 after an
absence of three years, was lost on Nantucket Shoals. Of her cargo,
valued at three hundred thousand dollars, but little was saved; but,
strange to say, this great punch-bowl, twenty-two inches in diameter,
holding eight gallons, was brought off in safety. It has the typical
Lowestoft border of blue enamel with gold stars, and on the sides are
large medallions so European in appearance that at first they seem to
stamp the bowl as English. Examination, however, shows that the figures
have the almond eyes of the Chinese, as well as other Oriental
characteristics, and were undoubtedly copied from French or English
prints sent to Canton.
A modern writer thus sadly deplores the “good old times:”
“Fifty years ago the punch-bowl was no mere ornament for the side-board
and the china-cabinet; it was a thing to be brought forth and filled
with a fragrant mixture of rum, brandy and curacoa, lemon, hot water,
sugar, grated nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. The preparation of the bowl
was as much a labor of love as that of a claret-cup, its degenerate
successor. The ladles were beautiful works of art in silver—where are
those ladles now, and what purpose do they serve?” Yes, it is true, the
days of universal use for the punch-bowl are over—ornamental and curious
they now are, and nothing more. Lucky it is for us china collectors,
that dinners and everything else _à la russe_ did not obtain with our
hospitable ancestors. No great tureens, no generous pitchers, no vast
platters, and no noble punch-bowls should we now have to admire and
gloat over, and place in our cabinets as monuments of ceramic art. Had
they lived as we do, not a single punch-bowl should we have to glory in
and grow sentimental over. An ignorant butler would have carelessly and
prosaically mixed the drink in his pantry in any kind of a pot or a pan,
and then ignominiously bottled it, and brought it in when required in
driblets, in stingy little glasses that say plainly: “Drink this, and no
more.”
Indeed, I doubt we ever would have had punch, for in the gustatory and
potatory laws of cause and effect, I know the punch-bowl evoked or
generated punch instead of being made to hold punch. I would not go back
to the rollicking, roaring, drunken ways of the olden time, but on the
whole I am glad our grandfathers had those ways and bequeathed to us the
glorious, great, ringing punch-bowls, in which they brewed and mixed and
concocted, and from which they drank that “most insinuating drink” with
which so often they got sadly, hopelessly “lusky, bosky, buffy, boozy,
cocky, fuddled, balmy, pickled, screwed, funny, foggy, hazy, groggy,
slewed, ruddled, dagged, jagged, comed, elevated, muddled, tight,
primed, mainbrace well spliced, gilded”—or whatever elegant, chaste,
colonial appellation our synonym-lacking language afforded to express
being drunk.
One worthy tribute to an old punch-bowl has been written by one of our
best-loved poets. I would his bowl had been like my theme, china instead
of silver—ah, no! I do not, for had it been of “tenderest porcelane” it
might have been broken a century ago, and we should have known neither
his punch-bowl nor his perfect poem. How true the opening verses!
“This ancient silver bowl of mine, it tells of good old times,
Of joyous days, and jolly nights, and merry Christmas chimes;
They were a free and jovial race, but honest, brave, and true,
That dipped their ladle in the punch when this old bowl was new.”
And can I end better than with the concluding verses?
“I tell you there was generous warmth in good old English cheer,
I tell you ’twas a pleasant thought to bring its symbol here;
’Tis but the fool that loves excess—hast thou a drunken soul?
Thy bane is in thy shallow skull, not in my silver bowl!
“I love the memory of the past, its pressed yet fragrant flowers,
The moss that clothes its broken walls, the ivy on its towers—
Nay, this poor bauble it bequeathed—my eyes grow moist and dim,
To think of all the vanished joys that danced around its brim.
“Then fill a fair and honest cup and bear it straight to me,
The goblet hallows all it holds whate’er the liquid be,
And may the cherubs on its face protect me from the sin,
That dooms one to those dreadful words, ‘My dear, where have you been?’”
XI.
GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON’S CHINA
In the long and apparently extravagant orders which George Washington
sent to England previous to the Revolutionary War, for the purchase and
exportation to him of dress goods and house and table furnishings of
various descriptions, I find no mention of table china. In 1759 he wrote
for “four Fashionable China Branches or Stands for Candles,” and for
“Busts of Alexander the Great, Charles XII. of Sweden, Julius Cæsar, and
King of Prussia, fifteen inches high and ten wide. Others smaller of
Prince Eugene & Duke of Marlborough. Two wild Beasts twelve inches high
and eighteen inches long, and Sundry Small Ornaments for the chimney
piece.” As these were to be “finished neat and bronzed with copper,” or
to be gilt, they were doubtless all of plaster or some similar
composition. A portion of the items in the order were sent to him, the
wild beasts being “Two Lyons.” These two plaster “lyons,” shorn of their
golden lustre and painted ignominiously black, stood for years over a
doorway at Mount Vernon, were inherited by Lawrence Washington, and sold
in Philadelphia on April 22, 1891, for thirty dollars.
I can find no hint of any china possessions of Washington until the War
of the Revolution was gloriously ended. He had plenty of pewter—dinner
dishes of that humble metal with his initials and crest are still
preserved. His camp-service of forty pieces was entirely of pewter, and
I doubt not the greater part also of his home table furnishings in his
early married life.
In his directions for remodelling and refurnishing his house at Mount
Vernon, after the expiration of his terms as President, he ordered that
a small room be appropriated for “the Sèvres china and other things of
that sort which are not in common use.” Mr. Lossing says:
“He undoubtedly referred to the sets of china which had been presented,
one to himself, and the other to Mrs. Washington, by the officers of the
French Army. The former was dull white in color, with heavy and confused
scroll and leaf ornaments in bandeaux of deep blue, and having upon the
sides of the cups and tureens, and in the bottoms of the plates,
saucers, and meat dishes, the Order of the Cincinnati held by Fame
personated by a winged woman with a trumpet. These designs were
skilfully painted in delicate colors.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Cincinnati China.]
While this description of Mr. Lossing’s is accurate as to the decoration
of the china, if not as to the quality of the decoration, a china
collector would at once discover that the “Cincinnati set” was not
Sèvres, but was plainly Chinese. It is the well-known dull white, hard
paste of Canton manufacture, with a border of commonplace Oriental
design in deep blue under the glaze. Some of the pieces have (all,
perhaps, had originally) a narrow rim of gilt on the outer edge, and a
narrow line of gilt within the border. The rather insignificant and
undersized figure of Fame has bright brown wings and trumpet, a robe of
light green, a scarf of bright pink, while the bow-knot sustaining the
colored Order of the Cincinnati is light blue. This design is not
painted at all skilfully but quite crudely over the glaze. Some of the
covered dishes bear upon the cover the order without the figure of Fame.
In a note made by Governor Lyon he states that this service was “made in
Canton in 1784, the design being furnished by General Miranda.” Though
the design be insignificant and the execution crude, much interest is
added to the Cincinnati china to know that the “most gentlemanlike of
filibusters” made the drawing for the decoration. That plausible and
brilliant man who “talked so like an angel” that Americans, Russians,
and Englishmen vied in endeavors to assist him in his visionary schemes;
who helped to establish independence in America, to give freedom to
France, to liberate his native land, Venezuela; who aided in freeing
thousands of others, died himself in a Spanish dungeon a slave, a most
miserable captive, in chains, with an iron collar around his neck.
No one was apparently better fitted to give information on the subject
of the Cincinnati china than Governor Lyon, for he was a frequent
visitor at Mount Vernon and Arlington House in the middle of this
century; he was also collecting facts and details with a view to writing
a “History of the Ceramic Relics of the Revolution.” Unfortunately he
relied much on his memory, and hence left few notes.
Much ignorance about this Cincinnati china is displayed, even by writers
upon pottery and porcelain. The author of “The Ceramic Art” calls it
Sèvres, and places the most Chinese-looking illustration of it alongside
the print of equally Frenchy Sèvres vases. That careful observer and
exact recorder, the author of “The China Hunters’ Club,” falls into no
such error, and though unable to examine specimens closely, says “they
looked like so-called Lowestoft, and may have been Chinese, English, or
of some French factory.” Another well-known writer says that this set
was given to Washington in 1780. As neither the Society of the
Cincinnati, nor its badge, existed until 1783, this statement is
palpably false.
The authorities at the National Museum, and all the owners of pieces of
the set, consider that it was presented to General Washington by the
entire Society of the Cincinnati, and not by the French officers alone,
as Mr. Lossing states. It would seem probable that had the French
officers made the gift, it would have been of French china of some
elegance, instead of such commonplace Chinese porcelain. Hon. Hamilton
Fish, the President of the Society of the Cincinnati, tells me that the
general society, and, as far as known, the individual State societies,
have no records of the gift of this china to Washington; nor have I seen
any letters, any entries, any notes of the time, to prove, or even hint,
that this china was the gift of the Society of the Cincinnati. Though
Martha Washington mentions the set in her will, she does not specify it
as a gift, as she does the “set given me by Mr. Van Braam.”
While I have never seen any statements to prove that this set of china
was the gift of the Society of the Cincinnati, there is in the
possession of Ferdinand J. Dreer, Esq., of Philadelphia, a letter which
would seem to indicate that Washington may have bought the china
himself, or, at any rate, it proves that china with the decoration of
the badge of the Cincinnati was ordered for the general American market.
The letter, which is very characteristic of Washington’s thrift and
prudence, is addressed to Colonel Tench Tilghman and runs thus:
MT VERNON 17th Augst 1785.
DEAR SIR: The _Baltimore Advertiser_ of the 12th inst announces the
arrival of the ship at that Port immediately from China, and by an
advertisement in the same paper I perceive that the Cargo is to be
sold by public Vendue on the first of Octo. next.
At what prices the enumerated articles will sell on the terms proposed
can only be known from the experiment, but if the quantity at market
is great, and they should sell as goods have sold at vendue bargains
may be expected.—I therefore take the liberty of requesting the favor
of you, in that case, to purchase the several things contained in the
enclosed list.
You will readily perceive my dear sir, my purchasing or not depends
entirely upon the prices—If _great bargains_ are to be had, I would
supply myself agreeably to the list. If the prices do not fall _below_
a cheap _retail_ sale, I would decline them altogether or take such
articles only (if cheaper than common) as are marked in the margin of
the Invoice.
Before October, if none of these goods are previously sold, and if
they are, the matter will be ascertained thereby, you will be able to
form a judgment of the prices they will command by Vendue—upon
information of which, I will deposit the money in your hands to comply
with the terms of the Sale.
Since I began this letter I have been informed that good India
Nankeens are selling at Dumfries (not far from me) at 7/6 a pc this
Curr F——. But if my memory has not failed me, I used to import them
before the war for about 5S sterl. If so, though 50 per cent is a
small advance upon India Goods through a British channel (and the
duties and accumulated charges thereon) yet quaere? would not 7/6 be a
high price for Nankeens brought immediately from India, exempted from
_such_ duties and charges? If this is a conjecture founded in
fairness, it will give my ideas of the prices of the articles from
that country and be a government for your conduct therein, at or
before the day appointed for the public Vendue.
With the highest esteem and regard
I am Dr Sir,
Yr affect friend and Obedt Serv’t
G. WASHINGTON.
Invoice of Goods to be purchased by Tench Tilghman Esqr on account of
Geo Washington agreeable to the letter accompanying this of equal
date.
A sett of the best Nankin Table China
Ditto—best Evening Cups & Saucers
[1] A sett of _large_ blue & white China
Dishes say half a dozen more or less
[1] 1 Doz. _small_ bowls blue & white
[1] 6 Wash hand Guglets & Basons
6 Large Mugs or 3 mugs & 3 jugs
A Quart^r Chest best Hyson Tea
A Leagure of Battavia Arrack if a Leagure is not large.
About 13 yards of good blu: Paduasoy
A ps of fine muslin plain
[1] 1 ps of Silk Handkerchiefs
12 ps of the Best Nankeens
18 ps of the second quality or coursest kind for servants.
G. WASHINGTON.
17th Augst 1785.
Footnote 1:
With the badge of the society of the Cincinnati if to be had.
The sentimental and high-flown announcement in the _Baltimore
Advertiser_ of the arrival of the vessel referred to by Washington reads
thus:
“On Tuesday evening last arrived here, directly from China, the ship
Pallas commanded by its owner Capt. O’Donnell. She has on board a most
valuable Cargo consisting of an extensive Variety of Teas, China, Silks,
Satins, Nankeens, &c., &c. We are extremely happy to find the Commercial
Reputation of this Town so far increased as to attract the attention of
Gentlemen who are engaged in carrying on this distant but beneficial
Trade. It is no unpleasing Sight to see the Crew of this Ship, Chinese,
Malays, Japanese and Moors with a few Europeans, all habited according
to the different Countries to which they belong, and employed together
as Brethren; it is thus Commerce binds and unites all the Nations of the
Globe with a golden Chain.”
The advertisement of the auction sale is also given:
“To be sold at Public Vendue at Baltimore on the 1st of October next in
Lots The Following Goods Just Imported in the Ship Pallas, direct from
China: Hyson Teas, of the first Quality in Quarter-Chests and Canisters
of about 2¼ lb each; Hyson Tea of the second sort in Chests; Singlo,
Confee, Hyson-Skin, and Gunpowder Teas of the first Quality in Chests;
and a large Quantity of excellent Bohea Tea; Table-Sets of the best
Nankin blue and white Stone China; white stone and painted China of the
second Quality in Sets; Dishes of blue and white Stone China 5 and 3 in
a Set; Stone China flat and Soup-Plates; Breakfast Cups and Saucers of
the best blue and white Stone China in Sets; Evening blue and white
Stone China Cups and Saucers; Ditto painted; _Ditto with the Arms of the
Order of Cincinnati_; Bowls—best blue and white Stone China in Sets;
blue and white Stone China Pint Sneakers; Mugs—best Stone China in Sets;
small Tureens with Covers; Wash Hand Guglets and Basons; brown Nankeen
of the first and second Quality; plain, flowered and spotted Lustrings
of all Colours; Satins, the Greatest Part Black; Peelongs of different
Colours, in whole and half Pieces; Sarsnet of different Colours;
embroidered Waistcoat Pieces of Silks and Satins; Silk Handkerchiefs,
very fine, and 20 in a piece; spotted and flowered Velvets; painted
Gauzes; Bengal Piece-Goods and Muslins, plain flowered and corded; Silk
Umbrellas of all Sizes; elegant Paper-Hangings; japanned Tea-Chests;
Ditto Fish and Counter Boxes; Sago; Cinnamon and Cinnamon Flowers;
Rhubarb; Opium; Gamboge; Borax; very old Battavia Arrack in Leagures;
with Sundry other Articles; the enumeration of which would take up too
much Room in a Public Paper.”
Then follow the terms and methods of the sale.
Though this inventory is of special interest to us on account of the
specification of the china with the Arms of the Order of Cincinnati, the
other items also merit attention as showing the goods and merchandise
imported at that date to America. And the strange, obsolete names of the
china articles excite our curiosity. A “guglet” is a juglet or little
jug; and the word “sneaker” is not a low Baltimorean Americanism, but
good old Addisonian English; for we read in _The Freeholder_, No. 22,
these lines: “After supper he asked me if I was an admirer of punch, and
immediately called for a sneaker.” A sneaker was originally a smaller
drinking mug or beaker than was ordinarily used, and was drunk from by a
“sneak-cup,” that contemptible creature who wished to shrink from his
convivial duties by “balking his drink,” or, to speak plainly, who
wished to drink less than his companions fancied he ought to. It came
gradually to be used as the name of a small mug, and as such frequently
appears in the inventories of china made and sold at Worcester.
Washington was no “sneak-cup,” he boldly and liberally ordered large
mugs instead of pint sneakers.
We can well imagine the pride of Washington as he read this announcement
of the arrival of the ship direct from China with its load of rich
goods, his pride in the prosperity and increasing commerce of the new
Federal nation. The Pallas was the second ship only to arrive in the
United States direct from Canton—for Canton was at that date the only
Chinese port open to European and American vessels.