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man passed between those two white pillars that support the little balcony
over the front door； among the rest Louis Philippe and his brothers； the
Ducs de Montpensier and Beaujolais； and the Marquis de Chastellus； a
major…general in the French army； serving under the Count de
Rochambeau； whom he accompanied from France to the States in 1780。
The journal of the marquis contains this reference to his host： 〃After
dinner we went to drink tea with Mr。 Langdon。 He is a handsome man； and
of noble carriage； he has been a member of Congress； and is now one of
the first people of the country； his house is elegant and well furnished； and
the apartments admirably well wainscoted〃 （this reads like Mr。 Samuel
Pepys）； 〃and he has a good manuscript chart of the harbor of Portsmouth。
Mrs。 Langdon； his wife； is young； fair； and tolerably handsome； but I
conversed less with her than her husband； in whose favor I was prejudiced
from knowing that he had displayed great courage and patriotism at the
time of Burgoynes's expedition。〃
It was at the height of the French Revolution that the three sons of the
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Due d'Orleans were entertained at the Langdon mansion。 Years afterward；
when Louis Philippe was on the throne of France； he inquired of a
Portsmouth lady presented at his court if the mansion of ce brave
Gouverneur Langdon was still in existence。
The house stands back a decorous distance from the street； under the
shadows of some gigantic oaks or elms； and presents an imposing
appearance as you approach it over the tessellated marble walk。 A hundred
or two feet on either side of the gate； and abutting on the street； is a small
square building of brick； one story in heightprobably the porter's lodge
and tool…house of former days。 There is a large fruit garden attached to the
house； which is in excellent condition； taking life comfortably； and having
the complacent air of a well…preserved beau of the ancien regime。 The
Langdon mansion was owned and long occupied by the late Rev。 Dr。
Burroughs； for a period of forty…seven years the esteemed rector or St。
John's Church。
At the other end of Pleasant Street is another notable house； to which
we shall come by and by。 Though President Washington found Portsmouth
but moderately attractive from an architectural point of view； the visitor of
to…day； if he have an antiquarian taste； will find himself embarrassed by
the number of localities and buildings that appeal to his interest。 Many of
these buildings were new and undoubtedly commonplace enough at the
date of Washington's visit； time and association have given them a
quaintness and a significance which now make their architecture a
question of secondary importance。
One might spend a fortnight in Portsmouth exploring the nooks and
corners over which history has thrown a charm； and by no means exhaust
the list。 I cannot do more than attempt to describeand that very brieflya
few of the typical old houses。 On this same Pleasant Street there are
several which we must leave unnoted； with their spacious halls and carven
staircases； their antiquated furniture and old silver tankards and choice
Copleys。 Numerous examples of this artist's best manner are to be found
here。 To live in Portsmouth without possessing a family portrait done by
Copley is like living in Boston without having an ancestor in the old
Granary Burying…Ground。 You can exist； but you cannot be said to flourish。
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To make this statement smooth； I will remark that every one in Portsmouth
has a Copleyor would have if a fair division were made。
In the better sections of the town the houses are kept in such excellent
repair； and have so smart an appearance with their bright green blinds and
freshly painted woodwork；that you are likely to pass many an old
landmark without suspecting it。 Whenever you see a house with a gambrel
roof； you may be almost positive that the house is at least a hundred years
old； for the gambrel roof went out of fashion after the Revolution。
On the corner of Daniel and Chapel streets stands the oldest brick
building in Portsmouththe Warner House。 It was built in 1718 by Captain
Archibald Macpheadris； a Scotchman； as his name indicates； a wealthy
merchant； and a member of the King's Council。 He was the chief projector
of one of the earliest iron…works established in America。 Captain
Macpheadris married Sarah Wentworth； one of the sixteen children of
Governor John Wentworth； and died in 1729； leaving a daughter； Mary；
whose portrait； with that of her mother； painted by the ubiquitous Copley；
still hangs in the parlor of this house； which is not known by the name of
Captain Macpheadris； but by that of his son…in…law； Hon。 Jonathan Warner；
a member of the King's Council until the revolt of the colonies。 〃We well
recollect Mr。 Warner；〃 says Mr。 Brewster； writing in 1858； 〃as one of the
last of the cocked hats。 As in a vision of early childhood he is still before
us； in all the dignity of the aristocratic crown officers。 That broad…backed；
long…skirted brown coat； those small…clothes and silk stockings； those
silver buckles； and that canewe see them still； although the life that filled
and moved them ceased half a century ago。〃
The Warner House； a three…story building with gambrel roof and
luthern windows； is as fine and substantial an exponent of the architecture
of the period as you are likely to meet with anywhere in New England。
The eighteen…inch walls are of brick brought from Holland； as were also
many of the materials used in the buildingthe hearth…stones； tiles； etc。
Hewn…stone underpinnings were seldom adopted in those days； the brick…
work rests directly upon the solid walls of the cellar。 The interior is rich in
paneling and wood carvings about the mantel…shelves； the deep…set
windows； and along the cornices。 The halls are wide and long； after a by…
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