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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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gone fashion； with handsome staircases； set at an easy angle； and not
standing nearly upright； like those ladders by which one reaches the upper
chambers of a modern house。 The principal rooms are paneled to the
ceiling； and have large open chimney…places； adorned with the quaintest of
Dutch files。 In one of the parlors of the Warner House there is a choice
store of family relicschina； silver…plate； costumes； old clocks； and the
like。 There are some interesting paintings； toonot by Copley this time。
On a broad space each side of the hall windows； at the head of the
staircase； are pictures of two Indians； life size。 They are probably portraits
of some of the numerous chiefs with whom Captain Macphaedris had
dealings； for the captain was engaged in the fur as well as in the iron
business。 Some enormous elk antlers； presented to Macpheadris by his red
friends； are hanging in the lower hall。
By mere chance； thirty or forty years ago； some long…hidden paintings
on the walls of this lower hall were brought to light。 In repairing the front
entry it became necessary to remove the paper； of which four or five layers
had accumulated。 A one place； where several coats had peeled off cleanly；
a horse's hoof was observed by a little girl of the family。 The workman
then began removing the paper carefully； first the legs； then the body of a
horse with a rider were revealed； and the astonished paper…hanger
presently stood before a life…size representation of Governor Phipps on his
charger。 The workman called other persons to his assistance； and the
remaining portions of the wall were speedily stripped； laying bare four or
five hundred square feet covered with sketches in color； landscapes； views
of unknown cities； Biblical scenes； and modern figure…pieces； among
which was a lady at a spinning…wheel。 Until then no person in the land of
the living had had any knowledge of those hidden pictures。 An old dame
of eighty； who had visited at the house intimately ever since her childhood；
all but refused to believe her spectacles （though Supply Ham made
them（1。）） when brought face to face with the frescoes。 （1。 In the early part
of this century； Supply Ham was the leading optician and watchmaker of
Portsmouth。）
The place is rich in bricabrac； but there is nothing more curious that
these incongruous printings； clearly the work of a practiced hand。 Even the
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outside of the old edifice is not without its interest for an antiquarian。 The
lightening…rod which protects the Warner House to…day was put up under
Benjamin Franklin's own supervision in 1762such at all events is the
credited traditionand is supposed to be the first rod put up in New
Hampshire。 A lightening…rod 〃personally conducted〃 by Benjamin
Franklin ought to be an attractive object to even the least susceptible
electricity。 The Warner House has another imperative claim on the good…
will of the visitorit is not positively known that George Washington ever
slept there。
The same assertion cannot be made on connection with the old yellow
barracks situated in the southwest corner of Court and Atkinson streets。
Famous old houses seem to have an intuitive perception of the value of
corner lots。 If it is a possible thing； they always set themselves down on
the most desirable spots。 It is beyond a doubt that Washington slept not
only one night； but several nights； under this roof； for this was a celebrated
tavern previous and subsequent to the War of Independence； and
Washington made it his headquarters during his visit to Portsmouth in
1797。 When I was a boy I knew an old ladynot one of the preposterous
old ladies in the newspapers； who have all their faculties unimpaired； but a
real old lady； whose ninety…nine years were beginning to tell on herwho
had known Washington very well。 She was a girl in her teens when he
came to Portsmouth。 The President was the staple of her conversation
during the last ten years of her life； which she passed in the Stavers House；
bedridden； and I think those ten years were in a manner rendered short and
pleasant to the old gentlewoman by the memory of a compliment to her
complexion w