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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。 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…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 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 Portsmo