I immediately felt myself drawn by an invisible power toward him.  He grasped my hand with the frank cordiality and grace of former days, and leading me thus, we arose together and, passing through one of the arched compartments of the upper tier, entered another portion of the building.  As we moved on I seemed to live portions of my earthly life, long past.  The gorgeous and fantastic architecture which everywhere met my eye reminded me of the halls of the Alhambra.  Swiftly passing, we emerged through a spacious arch upon an open arbor, where were congregated the priests whom I had been invited to meet.  I started back with a shock of delight when I beheld, in the centre of the group, the immortal figure of George Washington.  I knew him instantly, partly from the likenesses which had been extant on earth, and partly from the noble spirit which emanated like a sun from his person.  The group parted as we entered and I immediately felt, resting upon my shoulder like a benediction, the soft, firm hand of the Father of his Country.  “Washington!” I exclaimed, fervidly grasping his hand.  “At length we have met!” he responded, and a smile of ineffable joy lighted his countenance.  He then spoke of the many changes through which the United States had passed since his removal to the spirit land.  I was surprised at the extent of knowledge he displayed.  Not the slightest variation in the scale of political economy had escaped his notice.  He expressed himself pleased especially at the great progress and development of the people within the last twenty years.  He alluded to their rapid march through the western territories; the founding of new and important States; the development of the agricultural and mineral resources of countries supposed to be almost valueless; of the invention and construction of machinery adapted to the wants and necessities of those new and rapidly-increasing States.  “This marvellous growth is owing to their being essentially a mediumistic people—­is it not so?” said he, smiling and turning to the assembled guests.  “Yes, yes!” I heard repeated on all sides.  On this commenced a general conversation.  I listened as one in a dream.  Around me I beheld the faces and forms of the heroes of past history, each bearing the shape and semblance of humanity, though removed from earth millions of miles into space.  One and all emitted, like stars, their own peculiar luminous aura.  Collected in motley groups were Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, William Penn, Old General Jackson, John Jacob Astor, De Witt Clinton, and many of the old Knickerbocker residents of New York; with Sir Robert Peel, Lord Brougham, the Duke of Wellington, Hunt, Keats, Byron, Scott, Cowper, Hume, Goethe, De Stael, Mrs. Hemans, and many others.

“The people of America have progressed to an astonishing degree,” said a musical voice at my left.  “We must initiate Irving into the means by which we impart knowledge to the mediumistic nation through the Cabinet at Washington.”