The winter passed slowly.  Rochambeau ordered a large hall to be built as a place of meeting for his officers, but it was not completed until nearly spring.  Meanwhile, the Frenchmen gave occasionally a handsome ball to the American ladies, such as that of which, in January, the officers of the regiment De Deux-Ponts were the hosts, and one given by the handsome Viosmenils on the anniversary of the signing of the treaty of alliance, February 6, 1781.  But the crowning festivity of the French stay in Newport took place in March, when Washington visited it for the purpose of witnessing the departure of an expedition comprising part of the French fleet under Destouches, which was to co-operate with La Fayette on the Chesapeake.  The barge of the French admiral was sent for the American chief, and he crossed the bay from the Connecticut shore, landing at Barney’s Ferry on the corner of Long Wharf and Washington street.  The sight must have been an imposing one—­the beautiful harbor of Newport full of stately ships of war and gay pleasure-craft, the French troops drawn up in a close line, three deep, on either side from the ferry-house up Long Wharf and Washington street to Clarke street, where it turned at a right angle and continued to Rochambeau’s head-quarters, while the inhabitants, wild with enthusiasm, crowded the wharves and quays to see the two commanders meet.  Both were men of fine and stately presence:  Washington was in the full prime of his imposing manhood, the very picture of a nation’s chief; the French marshal was covered with brilliant decorations, and stood with doffed hat to welcome the hero of Valley Forge.  In the evening the town was brilliantly illuminated, and, as at that time many of the people were very poor, the town council ordered that candles should be distributed to all who were not well off enough to buy them, so that every house might have lights in its windows.  The procession on this occasion was led by thirty boys bearing candles fixed on staffs:  Washington and De Rochambeau followed, and behind them came a concourse of citizens.  The night was clear and there was not a breath to fan the torches.  The brilliant cortege marched through the principal streets, and then returned to the Vernon house, corner of Clarke and Mary streets, where Washington and Rochambeau were quartered.  Washington waited on the door-step until all the officers and his friends had entered the house, and then turning to the boys who had acted as torch-bearers thanked them for their services.  It may be believed that these young patriots felt well repaid.  The French officers were much impressed with the looks and bearing of the American chief.  De Fersen, writing to his father, says:  “His fine and majestic countenance, at the same time honest and sweet, answers perfectly to his moral qualities.  He has the air of a hero.  He is very reserved and speaks little, but is polite and frank.  There is an air of sadness about him which is not unbecoming, but renders him more interesting.”