The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-21 00:00:00

New Year's-Day at Washington.

New Year's-Day was universally observed as a
holiday. The weather was bright, balmy, and
springlike. The receptions were begun by the visits
of the officers of the army and navy to the Presi-
dent. This ceremony took place at eleven o'clock.
The officers of the navy, in full toggery, including
enormous chapeaux , and cumbrous epaulettes,
assembled at the Navy Department ; and those of
the army, in their plainer aniforms, at the War
Department, whence, preceded by the heads of the
respective departments, they proceeded in a body
to present the annual compliments to the Comman-
der-in-Chief of the army and navy. There were
about 200 officers in the procession, among whom
were Gen. Halleck and a number of major-generals
and brigadiers. The most striking feature of the
President's reception was the visit of the foreign
Ministers, who appeared in grand costume, attended
by their families. They appeared at the White
House at an early hour, previous to the admis-
sion of the great mass of the people. Among these
guests were Lord Lyons, M. Mercier, M. de
Stoeckl, Senor Tassara, Chevalier Hulse mann, Baron
von Gerolt, M. Berghmans (Acting Minister from
Belgium), Count Piper, M. Schleiden, Senor Ro-
mero, Chevalier Bertinatti, Senors Barreda, Asta
Buruaga, Lisxboa, Herren, Yrissari, and Molina.
Thus governments of Europe and
South
allA m theri principala
were
represeated, presenting a bril-
liant cortege seldom witnessed except upon New
Year's-day, A large crowd surrounded the gates
e
of the White House to witness the entrance and
exit of the foreign Ministers in full costume. In ac-
cordance with custom, at noon the great gates of
the White House were thrown open, and for two
hoars a v-st tide of humanity, composed of all sexes,
ages, and conditions, poured in through the main
entrance and out by an improvised passage and
stairway through one of the windows of the East-
room. The President occupied a position in the
Blue-room, and courteously shook hands with the
thousands of visitors who were presented by Mar-
shal Leman, who stood beside Mr. Lincoln and
most admirably performed his duty of the Marshal's
office. Secretary Seward also was visited formally
by the representatives of foreign Governments, and
until 3 o'clock by an incessant stream of citizens
anxious to pay their compliments to the distin-
guished Premier. He was assisted in the enter-
tainment of his guests by his daughter
and Mrs.
Frederick Seward. The elegant mansion of the Sec-
retary of the Treasury was also thronged with visi-
tors, among whom were noted all the prominent
foreign Ministers and officers of the army and navy.
Mr. Chase received his numerous visitors with all
that elegant suavity of manner for which he is noted.
Miss Kate Chase, celebrated for her ve • inning grace-
fulness and charming courteousness, aided by her
youngest sister and Miss Parsons, of Columbus,
Ohio, contributed to the
pleasure of the guests who
came to wish a happy new year to this interesting
family. Secretary Stanton was waited upon by the
officers of the army in a body, preceded by Gen. Hal-
leek, and was also visited
by crowds of citizens. Mrs.
Douglas entertained a large number of her friends
and the friends of the late Senator Douglas, at the
residence of her
father, Mr. J. Maddison Cutts.
Toasts to "Jeff, D •
avis and the Southern Confede-
racy" were drunk in the houses of the Secessionists.
They were generally proposed by the ladies to their
visitors.—New y
erk Herald.

-
INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY.—A correspondent of
the Montreal Gazette states that, after several meet-
ings in London, it has been arranged that the loan to be
raised for the proposed railway, the cost of which is to be
borne,
five-twelfths by Canada
Nova Scotia and New Prunswick, and seven-twelfths by
is to be L 3,000,000 ster-
ling, repayable thus, £260,000 in 'lO years, £500,000 in 20,
£1,000,000 in 30, and £1,50,000 in 40, It is added that
the Lords of the Treasury have consented to raise the
money upon Imperial debentures, and it will, therefore,
probably be obtained at 31 per cent. A sinking fund is to
commence in 1873, but Mr. Gladstone will allow it to be
invested in colonial securities • he will not undertake to get
the measure through Parliament' without a sinking fund.
The Montreal Com2nercial Advertiser believes this state-
ment to be substantially correct, but maintains that the
sum is not more than a third of what will be required to
build and equip the line and purchase the existing lines,
which must be acquired to complete it from Halifax to
Quebec, and that the line can never pa 3 , and will be use-
less for militarypurposes, because it is impossible to protect,
a railway from the raids of small bodies of troops. This
journal recommends good common roads as the only re-
liable winter communication in time of war,