Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-08-09
MORNING HERALD.



Hall IL was attended by all the beauty and fashion
OF the Springs. l never saw the ball room Of Con-
gress Hall excessively crowded-and many ira
vellers, French, English and German, declared
that at watering place in Europe could 50 seauti-
full collection Of young women be sees together.
This ball has been the brilliant ever given at
Congress Hail. but still l am told it inferior in
spendor and beauty that given last Friday At the
United States. On Friday night again, this week,
another splendid ball will be given at the United
States and Mr. Clay will have arrived before that
evening, there will be greater effort, aud mere
magnificent display than Saratoga saw.
The ball last night was beautiful, but / shall re-
serve myself especially for the description Of the
one to be given next Friday, at which Henry Clay
will be present 1 do this, because, although am
no political supporter Of Mr.. Clay, admire his ge-
nius-hs enthusiasn-his great and powerful mind.
1t is true he is something Of loafer--but he is
oafer rising into the regions of the sublime and beau.
tifal-and like loafers Of that kind-St Paul was
isafer of such character-Luther was a loafer-
Shakespeare was loafer. Do net, therefore, expect
any full or connected description Of the ball last
night-ner must the ladies who figured there be too
anxious cannot think of wasting a description Of
their divine charms, merely to set off his Denocra
Majesty. Mr.. Van Buren, is very gentlemanly, po-
lite, cold, calm, cabbage-heaSed-bu he has no
sentiment-no feeling bubb.iag up from the bottom
OF his soul like the waters Of Congress fountain,
which the fair lips take in by about six to ten glasses
on morning. Apropos-I wish we're glass of
Congress vyater occasionaly-I should have fine en-
)oyme0St among several rosy lips.
Be-. TO the ball. The committee Of management
fsy the bail gave invitation to the Presiden and
10 the Countess Of WestmorelaRd-intimating to
His Highness that it would be very becoming IN
him, the king Of the locsfocos, to lead the noble
Countess into the ball Accordingly about the
hour Of nine, whereabouts, in the midst oil sPien-
did shower Of rain, mixed with due proportion Of
the thunder and lightning Of heaven, Mr. Van Buren,,
arrayed in simple ATTIRE and his countenance adorn-
ed with the eternal smile or smrk, which his face
has even in its sleep, led into the ball room the
Right Honorable the Countess of Westmoreland
He was followed by the Hon. Secretary Forsyth,
whose fine silvsry head, and youthful, wicked, vo-
luptuous eyes, present the singular combination OF
June and December under the same sky. forget
what fair one he escorted into the rosm-but when
the Secretary becomes Vice President, and gets into
the line Of the succession shall have better me-
mory for his movements. The company followed,
and soon thereafter, the ball was opened by Mrs.
w, formerly Of Florida, Mrs. c. A. ID. OF New
York, the most beautiful Mrs. G. Of New York, and
. whole catalogue Of fair, accomplished, charming.
extraordinary intellectual, beautiful, and lovely
young women. Among these i observed that Long
Island furnished some ef the finest sPecimens-some
from the North River-some from Boston-some
from Albany, Troy, Philadelphia, and the remote
south.
During the evening the noble Countess led his
Highness, the President, up and down the room-cut
and in-here and there-round about and round about
Inever saw any man so perfectly satisfied with any
thing as he was with these winding and devious
movements of her ladyship. 1t was very evident
that under the magic influence Of his Highness for
tw DAYS she has entirely lost all her straight-ior-
ward old English, right up and down sort OF ways.
This zig gag kind Of getting quite fash
ionabIe here and unless Mr.. Clay arrives soon to
make all our paths straight again. every man and wo-
man in Saratoga will return home by the most round
about ways imaginable. For my own poor sell,
should not be surprised such is the influence Of ex
ample and the proximity Of the President, II were
TO return to New York by the way OF Montreal.
Quebec the White Moutans, Boston and Provi-
dence. A week ago would have shuddered at the
idea Of such Giro uous routes-but as Falstaf said
10 Prince Hail. bad example will be the rain Of me"
Even the old way Of drinking the waters, asd Of suf
fering under their potent effects, all changed from
what they were in former days. Every thing goes
zg-zag
In the course Of the evening a very curious scenc
took place. II was whispered around that the mag
nifcent Josephine Clifton, who is at Congress Hall.
had stood up in a eotllon, and was to dance. Her
partner was the celebrated General O'Donel Of Bal
timore, whose family, whole group Of Beauties is
now here with him. Opposite to the Clifton, in the
same coton, stood that fine and fair specimen OF an
English woman, in the person Of Miss C, the
niece and travelling companion Of the Countess Of
westmoreland. Miss Clifton dressed with great
beauty and simplicity, in white satin She stood AZ
90 her full heght-with every lireament in full de-
velopement, and every feature beaming with beauty
spirit and intelligence. The English beauty was les,
striking but there was a look and tone Of quiet dig
atty thrown about her that became her fine face and
intelligent eyes. As soon IL known that Cliff
ton was to dance, the whole company were gradu
ally attracted to the stop. On one side was hi
Highness the President, looking on, and occasion
ally uttering word 10 the Countess, who still cunl
10 his arm. Near, was Secretary Forsyth, licking
his lips and locking up like the fox gazing at bunch
of grapes which he could not reach. On the othel
side was my particular friend Prince John, with hi
golden tinged whiskers all round his throat, ant
locking for all the wsrld like young English noble
mas era German prince. In another quarter wa
MAJOR Jack Downing, calculating on the scence-
and near him was the dashing President Of the Lea