The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-26

Herald Foreign q ,rrespOndsncc.

the same from this great metropolis. Alter the
tristesse aud disappointment occasioned by the
dsua, which precuded all gaiety for some weeks
past. not only at the Tuil]eries, but ministerial
aud other houses of reception, the season was
brilliantly opened last Wednesday, by our fair
oountrywoman, Mrs Ridgeway, of Philadelphia,
now occupying fine hotel in the Faubourg st.
German, not inferior IN style and elegance to the
one SO long inhabited by Col Thorne, whose mu-
nifcence and spendor, SO well known to all, need
NO comment of mine to recall him to the memory
of many, though he may be forgotten by some OF
Z" the heartless parasites of present cheer" The
scene was one of brilliancy, which no American
has aspired to since the days of the gay Colonel
Were | writing to one less au fat than
yourself with the distribution and iune OF tho
hotels in that quarter, should be led more into
detail than the present will require.
Mr.. R., whose wealth Is only equallsd by
his generosity has spared no expense to adorn
the interior Of his mansion, and render 1t TIT
abode for the fair occupant who presided over
the evening, not only as the goddess OF beauty
but of grace and dignity; and in beholding her,
could feel the full force OF the poets descrlp-
ton, that
Heaven was in her eyes, grace in h.r misnI
She walkd o Juno, and she look'd queen
There she stood, in the sale de reception, wei,
coming her :" dear five hundred friends" attired
In rich costume of coueur de rose satin, covered
with white lace "a lady told me "exquisits'); and
although not requiring " the aid OF ornament,
she was Respondent with diamonds.
Many distinguished persons were to be seen
among the numerous guests-Mr Rush, our
present minister at the Court OF France, as also
Mr. Bancroft, at the court of st. Jam-s-both of
these gentlemen, SO personally repandus tor
their literary prOductions-thc. former, accom-
panied by his two daughters, who seem to have
inherited their fathers graceful aud courtly man
ners. M. de Pontois, former minister from this
court to the United States, seemed gratiied that
should retain so pleasing a souvenir OF his
agreeable balls gwen during his sejosr at Wash
iagton 1t would be in vain, dear Bennett, to give
you the list of the many distingue personages
among the French and English elite to be seen
in this reunion, and much less to attempt to de.
scribe them. If ! held the pen of Mrs B -
might better fulfil the task have undertaken
towards my fair countrywomen, whose indul-
gence crave, should | describe inperfectly, or
leave undescribed, the many elegant toitettes
which passed before me.
Mrs. Bingham, III a oiseau de Paradis dress,
tssteiully adorned with tule and ribbon, appear
ed as beautiful as the bird whose plumage she
had adopted. Mrs. Ny, Sc long resident In
Paris, seems to have learned the secret of immor-
tai youth; for she looked as we'll as ever saw
her, aud Is what the French call une femme bien
conserree The same may be applied to the
Duchesse de B. There was sprightly little
Mrs. P who makes herself agreeable by re-
tanning her native graces, without having adopted,
like many others, foreign airs Affected Mrs.
C, with her bas bieu, stayed but a short time.
will pass over her simple toilette, sous silence
Mrs. Haight, of New York, so we'll known to us
as the talented traveller whose pen has so happl-
ly portrayed the scenes of oriental life through
which she passed, was richly dressed in robe
of entire lace, and it would be difficult for to
realize in her the march of time but for her fair
and accomplished daughter, by her side, VIII ose
costume was of true Partisan taste. Pretty Mss
F--r, In coulsur de rose. was seen tor time,
on the tapis, also Miss W--h, another
gente spirit IT,, Mrs who f hi evident m.
seams with powder, pastes, and creams"
wore rich white satin, and was sitting BY, Mrs;
-, who, as usual, looked pleased and
vulgar"-rather more embonpOint than remem-
Der her some twenty years past, when last saw
her on the " lig INT fantastic toe" watching her
daughter in The may dance, Pretty Mrs.
S-w, her face beaming with intelligence,
reminded one how nearly she was allied to the
great spirit of the west. Mrs. VIII, ever
pleasing and agreeable, stayed but short time.
Mrs. b, who Is quite belle here, wore
costume d la Pompadour, the richness and ele-
gance of whlch only served to show off her fine
figure 10 advantage. Mrs. CT, one of my
most valued friends, was. as usual, remarked
Tor her lady-lke and quiet manners. Mrs
R-ly, and her daughter, and others too nu-
merous to describe For the duchesses, mar
quises, counte sses, etc, as well as high born
English, | must refer YOU to the fair hostess for
further details also, for the titled host OF men,
to her, some of the dowager danes of the
faubourg. The pale and elegant Mr.. W-g, OF
Philadelphia, was seen circulating through the
salons, accompanied by Mr.; Go g.; and !
fliend!' MIR. Nj, our Secretary of Lega-
ton, so long in Paris, must surely be the idol OF
the women and the envy OF the men he seemed
equally acquainted with the former, of all ma
tons. possessing the happy talent of holding
converse with each one In her own language:
Many were the ci.deUants, who, like US, dear
Bennett, cannot be young, and will not be OLD.
did not remark, as with US. so many of those
young, beardless boys, who fill up our salons at
home.
| fnd l must put an end to this; but, before
doing so, one word for the supper, as that with
me is important subject OF discussion, par
tlcularly near the hour of twelve. Daring the
evening the saHe-d-manger was open, end
table, magniicently decorated with bronzes
drgentGs-a new style OF ornament, which, |
an, told were valued at 80 900 francs-in the
centre cor6eiNe of natural flowers, and at each
end statues supporting taggas. Tea, ices, &c.
were served in the greatest proiusion. A few
moments before twelve the doors were closed,
and soon after re-opened to admit the ladies to
splendid supper, according TO the number that
could be comfortably seated; after which came
our turn, and soon many a round aud perfect
pate was reduced to a shapeless mass Never
did old Lucullus himself regale his friends with
inner viands, or more delicious wines:
The weather IL excessively cold here, and
am on the wing for lsaly, in search of finer skies
and mllder chimes You must not be surprised
IT my next should be dated from Palermo,
Athens, or Consantinople, as have in contem-
plation To extend my wandcrings thus far
Adleu, dear Benn 1T; believe me, as ever, your
old friend and correspo adent. ID.
PANS, Feb. 20th is4s
1ns Carnirsi in Paris.
This Is the osrnival In Parisths SEASON for masksd
balls after which comes the " mardi graz" These
balls cesbrssei 10 tbs opera, aud thsstres At the
grand OPERA in which asssmbls the most fashionable
oompany in Paris the entrS of the interior de-
voted to the Of ths dancers aud the boxes only are
reserved for the spectators This space will
dsts four Ava hun lrsi ooupesis lighted by thirty
forty large and brilliant chandeliers dressed and
nAnsatsd wish great msgnld,eacs end tssts and filed
ny music Of the bst orchestra in Paris composed Of two
hundred mus.ciaas. The ball commences at twelve
O'Clock at night and Mt broad in the
morning At about eleven O'Clock, the company com.
to assemble and the crowd till il amounts to thou