Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-25
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

evening by the British Minister, Mr.. Cramp-
| ton, at his elegant residence on Georgetown
Heights, in honor Of Queen Victoria's birth
day-her majesty, yesterday, having completed
her 3sth year. Notwithstanding the unfavor-
able state Of the weather, there was present
to grace the fets a very liberal representation
| of all those sections of society which render
Washipgton 90 pre- eminently attractive to the
stranger There were foreign ambassadors,
| Cabinet ministers, grave Senators, Army and
NAVY officers, heads of bureaus, authors,
artists, Swans, and philosophers Embroider-
cd coats and bespangled uniforms of high
officials afforded a glittering contrast to the
plain black suits of the distinguished civilians
As for the ladies present, our pen fairly falters
| in the attempt to do justice to their charms
| Our artists and modistes had racked their
brains, and exhausted their magazines of
dainty and costly fabrics, in order to Convince
tho world in general, and the English people
in particular, that the sovereign fair ones of
Washington regarded their sister sovereign of
England with feelings, not only of ''the mos
distinguished consideration, /" but of downright
4
woman-admiration, for the wife of the hand
soonest man in Europe-and respect, for the
mother of nine babies. More was accomplish
ed last evening in the way of negotiation than
has been accomplished from the days of Ash
burton to the advent of Elgin. We regard the
fishery question as settled, both parties having
| partaken freely of the bait so literally pro-
vided by the noble host.
| Amid the soft footballs of fairy feet-the
gIittering ofjewels-the graceful sweep of $500
dresses-the sparkling of eyes which shot forth
alternately flashes of lightning and love
their were two gentlemen who appeared to be
the observed of all Observers One was the
Earl of Elgin, and tbs other Sir Charles Gray.
Lord Elgin is a short, stout gentleman, on the
shady side of forty, and is decidedly John
Bullish in walk, talk, appearance and car
riage. His face, although round and full,
beams with intellect, good feeling and good
humor. His manners are open, frank, and
winning. Sir Charles Gray is a much larger
man than his ntble countryman, being both
taller and stouter. He is about sixty years OF
and digni6ed.
The large and brilliant company broke up
at a late hour, and departed for their respee
tive homes-pleased with their courtly anC
courteous host pleased with the monarchica
form of government in England; pleased with
the republican form of government in tht
United States; pleased with each other, them
selves, and the rest of mankind.
) The Nebra ska Bill in tho senate-Fron
the developments of yesterdays debate, it wa
concluded last night by the friends Of the Ne
braska bill, that it is really in danger in tn
Senate, successful effort to re-insert thu
Clayton amendment in it being certain to lea
to its defeat in the House. Those who ha,
charge of the bill in the House, only brough
it forward in its present shape after clearl
ascertaining that it would be overwhelming
defeated unless stripped of Mr. ClaJton's ad
dition The question, therefore, is simply, viii
those in the Senate who favor the bill with MI
Clayton's provision, prefer its defeat unlcs
it shall embrace that! Every observer of com
mon sense now in Washington knows, that sacf
: simply, is the issue at this time before the Sen
: ate. Mr.. Clayton amendment proposes to appl
!. to fufslgn born persons, which has never bee
, applied to them in the organization of an
, other U. S. territories. A rule under whic
? many gentlemen Of the House, sincere friend
of the repeal Of the Missouri compromise, be
liveve they cannot stand at home. We regrs
more than We can express to have to writ
that, Notwithstanding the gallant and success;
full contest in the House, there is at this me
ment, from all appearances real danger til,
the main issue involved in the bill will /
wholly set aside, to carry out Mr.. Clayton
proposed new rule, by sufficient number
its friends on its original passage in the Ser
ate, to defeat the bill, when backed, as the
s will be of course, by every Senator who hs
steadily opposed the measure. So they 20.
II Cuba We have just received interesting IL
formation from Madrid via Cuba. Our advice
on which we have every reason to rely, as W
e have before explained, state that Mr. Soulc
, original demand for S3O0,OO damages in tn
Black Warrior case was simply in the act Of pre-
senting the papers filed by the owDers of the shi
) at the State Department here, to be transmitte
to Madrid, as all such business is transacted
1t was their business to make a claim for tn
amount to the extent to which they conceive
} themselves to have been injured, and our Min
ister's business to present that claim to h
= compromised, or rather adjusted upon pr;nci
; pies OF justice and right, as subsequent inves
tigation and correspondence between the Span
; ish foreign office and our Minister might de
monstrate and settle However, after maxim
this heavy claim, the owners of the ship ad
mitted that they were in the wrong, by pawn
} the demanded fine of six thousand dollars
This act of theirs, it is judged both in Madri,
and Havana takes their case out from amon
those for which we can make legitimate dc
} mand on the Spanish Government for repara
ton; as it is supposed to involve an admission
1 Of their offence under the Spanish revenu
laws. 1t is said in Cuba that having demand
ed indemnity, and then waived that deman
by the payment Of a fine, they have subse
quently petitioned the Queen for its remission
If all this be true, (and We cannot doubt it }
strikes US that they will not get back dolla
OF their money now in Isabella's strong box
for We do not see how our Minister can reason