The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-21
Our Washington Correspondence.
WIauIScroN Ian 10 10

WASHINGTON, Jan. IL, 1866.
a Grand Party in Washington-The Gathering at
Corcoras's-1xe Senate-Letter Of Rufus Choate
upon the Smithsonian Institute.
All Washington has been alive with excitement
during the past week. in anticipation Of the grand
p<rty Of the season. which came off tonight. Mr..
Coscoran, the great financier OF Washington, leads
the people here in fashionable soclabes receptions
and parties. Y was feast tonight to epcurean
eyes, to look upon the rich dresses, lovely women
and excellent beaux, who were gathered beneath
The roof OF the millionaire. There were present TO-
night about three hundred guests ladies and gentle
men, including the distinguished and elite OF Wash
iDgton City. In the company we're noticed most Of
the foreign Ministers, most Of the members Of the
Senate, and several members Of Congress, being
here represented every tongue and every cline,
every beauty and every social grace the
vernac1lar OF the Northern Saxon and the
Southern Gaul, the fairer face Of the cold
er attitudes, and the blond Of SUMMER climes,
the austere manners Of the Englishman and the
affability Of Italy and Span-while In such party
a have just suggested there was enough TO crafty
the eve and the appetite for show-there was also
enough TO furnish fertile theme for the satirst,
enough to give the world another Hudibras or Dan.
clad. Had Solomon been present he would have
repeated again vauity Of vanities all is vanity"
Display Jewels and dress usurped the place Of the
rare in such party "a this-being not which was
the most worthy Of admiration for their individual
merits but which could outrun toe other 10 costly
garments and flashing gems. Anxious mammas, ga.
fhcred BY themselves, ran with zsal tha. would
have cone homer 10 the persever ance OF pothouse
politicians, all about the dress Of their daughters,
their troubles with the dressmakes the quality OF
the fuie the weeks Of shoppng they passed through
in preparing for this event. while young gents looked
through their quizzing glasses, s fashion for all
young men TO have weak eyes In Washington0 and
Spooney and Shsnghae edited each other Ia the dis
cussion Of Miss SoPhias gait, salk o. dress, and
ssgely concluded It Was dem foine' or "howiby
stupid.r display however, in such affairs So this
is ali that In to be commanded, this party OF Mr.
lis Of the fashionable reunions Of the capital. Il
vent ahead even Of the Presidents receptions, and
some Of the foreign representative. present, who
ought TO know about such thiDgs, said 1t would re-
feet credit even upon =. Cloud itsei, or B,cking
ham palace. Mr.. CorcoraE, during the whole eve
ming wore q smiling face and with welcome that
made sll feel at home, received his guests. During
the winter attempts will be made TO rival this party
In other quarters. The President glyss a'1tner
levse tomorrow night, an account Of Which viii
send you In full. The gathering 70 night ended
about three o'clock In the morning,
The Senate was taken up today in the discussion
OF the affairs Of the Smith sonian Inst.ute called up
by the introduction into this body Of toe following
letter from Rufus ChoAte, ex-senator from Masss'
chusetts, resignins bis position Of R:gsnt:-
To rn Hon. JESS d. BRIGHT. PRuInzST rso rExroKk os
rHs SENATE AND HoS. LINN BOYD, SPEAKER rHs
HorsK ov RxPKnssSTAuyks;-
ItAke leave TO communicate 70 the tao Houses OF
Congress- my resignation Of the Office OF Regent Of the
= Smithsonian Institution
Is due the body which has been pleased TO honor
me with this trust for years and has recently
f.rred IL for term 10 say that this step taken
from loss OF interest In the welfare Of that i'm
rorant establishment but In part from the incon yen
experienced In attending the meetings and in part
also and Immediately from my inability 70 concur
ar arqusscs IN Interpretation o an act a. Congress
constituting the actual Institution and the Board OF Re
gents which has been adopted and IL about TO be
practically carried into Administration BY majority Of
The board. That act II has seemed 10 me, peremptorly
directs manner" and devses and prescribes plan
according which intends that the Institution snail
accomplish the viii Of the donor. BY the earlier Law
accepting the gift Congress engaged 10 direct such
manner and 10 devise such plan, and pledged the faith
of the United States that the funds 'hoah be applied
ccorc ing such plan sni such manner. In fulhmen'
~ that pledge and In the performance OF its naenabs
and incommunicabe duty as trustse OF the charity
that body, after many years Of deliberstion,
from which II sought TO reisve itself
by devolving the work upon the discretion ol
Others mstured it plans and established the actual TO-
stifu'ion 10 carry II out. sf this plan tse genera
features sketched with great cearness sni great
completeness In the law. without resortng for az ia
m Interpretation 10 ts parliamentary history the jour
mails and debatee the substantial meaning seems u b.
pnipa bic and unequivocal In its terms BY such sd
rendered quite certain board Of regents i Great VI
are given the board in regard Of details and 10 regard
OF possible surplusses % Income which msy remaD Al
apv given time while the plan Of Congress Is being
1ealousy and tuaeiousy carried into eject but thess
dscre,onsry powers given, think, In trust Tor th'