Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-29


simple as q child in his manners and tastes,
though the life and soul of society wherever
his presence graces 1t. So simple in his habits
of life, as that his invariable pair Of pants.
looms are quite as we'll known every whore
within ten miles Of our West End. as his hand.
some and genial countensnce.
We refer to these examples only by way of
explaining to the distant reader why it is that
in the real "Washington society" extrava-
gance and display are by no means necessary
to secure one position. We have, too, free in
tellectual comforts and luxuries in Washing
ton such as are nowhere else in the United
States to be enjoyed-that is, as conveniently
and on such terms. The lectures of the Smith
sonian Institute are surpassed by no other
lectures to be enjoyed in America, and they
are free to all without charge. So, also, is the
use of the magnificent libraries of Congress
and tho Smithsonian Institution, which, though
not nominally for the use Of the public at
large, are very properly managed 50 as that
any person can resort to their shelves at all
times. 1t is q very common complaint, that
though Wash ngton society embraces larger
proportion of persons of leisure than any
other society in the United States, there is
great difficulty in sustaining theatre here.
The reason is because simple reunions-unos-
tentatious soirees-are in vogue ameng MS.
They are gatherings of all ones acquaint ances
at ones house on given nights, without special
invitation, where conversation with persons of
learning, profound thought, wit, and good
taste-is the only entertainment that tho
guest expects.
In the Washington society to which We refer
above, family with An income of three or
four thousand dollars per annum can enjoy far
moro of the real pleasures of life, than with
| twice that sum in any other city of tbs United
States
Lord Elgin.-We have fairly strained our
eyes in looking for some paragraph or other,
In some one of Lord Elgin's late speeches in
honor of his own achievements in negotiating
the Reciprocity treaty, wherein he has taken
occasion to let the English world know tho
fact that one Mr.. Champion had something to
do with the negotiation, on the British side.
Not word, or an indirect hint to that effect,
can we discover in ell his Lordship has been
saying on the subject of late; and he has been
clarifying himself on account Of his assumed
diplomatic exploit, at rate which almost ont
does the rehabilitation in the newspapers of
Ossian Dodge, "The Great American Travel.
err" Pratt, and James Gordon Bennett. In
the meantime, all in Washington who know
the history of the Reciprocity treaty negotia-
ton are laughing heartily at the impudent
charlatanism of his Lordship's pretensions in
that connection. The truth il, the treaty was
negotiated, its each and every material point
having been thoroughly discussed and definite
y settled between Mr.. Champion and the
American Secretary of State, before his "pre-
tentious" Lordship made his appearance in
Washington. His connection with the treaty
was simply one Of form-the labor the expen.
diture Of thought investigation and states
manship In its formation, on the British side,
having been performed by Mr.. Champion
some time before his Lordship graciously
deigned to visit Washington and play high
falutin among rs for a brief season.
There Ia degree of n,eanness in his Lord.
ships studied efforts to take to himself the
credit of having made the treaty in question,
on the British 81 do, which is perfectly nause-
atirg to those who know the history of the ne
gotiation, though 1t is in excellent keeping
with his conduct towards President Pierce.
When here, he professed to be charmed be-
yond expression with the President Of the
United States, in all that func,ionary's rela.
tions. At homo, he is maligning him with as
little regard for the truth, as though earning
his bread on the columns Of the New York
Herald at sixpence falsehood, we'll told
Verify, Lord Elgin is a scurvy subject, indeed
"a man without character, if he does wear
titles through "ths grace of God"
necessary Regulations.-Wes saw yesterday
upon the entrance to the Office Of the Secreta.
~ OF the Interior the following placsrd:
NorIcE.-To enable the Secretary Of tho In.
terror to devote portion of ench day to tho
business of the Department, he will have to
decline seeing any person, excepting hoads of
Bureaus, before 10 g.. N , or after 2 D. M
March q, 1855.
How Secretary McClelland has been able up
to this time to get through with the avalanche
of engrossing public business which is on his
hands without enforcing some such regulations
as the above, We cannot imagine. 1t is custo-
mary for nearly every stranger who visits
washington to make q call on the President
and each of the heads of Departments Tbaae
arc visits Of curiosity rather than ceremony;
and are quite as exacting on the time and pa.
thence of the public functionary as tho visits
Of gentleman solicitous of Office for themselves
Or their friends. No others are go overwhelmed
with responsibilities requiring for their pro-
per discharge their undivided attention, as
the gentlemen at the heads of the Executive
Departments. Yetno others in Washington arc
80 run down with applications to turn their
thoughts to the affairs of others. Weafe glad
to perceive that Gov McClelland has adopted