Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-20

WHICH gas LOT the establishment and village IL
are constructed to present the
ofminiature forts, and are 80 located
as to make the whole prospect charming one.
1t seems that the enterprising company who
own the village property have already made
good thing out of the enterprise, as nearly all
the excursions from Richmond resort there at
all seasons of the year-the Sunday schools,
military companies, pic mics, ball parties, DC
The location Of Ashland, by the by, is on a
higher level than any other point between Rich
mond and Fredericksburg, and is proverbially
healthy.
But let US "return to our mutton,' (munici-
pail The welcome accorded to the dignitaries
of the Federal Metropolis was most cordial and
agreeable. As soon as hats, overcoats, &C.,
were laid aside, all assembled in the most nat
ural way as it were, around huge punch-bowl
in one OF the parlors, wherein there had been
brewed in advance fair supply of that CAPT al
lnevitability of such an entertainment in the
Did Dominion, the nature of which was told by
the numerous sprigs of dark green hue that
peeped out above its surface. Our party made
for it with gusto reminding me amazingly of
herd of famished and thirsty cattle on unex-
pectodly espying pool overgrown with waunka-
pins. They dived deep into its treasure, which
they evidently relished, or the way in which it
soon vanished greatly deceived me.
Three hours were spent in social chat over
and around the again and again replenished
huge bowl, in which the peculiar institution
was served up, ere the gong sounded for dinner,
which just now has so pleasurable effect upon
me that must abandon even the Star for the
nonce, to obey its summons. W.D. WI.
ASHLAND, 8 p. IN.
The dinner was capital, indeed Such aspar-
agus, roast pig, baked shad and sturgeon,
spring lamb, DC, &C., reader, you would have
thought were never before served up had you
witnessed the way in which the honorable Cor
porntion of Washington put all these good
things under their waist-costs, notwithstanding
the amplitude of their feeding at breakfast,
upon the boat. Edwin Robinson presided.
hanked by Mayors Mayo and Magruder
After the cloth was removed, Washington city
was duly toasted by the chairman, which brought
our city's modest chief to his feet. He respond
ed wittily, eloquently, and eminently satisfacto.
rily, and in turn, as in duty bound, tickled
Richmond with a like straw. Whereupon IN
rose Mayor Mayo, who delivered a capital after
dinner speech, wherein the duty of municipal fra
ternity was enforced, and the Federal Metropol,
so complimented as to delight her numerous
representatives. A young gentleman whose
modesty invariably overcomes him on such &C.
casions, and who 80 dislikes to see his name in
the papers as that We refrain from mentioning
it, was next put through the jabbering mill,
and then other and very eloquent and agree
able responses to tOasts were extracted from
Messrs. Saunders, president Of the Richmond
Councils,) Clarke, president Of the Washington
Board of Aldcrmen,) AtLee, president of the
Washington Council Board,) ex-Sheriff Thomp-
son, Of Hanover, st. George Tucker, 1.-THE nov
elist, and Clerk Of the House of Delegates Jas.
Z. Bosher, Glazebrook, McMurdoch, Raleigh
L. Daniel, Francis j. Smith, Henry, &c, &c.
These addresses were interspersed with sto-
ries told by Messrs. AtLee and Thompson. All
Washingtonians know Mr.. IS capacity to re-
hearse an after-dinner yarn. Yet Mr.. Thomp-
son, Of Hanover, carried off the palm in that
line, truly. He Is the best story teller ever
listened to-classic, keen in the observation of
the quisizzalities of human nature, and fluent
and forcible in their illustration Porte Crayon
should be at least once an auditor of his ac-
count OF an adventure that Nat Claiborne, our
interesting young friend Street, now of the Gen.
eral Land Office, and himself had with one
Count Din, etdsrant English nobleman, at
the White Sulphur; and of the result of his
act In once on time giving "sperets in moder-
atom to ventrs ON the direction of the yene-
rable and respected Judge Lomax No man
living but Porte Crayon can reduce these two
variations to print without spelling their effect.
thompson is perfect singed-cat in appearance,
looking little like the man of most polished wit
alive, as be seemed to me yesterday to be.
The feast of reason and the flow of soul was
prolonged for hours. 1t did me good to witness
the diSnifed bearing Of the two most silent of
our Corporation dignitsries-Messrs. Ruff and
Baldwin. Whenever my eyes Lit on them. in
the occasional openings of the clouds of cigar
smoke In which we were enveloped, could not
help e1claiming with that distinguished and so
widely known philosopher, Jack Bunsby-
There's wisdom for you ~
But the cars have arrived to whisk ma hack IN
Washington. So / must close this letter here.
W. d. WI.
On BOARD THE STEAMER BALTIMORE,
12a m.
My last brought US all to the moment of
leaVe-taking Of our numerous genial and gen.
erous hosts, who, on seeing US safely on the
train going north, themselves departed by a
special train for Richmond. Gorged to the
throat as we all were with good eating and
drinking-regular aldermanic gormandizing-
and not little fatigued with the exciting labors
OF the day, on getting into the cars at 9 p. m.
our whole party, as though by common consent,
disposed themselves for mapping by the way.
Capital snorers as corporate authorities are the
world over under ordinary circumstances, with
their boilers so surcharged below, and the pres
sure OF the slightest imaginable brick in the hat
OF nearly every one Of the "goodlie eompanie''
upon the brain, of course the steam whistle Of
each discoursed more emphatic music than