The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-29
Our Washington Correspondents.

WASHINGTON, Jan. rs, 1853
Lord Ndpses Bal N Honor Of Ae Aayra2e n the Prs"'
Royal.
The subject OF conversation in fashionable circles to-day
Is the bali given by Lord Napier last night In honor OF the
marriage OF the Princess Royal OF England with the Prince
OF Prussia The occasion important one for all
loyal Engishmen, and most Engiishmsn 10y L aud es
peciaily When abroad Ny Lord Napier loyal gentle
man, as the representative Of England and from motive
Of good policy awaited himself OF The opportunity to do
bonor HE royal mrtress at the time he might con-
tribute 10 inspire respect in the American mind for thai
august lady and Der family.
How well Lord and Lady Napier carried out the object
was seen IN the expensive preparations for the ball and
h the fte eeif Besides the spacious residence OF the
British Minister, addition al room for the ball erect
cd as 10 give ample space for the entertainment No
people in the world perhaps, know better than the first
class English how to give such entertainment They
study comfort ease and dsnhed precision in details, in
combination with their oyOusness, and never forgetting
the substantial materials which inspire and fory the
inner man al! that relates to the preparation for and
management Oh the ball and the tabe, nothing could
have been better. Although there were some four
hundred guests, 1t could not be- called xded
bly,. How mary must have been disappointed in not oh
tanning an Invitation, you may Judge from the fact that
between sixteen and seventeen hundred "expectant"
cards bad been left at the Embassy Besides the dpoms
tic corps secretaries aud heads Of departments and Off
OF the army AID there three hun 5red
Senators and representatives IN Congress These and
their families In addition t. the distinguished" private
Observation-Disclosures and foreign-and the personal
friends cf Lord and Lady Napier gave large st from
which to sele' ,beir guests There consequently s'mc
chsg,n the part Of many at being apparently neglect
Ell lord and lady Napier, however could DOT we'll &C
comocae nore than they did without spelling the enter
tabnebt "a many do here regret to In their anx
iety much One thing omit TO mention,
il shows he depceon Of the British Minister and his
issuing their vtaons they required toe persons honor
ed 70 signify their acceptance or not AS there are always
who Dc not accept the deviation, this g'ves an up
portuniy u fill up the LIST with others Rm happy 10
that this practice is becoming general 10 Washington
society. II is polite, aud especially convenient in our
federal capita. where the residences and convenien es
for entertaining not extensive In some other
places. There very few private citizens present,
1otah! BOT ten 10 all and not many youog ladies' the
ladies present for tine most married ladies' The
whole affair." therefore, is denounced by charming
young American ladies In Washington rather
young herse would have preferred their society and
would have gwen them Invitations TO honor her # she
could only bave known that LORD Napier would not Aud
then the occasion was ore in which they feel 60 deep an
interest
A; hs ball there were, might have been anticipated,
the benei courtls AID with republican
simplicity TIE Eurooear guests in costume with
al The decor atoms Of their orders and insignia OF their
rank ard Offices Oar Americans, except the officers OF
the srmy ano -avy, dressed private gentlemen,
q at any ether bail.
The dresses Of the ladies' truly superb Count
Nges the French Ambassador, appeared to oushDe all
the party with the number and briancy Of his decora-
tons In this he real represented the French people,
who love ord have so much taste for display. The
''corf~e diromaiku,' Western friend Of mine calls
il, made the most striking display Next, perhaps the
remarkable figure OF General Scott, in uniform, the
most striking. The old hero looked well The army aud
navy represented by the elder members of the
vice Mr.. Buchanan not present. The White House
represented by Miss lane who Is in mourning sod
MI Henry the private secretary General Cass there
for short time. Most of the other bers Of the Cab
net and their ladies attended.
To speak Of the ladies' and their charms individually
is ouch the custom with letter writer's, especially lady
letter writers, who Ia sort OF peculiar modesy speak OF
Miss A., and Mrs. B. and Madame C, would be
nvidous, and very much calcu aed o place man in shot
water" However amiable ladies may be, they arc rot
likely 10 forgive critic who negects their charms land
alb ladies' have charms) By not mentioning them or who
makes disas reeab comparsers To cave myself there
fore, prefer not to designate any ono In particular.
lord Napier led Miss fAue to supper aud the rest FOL
lowed in the order OF precedence arranged with care
and agreeable 20 English etiquette In the OF the
evening, Sir Gore ouseey danced with Mrs. Thompson
the charming wife OF the Secretary OF the Interior neither
Of whom had danced fer nine ten years before, but
who this occasion seemed to be unusually Inspired On
the whole, this recherche, grand and we'll ar
ranged ball. and supper provided with all the decacies
that could be procaredan elegant and costly entertain
mept
To nigh, there is dinner patty at Sensior Sdes To
morrow night Commodore Au,ick, Mr. Horace +. Clark
and Mr. Senator Thompson of New Jersey give parties
There is hardly evening but there some parties
balls recei tons Such the ga!ees of Washington
at present.