The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-11

If the question should be asked 'EWhat is the
chief end of an alderman ?'-'.To eat and to
drink, +" would undoubtedly be the proper response.
The diligent consumption, on all possible occa-
sions, and upon every possible pretext, and fire.
quenty upon no pretex at all, of large quantities
OF champagne and oysters, sherry and sandwiches,
dinners, suppers, and collations, hot and cold to
say nothing of the minor items of whisky, cigars,
and hacks al hbaum, at the public expense seems
to be the acknowledged peculiar and.appropriate
province of aldermanic and civic potentates and
dignitaries throughout the Anglo-Saxon world:
and in strict attention to their official duties in
this respect the honest gentlemen who compose the
common councils of the city of New York are not
one whit behind their turtle-fed brethren of Eu-
rope No opportunity, great or small of feasting,
junketting and 'having good time generally at
the expense of the munifcent corporation whose
municipal affairs they administer is ever let slip by
these worthy citizens and considerate Fathers of
the people. We are not surprised, therefore, that
the arrival in this country of so exalted person.
age as a Rear-Admiral of the Turkish Navy, a Pa
sha, to wit, of many tails, should be made an
occasion for a lavish expenditure of civic hospitali-
ties and public money. What we regret is not
that our lustrous visitor should have been thus
entertained at the expense of the people, but that
the duty of entertaining him should have fallen
into such hands as the extract which we re-publish
from the New York Herald in another column, and
the further particulars which we find in the New
York papers, would lead us to suppose.
His Excellency Rear Admiral MoHAMMED PAsHA,
OF the Ottoman Navy, is we doubt not gentle
man. and has always been accustomed to the socie-
ty of gentlemen and we cannot, therefore but sim
cerely commiserate his situation in being compelled
to submit to the vulgar annoyances and imperti-
nences to which he has been subjected daily and
hourly, since his arrival upon our shores Yester-
day, as we learn from the Herald the Pacha and
suite were treated to a sleigh-ride by Aldermen
BooLE, and Councilman VAN Tine in Messrs.
AcKER CoLYER's finest sleigh, drawn by six
spirited horses and kindly rendered for the occa-
sion. The day before yesterday the Pacha was
formally received by Mayor TEMANN, and the cor
porate authorities and among other delicate atten-
tons Profered him on the occasion, was that of
taking his daguerreotype, and that of the gentle
men OF his suite. But the browning feature in the
whole Reception, and that which stamps it with
character peculiarly belonging to New York, is to
be found in the collation. which was afterwards
served up on which occasion the distinguished WIS.,
itors enjoyed the delightful society and efficient as
sistance of the whole body of Aldermen and Conn
cilmen, and select assemblage of invited guests,
the friends and cronies doubtless of the committee
under whose auspices the affair was gotten up Sher-
ry and sandwiches according to the Times, were the
principle edibles and poables provided on the occa-
sion. Sandwiches and sherry Shade of the Prophet
is this a dish to set before an Admiral and a Mus
sulman? Sherry and sandwiches are very good
victuas no doubt, but when we recall the positive
precepts of the Koran, in whose doctrine the Rear
Admiral is devout believer against the use of
wine and the flesh of swine we fail to appreciate
tne GOOD taste shown by the worthy Aldermen and
Councilmen in the selection of their bill of fare
FOR the credit of the country and for the sake of
the good impression which it is desirable to make
upon Inc mind OF our visitor, we hope that an end
ayi soon be put to the destinations xurarties of
the New York Reception, by the speedy denartnre
OF the ReaE-Admiral for Washington. or that the
gentlemen of his own profession the officers of the
American Navy, viii come to the rescue of their
brother sailor, and deliver him out of the hands Of
the Philistines among whom he has fallen. And
we hope that in future cases the city of New York
at least SO long as her civic dignitaries are the
chosen representatives of the short-boys and the
.pugilists will consider herself absoved from all