Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-25
THr ALLEGED DINNER TO Fonxrr.-A few


days ago we incidentally took occasion to COM
ment upon certain disparaging remarks-lev-
eled at the President and Cabinet-said to
have been made ut dinner in New York, an |
account of which found its way into the news |
papers through the columns # the New York |
Times, a journal sympathizing intensely with
the tenor of the alleged invidious after-dinner |
speeches Subsequently: we learn from gen |
tleman, who doubtless is thoroughly informed
in the premises, that the Times account of
the affair grossly misreprcsented it-for a po-
litical purpose it is to be taken for granted.
Thus, we learn that the dinner in question
was not given to Mr. Forney; but was designed
by the entertainer, Mr.. Fields, to be strictly
private entertainment for a dozen or two of
his personal friends of all parties, Republicans
and American party men, as we'll as Douglas
ties and Democrats being invited. Or, in other
words, that no thought of politics was con-
nected with it, and that the subject was not
mentioned by any one present. Near the
close of the affair some one jOkingly proposed
a ballot for the next President, which was as
jokingly carried out, Stephen III. Branch and
Fred Douglas receiving quite as many votes, as
the Douglas of the other ilk. We presume
that most of those present did not dream of
connecting the affair with politics, which was
done evidently by some sinister minded person
of the company. Having entire confidence in
the correctness Of this explanation, we do not
hesitate to publish it.
MYSTERIOUS DIsAprEARANCE.-Wes sincere
ly regret to learn from the Boston papers, that
tbar k;of IN
the Navy Department in this city, and resi-
dent here for over twenty-five years, mystic
riously disappeared from his home in Boston
on Monday the 18th instant, and has not since
been heard of. From the circumstances sur
rounding this affair it is thought there is room
for experimenting that he has, in a moment of
mental alteration, destroyed himself Mr.. E.
| was well known to large number of our citi
zens, and very generally held in high esteem.
His age is about 50 years. He had no family,
having never been married. His late residence
was with his sister, Miss M. A. Etheridge, at
No. 254 fremont street, Boston, and she calls
attention to his absence, through an ADVERTISE
ment, and desires information concerning him
to be addressed to her.
Primers FOR SMALL ARMS.-The board of
Army officers appointed to ascertain the rela-
| tive merits of various new methods of printing
small arms report that, after a careful exami-
nation, they do not feel satisfied to recommend
the introduction of either Wards or Martins
| into the service. Of Mr.. Butterield's plan,
notwithstanding that several objections seem to
exist, as they can be best tested by field SER
| vice, the board recommend that about fifty
muskets be supplied with his apparatus for
printing. 1t is said that the Secretary of War
has also ordered a similar test of Martins pri-
mer. method submitted by Major Laidley
seemed to the board to obviate many Of the
| objections found in the others
| The primers before the Board were those of
George G.. Martin, of New York Jesse S But
terrified, of Philadelphia; and Wards method
of serving Maynard's primers
| The WEArHER.-The following report of tho
| weather for this morning is made from the Morse
Telegraph line to the Smithsonian Institution
/ The time of observation ia nh o,,vo,lx.