The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-24

Whether American diplomatists abroad shall
appeaT at the foreign Courts 10 which they are
respectively accredited in uniform oras Secretary
MARCY, in his well-known circular, expresses it
Sin the simple dress of an American citizen" is
a question which has frequently elected the atten-
ton of the Department of State, but which has
never yet been satisfactorily decided. The Senate,
probably with view to tightening IFS graver Ia
bors, has called for copies of the official cores
pondencc upon the subject. 1t is quite volumin-
Gus; is certainly interesting to those who de-
light in sarorial discussions, and is occasionally
not little spicy. From these important State
papers, we learn that our diplomatic agents
abroad received no instructions rs to what kind
ofdress they should in their official capacity,
until 1923, when Mr.. ADAMS recommended the
adoption in future of the costume which was worn
in 1914 by the American Commissioners at Client.
That costume called for
"a blue coat lined with white silk straight standing
cape embroidered with gold, sing breasted; straight
round button holes, slightly embroidered. Buttons
plain or if they be had, with the artlerss eagle
stamped upon them, eagle flying, with wreath
in its mouth, grasping lightning in of its alOns
Cuffs embroidered in the manner OF the with cass
brooches. gold knee buckles white silk stockings
and gold or gilt shoe buckles. threecornered chapeau
de bras not large those used by the French,
which lately eagle has been attached Sword &c.
corresponding. The secretaries have the costume,
with the exception that their coats have less embroidery
than that of the minister"
On gala days and other extraordinary occa-
sions the following notifications were suggested :
"a coat similar to that above described but embrod.
cred around the skirts and down the breasts well
at the cuffs and cape ali the other parts of the dress
great and the small uniform. There should be a white
ostrich feather plumet in the minister's hat not stand
ing erect, but sewed round the brim."
These changes were, however, exacted of the
American Minister only it being graciously init
mated that the Secretaries of Legation, and 'all
'other persons attached to the Embassy" were
tnot required to have more than one uniform
Under the administration of General JACKSON, the
diplomatic uniform was shorn of some Of some OF
its more flncilul features. The blue coat, en-
broidered with gold lace; the knee and shoe
buckles of gold, or gilded the spread eagle but
tons, and the ''white ostrich feather or plumet'
were abandoned, and as more in accordance with
the simplicity of our institutions, American diplo-
matists were recommended to wear:
"a black coat with gold star on each side Of the coll
lar near its examinations the under clothes to he bIac ~
white at option of the wearer three cornered Cha
1edu de bras with black cockade and gold eagle: and
steel mounted sword with white scabbardn
Every individual dpomatist was, however left
at liberty to vary the details Of his Court dress as
he might think proper, provided he did not thereby
render himself ridiculous Thus matters remained
until Mr.. MARCY became Secretary of State On
the LIST of June, 1853, the latter issued circular
Withdrawing al instructions in regard to diplo
matte uniform, and expressing a desire, on the
mart of the Government, that each of our represen
tatives abroad should appear at Court whenever
if was practicable ''in the simple dress of al
uAmercan citizen" Upon the PRONUNCIATION 0
this circular, a correspondence ensued, from which
we make the following extracts. Mr.. TnEoDoRI
s. FAY, Secretary Of Legation at Berne, considers
imself fortunate in being able to state that
1.-THE absurd and expensive uniform which the Ameri
can representative royal Court is with questionable
nropriety permitted by his government to is
required in Switzerland on any OCCASION
Mr.. SANFORD, Charge d futures, nd interim, a
Paris, next follows with report of his interview
with NJ. DRoUYN DE L'HUYs, the French Mniste
for Foreign Affairs. Mr.. SANFORD explains tt
him the position of delicacy and embarrassment
in which he found himself His Govern
ment had expressed the desire that he should
appear on official occasions in citizens
dress. bat he trusted that t'this chance o.
''dress would not be regarded rs sgnify ing any
stchanoe in the sentiment of the Government and
stpeople of the UNITED STATES towards France,
10 which VI. DRoUYN DE EHUYs replied Will
great cordiality that it could not-that he would
he happy to see Mr.. SANFORD in his citizen
rarb. if he desired it. Mr.. SEIBEL writes from
Rrussels that he will carry out Secretary Marcy
instructions, and regrets very much
s.,hat morbid sensibity to the ridiculous custon
and formaties of the courts of Europe has heretoor
induced the diplomatic and other agents the Unite
ates residing to depart far from customs
hahits and tastes Of their own country
Mr.. DANIELS reports that there will be no diff
ou,tv an the score of dress with the Court a
Turin. At Berlin, however, Court etiquette wa
inexorable Baron MANTEUFFEL very politely in
formed Mr.. VRooM that diplomatst in citizen
dress was inadmissbe in Court circles, and tina
his Majesty ''would not consider it respectful o.
"the part of Mr.. VRooM to appear before hiI
''without a Court costume" whereupon Mr.
deferred the time of his presentation until tn
tailor had furnished him "with a very plain an,
simple dress" Far more fortunate was Mr.
BELMONT at the Court of the Hague. His Ma;ast
of Holland would have preferred the uniform I'm
consented 10 dispense with it. Having wa;vo
punctilious ceremonial, he speedily received M,
BELMONT into grace and favor A few month
later, Mr.. B. informs the Secretary of State tba