The New York herald., 1862-11-16
THO Social Capital OF che couatry.

the diplomatic representatives OF foreign
Powers have resolved TO remove TO New York
for the winter, leaving only an attache to trans
act the necessary routine business in the national
capital. Cheyalier Hulseman, the Austrian
Minister, has adopted this plan for several years
past, and the other Ministers have at last con
cluded to follow his example. Washington-a
village Of magnificent distances, unfinished 60
vernment buildings, dust mud and disorders
to be entirely reliIquished to politicians, con
tractors, Congressmen soldiers and contraband
darheys. New York is at last recognized as the
social capital, as well as the great commercial
and financial metropolis of the country.
The gentlemen attached to the foreign en-
bassies will find this diplomatic change Of base
mos. desirable. The mission to America will
no longer be regarded as sort Of exile, supe-
rior only to banishment to Siberia. In Wash
ington there is no such thing as society, except
when Congress is in session, and then the society
is rather worse than none. Besides this, the rad-
cal mismanagelnent Of the army by Cabinet
members who know about as much of the art
military as of the art culinary, renders the ma
tional capital rather hazardous place OF resi-
dence in the opinion Of the diplomatic corps.
Shot and shell arc no respecters Of persons
and, although foreign ministers may trouble
themselves great deal about our civil war.
they have but little relish for a taste of the
stern realities OF tho campaign. They prefer
TO approach the war question gingerly and di-
plomaticaly, and not to have it come plumply
before thom or perhaps through them-in thc
shape Of a fifteen inch shell or four hundred
pound shot, Then, too the radicals are still in
very strong force al the capital; aud, when Con-
gress once assemblies, who can tell whether or
not some second Hickman may be empowered
TO head another kitchen committee to investigate
the domestic arrangements of the White House,
and put Lord Lyons, or Count Mcrcicr or some
other foreign minister, on the rack. as the com
mitiee Of the last session did that great diplo
matist, Chevalier Wikoil, in order to find ont
what Mrs. Lincoln said al dinner, or whom she
invited to supper. or at what time end in
what garb Honest Old Abe retired to his
couch? No wonder, then, that the foreign aui-
bassadors have thought it most prudent to
leave single a,tache 70 dodge the dangers Of
u rebel raid, the inquiries of kitchen commit
teemcn aud the society of contrabands and
Congressman, and have determined 10 come on
30 this city, where no military perils threaten;
where all audacious rebels, young and old. male
and female, are necessarily dogged by Kcnnedy's
detectives or secretly confined in Kcnnedy's
station houses; where gentlemen are the rule
and not the exception; where but few select
congressman are recognized i'll society; where
Secretary Chase docs not venture, except when
shining for hasty loan to pay of dissatisfied
soldiers, and where all the attractions Of me-
tropois and of metropolitan society invite the
haJiiues Of European courts.
This accession of distinguished foreigners
will give new impetus and zest to the gazette.
OF the winter in New York. Already balls and
fetes, and s0rees and dinners, aud all sorts OF
private entertainments, are preparing. The
Central Park was never more beautiful than
now aud its rides and drives are in the very
best order. Neither Hyde Park nor the Bois
de Boulogne is very far ahead Of our Central
Park, either in natural charms or in the number
of handsome equipages to be seen there daily,
as Lord Lyons and Count Mercier will soon
discover. For the more northern diplomats we
shall be able to get up something in the Rus
sian style when the skating pond is frozen over
and the sleighing carnival begins. Our Opera
House is already open, and we trust that Grau
ing il in new clothes and white kid gloves)
will not find it necessary to close the doors
during the winter. The theatres Of this city are
never closed. and always well patronized. Ger
tsinly, with the beautiful Guerrabela, the sweet
voiced Lorini, Dinorah Cordier and her pet
goat-which Ullmsn is now teaching TO ba--ah
It's part Of the score correctly and to refrain
from butting the rest OF the dranat;s perSoao--
the siver-toned Brignoli the robust Susini;
the Heron, with Edwin Forrest playing on her
oil nights; Lester Wallack, the most astonsh-
ingly young man of his age; Hackeit, who is
as good Falstaf off the stage rs lie il on, ex-
cept iu the matter of corporositA and all the
other stars, great and small fixed and planet.
ary which now glitter iu our dramatic frma-
ment-- certainly With all these public perform
els. vieing with each other which shall most
please their audiences, our diplomatic soioarn-
crs cannot fail 10 pass winter most enioyably
80 far a. amusements are concerned. And then
there are our clubs, at which one is sure Of good
dinners and good company; aud The splendid.
ceasele.s panorama Of our Broadway, Of which
the Washington Pennsylvania avenue is only
ridiculous aud shabby burlesque. And besides
all this, every private mansion will be open to
the ambassadors, ministers and attaches, and
very few European residences can surpass some
Of our Fifth avenue dwellings. In short, New
York hospitality, already celebrated the world
over, will try 10 excel itself and the stars,
garters, orders and decorations OF the foreign
embassies will blaze in salons where they will
!. be- appropriately welcomed and appreciated.
We only wish that President Lincoln would
make up his mind 10 spend the winter in New