The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-02
THE NEW YEAR IN WASHINGTON.
SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE HERALD.

Brilliant Reception mt the White House-Re-
ceptions of General Grant, Chief Justice
Chase, Speaker Colfax, Old Thad and the
Washington Celebrities Generally.
WASHINGTON, JAN l, 1865.
The Presidents reception was the great event
in Washington to-day, and, despite the raw and
chilly weather, was well attended by citizens Of
all classes. The police arrangements were excel
lent, and no undue crowding resulted from the ex-
haustless stream Of visitors that poured for hours
through Blue Room and Red Room and circulas- I'D
in eddying groups in the ample space Of the East
Room. To facilitate the egress Of visitors a
wooden bridge was thrown across the cellar area
of the White House from one of the windows
which opened on level with the floor of the East
Room, and all confusion in getting out was thus
avoided. Carriages drove up under the pillared por
tico from the west side and left by the east. AT
eleven o'clock the President entered the circular
Blue Room, the handsomest apartment in the Exec
utive Mansion, with its beautiful frescoed walls
and ceilings, and its food of mellow light. The
Marine Band, numbering about forty pieces. struck
up a lively air. The ladies began to make their
appearance. The foreign ministers, in gold lace
and antique swallow tails, came busting along,
and the scene began to assume an animated
aspect.
Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. Slower, the Presidents
daughters, came in at the same time and took mp
position in the centre of the room. Both were
dressed alike in lustreless black, silk beaded and
braided and finished off at the necks with fine
white lace collars. They went through the cere-
mony of receiving with quiet, cheerful unaffected
grace that made its due impression. Their chill.
dren, about six or seven in number, some of them
very interesting little girls, entered the room
with them and remained during the reception,
moving gleefully through the crowd. The Pres.
dent, wearing his peculiar smile of affabty,
dressed in plain black, and gloved with
drab kids, took up position near
the western entrance of the room with
Marshal Gooding on his left to perform the intro
auctions. He looked we'll, showed no trace of
care on his brow, while his hair was faultlessy
brushed and adjusted. He was cordial in his man.
ner and evinced very kindly tendency to kiss all
the little innocent girls that were introduced to
him by their fond parents. No anxious apprehen-
sions were visible in his countenance of
the terrible ordeal in store for the mus
cles of his right hand. He rather looked
resigned to his fate and prepared to meet
II manfully. At eleven O'Clock precisely
the proceedings began by the entrance of the
Cabinet ministers, headed by Secretary Seward
leading his daughter-in-law. Seward was in good
spirits, evidently ready for joke, though he per-
petrated none, except to say, in one of his brief
and promiscuous conversations, that he hoped no
earthquake would visit Alaska before it was paid
for. The somnolent Secretary of the Navy ap.
peared wide awake and quite complacent. Sec
rato Mc('u okad of FIR.
ures and finance, and Etanbery wore an express
sion of relief from the legal cares of his
office. Browning and Randall made up the rest
of the Cabinet representation. Their ladies were
also in attendance, dressed in rich but subdued
attire. The volume Of conversation increased in
animation when the ladies and foreign ministers
came together. French, German and Italian
broke in at intervals upon the accustomed English
and the confusion Of tongues became delightfully."-
varied.
Secretary Seward introduced the foreign minis
ters beginning with Mons. Berthemy, the French
Minister, who wore the cross of the Legion and a
tri.colored sash; Baron Gerolt, of Prussia
with heavy gold embroidered pocket lap
pets and q coat collar, made an imposing
appearance, but the most remarkable looking
foreign representative was undoubtedly Bacque
Bey, the Turkish Minister, with his crimson fez
gold mounted scimeter and gorgeous oriental APP
parel. or naturally fine figure, his costume
showed to advantage and drew after him good
deal of attention. His secretary, a magnificent
looking Turk, with magnificent mustache
and lustrous coal black eye, accompa
MED him. Baron Stoecll, Russian Minister,
lie Baron de Frankcnstein, Austrian Charge
dAnairs, Baron N. W. de wetterstedt, of Sweden,
and Senior Don Colonel Domingo +. Sarmiento,
Argentine Republic, followed, giving to tho
room which was fast filing up, quite gay
appearance. In succession came Francis Clark
Ford, Charge d'Afairs of Great Britain, Senior
Don Alberto Gava, Of the Chilean Lega-
ton, NJ. de Bile, recently appointed
Danish Minister, Chcvalicr Marcee Ger
rutti Minister from Italy. Sehor Don
Lula de Potestat, of the Spanish Legation; NJ.
Waldemar de Bodsco, OF the Russian Legation;
Leon Rosa Rngabee, of the Grecian Legation:
John Htz Esq, Consul General Of Switzerland;
Don Jose Antonio Garcia Garcia. Peruvian
Minister, besides a number Of attaches, duly pre-
sentcd by the indofatigable Secretary Of state.
All these gentlemen formed in radiant clusters in
the centre OF the room. in the vicinity of the
Presidents daughter.
Three beautiful bouquets Of exotic flowers graced
the nantel piece, and when conversation on the
weather tagged these freshly cued gems of the
conservatory formed an uniailing theme OF criti-
cism.
Several Of the foreign gentlemen wore very
light pants, with silver braid ut the sides, and
majority reioiced in medals, crosses and bits of
ribbon. In exterior personnel here was nothing
very striking in these representatives from abroad
Some were very unimpressve looking individuals
and wore their uniforms with an awkward grace
When the ministers had all been introduced, the
members of Congress came dropping in. Reverdy
Johnson, corpulent and rudy as ever led the van,
then came Dixon and Doolittle, the twin conserva
ftXaa Mnrtn of InIta xxyth fl,a nlH in hive
eyes though feeble in hs limbs. advanced to tho
President and extended an honest greeting to hin
on the advent Of the New Year. Cole Of Califor-
MIA 'Fessenden OF Maine, Morrill, of Vermont, rugged
out quite stylishly Corbet Of Oregon, sherman
and Morgan followed aud in every instance were
kindly recognized by the President.
After the Senators came Representatives III
bridge, Marshall Pruyn, Banks, Nicholson, Ferris
aud Trimbc, and very soon bright galaxy of dis
tinguished folks was assembled within the limited
area OF the Blue Room. Next came General Grant
at the head of the army officers and in full uniform
he advanced TO the President in business like
u1to HapJ nd toba al \, i'm, hnn M