The New York herald., 1869-01-02
W. NO T ON.
New Years Day at the
Capital.
Receptions by the President
and Cabinet Ministers.
An UnIOOked-for Incideft---B Ben
Butler at the White House.

spicuOus part In the festivities OF this holiday It Is
no more than proper to mention that 1t was no better
or ne worse than weather that Washington has
been forced to endure on the frat day in the year
time out OF mind. Mud, slush and q drzzling ram.
with keen, chilly atmosphere the chief char
acteristics during the whole day. The customary
arraneeme ts were made at the Executive Mansion
to accommodate the great mob OF visitors and to
secure order, peace and regularity in the en-
trance and departure Of the different classes
OF callers. Sentines were posted at the outer
gates to prevent the entrance OF carriages
and pedestrians, except at the appointed time; a
reserve squad Of policemen was drawn up In mill
tary order beneath the porco ana strong force or
them was stationed at different points in tine en-
trance hall. The Marine Band was stationed at the
eastern side OF the hail. and enlivened the cere-
monies with choice 0peratic selections. No attempt
was made to decorate the elegant parlors, except
with bouquets Of flowers from the conservatory. The
carpets were covered with linen, to keep them from
being soied. A temporary wooden bridge was
erected, passing from window OF the hall to the
pavement outside, over which visitors were to pass
out OF the Mansion. At eleven O'Clock the doors
were opened, and the carriages OF the Cabinet
and foreign Ministers, Judges OF the Supreme
Court Of the United States and Courts Of the
District, Senators and Representatives. began to
arrive. At these New Years receptions it Is
somewhat remarkable that the members Of the
diplomatic corps invariably punctual in arriving
at the appointed time, which cannot be said of the
officers OF our own government. The President and
the ladies, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Stover Mrs. Cone,
OF New York, and Mrs. Depuy Of Tennessee-the
two latter friends Of the Presidents family-entered
the Blue Room and took their positions, the Presi-
dent near the door OF the Red Room and the ladies
at the centre OF the ROOM General Mchler pre-
sented the visitors to the ladies and Marshal G0od
ing introduced them to the President The first to
be presented were the Cabinet officers and their
ladies; and first OF these the venerable Secre-
tary OF State, with Miss Carpenter, Of Auburn. n w
on his arm Next Oams postmaster General and
Mrs Randall, Secretary Browning and daughter,
Secretary and Mrs. Welles Secretary and Mrs.
McCulloch, Secretary and Mrs Schofeld, Attorney
General and Mrs. Evarts, and Assistant Secretary
F. w. Seward. Immediately following these were
the foreign Ministers and secretaries, with their
ladies. The members Of the diplomatic corps we're
attred in full dress, with swords and sashes. Mr..
Seward stepped forward when the glltterng line Of
diplomatcs, headed by Baron Gerolt Prussian Minis
ter, Mrs. and Miss Gerolt reached the President.
and performed the duty Of presenting them. Baron
Gerolt was accompanied by Count Lottum, his
secretary. Then followed Mr.. Thornton, the
British Minister, and Mrs. Thornton, Mr.. and
I
Freeman, M. Berthemy. the French Minister,
with the vicomte st. Ferriol and M. Benede.ti,
Secretaries OF Legation; Baron Won Franckenstein,
Charge d'Afralres OF Austria; Senior Blest GaIa,
Charge d'Anaires Of Chile, and Senior Mackenna,
his secretary; NJ Waldemar Bodisco Charge dAf-
fares or Russia, and Mrs. Bodisco; Sefor Don Fa-
cundo Gon the Spanish Minister and his secretaries,
Senior Potestad Don Manuel de Ascaraga aud Don
p. Dez de Rivera Baron DE Wetterstedt. the Swe-
dish Minister; Blacque Bey, the Turkish Minister, and
Mrs. Blacque, with Messrs. Balahzi and l.. Oseau,
his secretaries; Mr.. +. r. Bile Danish Minister and
General Raasr the Danish Secretary Of War; M.
Hitz, the Swiss Consul General, and NJ. Ost, his
secretary; Senior DE Padua Fcury, Charge d'Afrares
Of Brazil; Scor Don Ezequle Gutierrez, Charge d'Af
faires Of Costa Rca; Chevaer Marcel Cerrut Italian
Ministers Don Ignacio Marlscal. Mexican Charge
d'Anaires senor Don Jose Garcia, Peruvian Minister;
NJ. Manoel da Rosa, Charge d'Analres OF Portugal,
and Senior Francisco Parraga Charge dAfaires OF the
United states OF Colombia. The judges OF the SUI
preme Court OF the United States followed the dipo-
matte corps. Chief Justice Chase 1rst exchanged
hearty greetings with the President, then Justice
Grier, Justice and Mrs Clifford, Justice and Mrs.
DAVIS Justice and Mrs. Miller. and Justice Field.
These followed by Judges Fisher and Wyle.
OF the District Supreme Court, and Judge Casey, OF
the Court OF Claims. Next in order came the Mem
bers of Congress. But few senators and Rcpresen-
tatves In the city, and their representation
at the reception was rather small. Among them
were Senators Doolitte, Rice, McCrecry, senator
and Mrs. Dixon and senator Morton. The latter
having been assisted from his carriage walked with
little dificulty with the aid OF a cane through the
hall and Red Room, and when he reached the Presi-
dent he gave his hand earnest grasp and paid his
respects In frank and cordial manner Thus SEN
ator Morton and few other republican members
set worthy example to their fellow members. The
way In which they greeted Mr. johnson showed that
they harbored no spirit OF animosty toward the
head OF the nation on account OF past political
difference. The House was represented by
Messrs. Spaldng, Woodbridge, Boyer, Cary, McCor
mick and wife, Eldridge, Beck, Boydcn, b GLAND,
Chandler, Grover, johnson, Trimble, Smith OF ver-
mont, Cavanagh and Bashford. At the same time
the following persons paid their respects to the
President:-Governor Reed, Of Utah; Colonel and
Mrs. w. @. Moore, Colonel and Mrs. Wright Rives,
General Spinner United States Treasurer; Rev.
Father Mcguire, President OF Georgetown College;
Rev. A. A. s. Taylor and the Commissioner OF PEN
sions. The officers OF the army, wearing full dress,
then appeared, headed by General Townsend, who
presented them. First came Generals r. 7. Dent and
e. r. Comstock and Colonel Il. J. Parker, OF General
Grants stafr then followed Generals Ekin Miller,
Hcntzelman, Ramsay, Dyer, Vincent Breck, How
ard, Shlras, Williams Clary and Eaton; Coonels
wherry Campbell, Bell and Potter; Surgeon Genera!
Barnes Paymaster General Bruce and long line
OF captains and eutenants The Officers Of the navy
and Marine corps followed next, among
whom were Admirais Radford, Dahlgren,
Lee Poor and Smith; Commodore Jen-
kins M. Smith, Paymasters Cunningham and
jackson: Surgeons Kindlebargcr, Tryon, Williams
and Edwards; Commanders Jewell, Malley FIJI
lebrown and Train; Majors Graham, Black, Russell,
Cash and Nicholson. and many Others The dignita
rics and officers OF the government and the foreign
Ministers attended In larger numbers than usual,
and the scene presented was brilliant IN the ex-
trcmo. The dresses OF the ladies were magnificent.
ana the proportion of ladies among visitors was
very large. At twelve O'Clock the gates were opened
The reserve body OF police brought into rcqusi
ton and stationed at every turn through the halls
a..a x,arnrn and thn citixnns In rnirral xnrn ad.