The Portland daily press., 1870-01-28
BALL TO PRINCE ARTHUR,


Congress for that purpose he is unable to com
ply with such requests.
BALL TO PRINCE ARTHUR.
A ball given by Minister and Mrs. Thornton
tonight in honor of Prince Arthur was at
tended by between 500 and 600 persons. At
half-past 10 o'clock Prince Arthur, in company
with Minister and Mrs. Thornton, began to re-
ceive the guests. These included all the for
eign ministers in full dress, attended by the
ladies of their respective families, members of
the Ea9lnet, Senators and Representatives,
Admiral Porter, Gen. Sherman, and others of
distinction. AT about IL o'clock It was nri-
vately announced that the President and
Mrs. Grant were approaching, when the Prince
aud Minister and Mrs. Thornton met them at
the door. The band struck up "Hail to the
Chief" The President escorted Mrs Thorn
ton and the Prince Mrs. Grant, and Mr.. Thorn
ton Mrs. Fish, to the opposite end of the hall.
These were followed by members of the Cabi-
net accompanied by ladies. The festivities
were prolonged to late hour.
MIR. wAsHBURN's OCEAN STEAMER BILL.
Mr.. Washburn of Wisconsin to-day present.
ed his bill to the House for the establishment
of the lines of ocean steamers, which was refer
red to by the special committee on Americ IN
commerce. The bill proposes to establish four
lines of steamers as follows: The Atlantic Iron
Steamship Company, to ply between Boston
and POI tland, in the United States, Glasgow
in Scotland and Liverpool, England, sailing
from each of said ports on alternate weeks; the
American Iron Steamship Company, to ply be-
tween New York and Liverpool, touching at
Queenstown and making weekly trips; the
Transatlantic Steamship Company, to ply be-
tween Baltimore, Southampton and Bremen
touching at each port on alternate weeks; the
North and South American and European
Steamship Company, to ply between New Or
leans and Hamburg, touching at Antwerp, and
between New Orleans and Rio Japerio, touch
ing at Havana Mayaguese, Porto Rico, ST.
Thomas and Trinidad, in the West Indies, and
Penambuco and Bahia in Brazil; making semi
monthly trips.
The Postmaster General is authorized to
contract with these lines for the transmission
of the United States mails for ten years and
| to guarantee payment to each company of five
| hundred thousand dollars per annum, payable
monthly. In the case of the North and Sou tn
| American and European Company this amount
| is to be equally divided between the two lines.
| The contract is to be made on the express cou-
dition that each company shall proceed imme-
diately to construct in American Shipyards not
less than five first class iron ships of the most
| approved model for speed, and with the best
accommodations for cabin and steerage pas
sengers, of not less than three thousand tons
| burthen, and with speed equal to the average
speed of the lines known as the Cunard, In
| man and French lines.
| CoRBIN BEFORE THE BANKING COMMITTEE.
A. r. Corbin was before the Committee on
Banking and Currency to-day and was exam
| ined at some length in reference to the gold
panic in New York. His examination will be
concluded tomorrow, but he positively de-
clnes to divuge any of his testimony, on the
ground that it would be disrespectful to the
committee.