Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-26

to-day engaged in the consideration OF duties
upon paints, chemicals, sc.
THE VIRGINIA BILL SIGNEp.-Thc President
this morning signed the bin for the admission Of
Virginia, and it was transmitted to the State
Department to be filed.
THE U. s. STEAMER ALASKA, which had been
refitted and repaired at Boston, sailed from tha.
port for New York, on trial trip, during which
her machinery was much damaged, and she will
again have to be repaired at New York.
THE DARIEN ExPEDITIoN.-The steamer
Nipsic, Commodore Selfridge, has sailed from
New York for the Isthmus of Darien. The
Guard and steam tug will follow to-day. The
expedition will reach its destination about the
Sd Of February.
GENERAL AMEs-General Sherman having
granted General Ames lin command of the De-
partment Of Mississippi leave of absence, he
has issued an order assigning Colonel Penny
hacker, second In command there, to act as
chief of the Division during General Ames' abb
sence.
MERCY DODD" will be brought out at Wallis
Opera House tonight, with the full strength Of
Laura keenes Philadelphia Company. The
play Is said to be one OF Boucicault's best, and
crowded house may be expected. Gen. Sher-
man will be present The comedietta of "Two
Can Play at That Game" will also be performed.
Hon. WV. WILLIAMS, M. c. from Indiana,
has the floor the first time the House again goes
into Committee Of the Whole for the purpose of
making speech on the railroad monopolies
hereabouts, and will, we understand, pay his
particular respects to the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad.
TRANsFERs IN THE REVENUE BUREAU
Col. ID. e. Cox, Of Ohio, for some time past
Chief Of the Division of Bonded Spirits and
Tobacco, Internal Revenue Office, has been
transferred to the position Of General Super
visor Of the Department, in place Of w. p.
Sherman, who has been transferred to the head
Of the Stamp Division.
REDUCTION OF THE ARxY.-The Hopse Con,-
mittee on Military Affairs has agreed to one
clause OF the bill of Gen. Logan for the reduc-
ton Of the army, which is for the appointment
OF board of five officers to examine all officers
Of the army below the rank of Brigadier Gene
raj, to determine who may be mustered out
without detriment to the service.
THE WASHINGTON AoUEDUor INvEsrIGA-
TIoN.-The House Committee on the District OF
Columbia held meeting this morning and re-
sumed the testimony in reference to the WASH
ington Aqueduct. The witnesses examined to-
day were Messrs. Wm Smich, John Collins, E.
q. Stever, Robert s. King, Thos b. Samo, VIM
Lauer, and Riley A. sbinn.
OFFICERS MUST WRITE THEIR NANRs-The
War Department has issued an order directing
that hereafter all papers Of the nature of vouch-
ers, or forming basis or authority for the ex-
penditure of money, which should be originally
signed or officially authenticated by any dificer
of the army, will be signed or authenticated, as
the case may be, with the pen; and the affixing
of stamped, printed, orDlithographed foe simile
signatures will be discontinued.
THE OPERA.-"Linda" il one Of Donizetti's
least attractive works, and we are surprised
that it remains in the modern repertoire. We
must, however, say for Miss Kellogg that she
makes the most Of it. Her modest appearance
in the first act. in the character of q plain Sa.
voyard maiden, and the rendering Of the cava
tina 90 luce di quest anima," in an un-
affected manner, yet with great delicacy
and finish, charmed every listener. Whilst
her voice is not the most powerful, yet it
is fresh and pure, and her intonation perfect
We cannot speak more favorably Of Mad Lum-
ley's Pierotso than we did Of her Asucena of Mon
day night. 1t was most unsatisfactory. Signor
RancoDi, as an actor, has no superior on the
lyric stage, but his voice Is almost gone, and
whilst he made all he could out Of the character
Of Antonio, the role Of Crispfno suits him much
better. Lott is q fair singer, but poor actor.
and whilst Fossati and Barili were acceptable,
We cannot say anything special in their favor
Chorus and overture, as usual were very good,
but we miss the experienced impressario, Max
with baton in hand.
Tonight Lefranc will appear in civilian
Tell" The score of this opera shows many
high Cs in the tenor part; in fact, 1t is the Sc
verest Of operas on tenors. From the superb
manner in which Lefranc carried his part in
" Trovatore" on Monday night, public expecta-
ton runs high in regard to his performance to-
night in " william Tell"
SoCIRTY.-The second card reception at Gen.
Sherman's last evening brought out an unusually
large attendance Of distinguished guests. At a
comparatively early hour the throng COM
menced, and by ten O'Clock the spacious rooms
were literally packed. Among those present
were Secretary RObeson, Senators Trumbull,
Patterson and wife, Corbett and wife, Stewart
and wife, Edmunds, Sherman, Warner, and
Drake; the Speaker and Mrs. Blaine, and Rep
resentatives Washburne and welker and ladies';
little, and Ex-Secretary McCulloch and wife;
Generals Mcdowell, Marcy, Dent. Badeau,
Dyer and wife, Poe and wife, and Coils. DAYTON
and wife, and Mccoy and wife; Admiral Porter
and wife, Admiral Powell and wife, Admiral
Bailey and ladies, Commodore Smith and ladies;
Gen. Giles A. Smith, ID Assistant Postmaster
General, and ladies, Assistant Attorney General
Field and wife; M. Catacazy, the Russian Minis
ter, and q number OF other foreign representa-
tives; together with large gathering Of notables
In public and private life from Washington and
the several States and Territories. At about
half past ten O'Clock Prince Arthur appeared in
the parlor, accompanied by Minister Thornton
and several members Of his suite. He was pre-
sented to the members and friends Of General
Sherman's household and to q number Of the
distinguished personages present, and during
his stay he was Of course the cynosure of all
eyes, and won many compliments for his modest
manly bearing and his frank intelligent colnte-
nance.
General and Mrs. Sherman received their
guests with their accustomed cordial bosAomis,
which does 20 much TO make all visitors at their
hospitable mansion feel comfortably at ease.
In this pleasant duty they we're assisted by their
daughter, Miss Minnie, and Mrs. Judge Bart
ley, OF this city, and Mrs. Judge Granger, of
Ohio,-the former the sister, and the latter the