The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-01-26
The Diplomatic Corps.

The diplomatic corps occupies the fore
most position in Washington society"
On ceremonious occasions these repre-
sentatiyes of friendly foreign Powers
claim precedence" and follow the
President of the United States, going
before the Supreme Court, the Senate
and the House of Representatives At
Inauguration balls and on similar occa-
sions they claim the right to follow the
President in, without paying for their
tickets. They are permitted to receive
their clothing, furniture, wines, ETC., free
OF duty, and they cannot be held legally
accountable for any debts which they
may contract. To them Washington is
regarded as placef for diplomatic Danish
ment, it being socially undesirable, and
there being little opportunity to win a
diplomatic reputation here Indeed, it
is very seldom that the European Powers
send one of their flrst-class men here,
especially since the electric cables enable
the Secretaries of State of different lands
to correspond directly. when Louis
XIV. sent the Duke Of Anjou to Spain
to assume the crown, he said to him
prettily: "The Pyrenees no longer exist."
Diplomacy really exists no longer.
Steam or electricity have made for us a
different world from that which our
fathers knew. Our time requires a new
diplomacy and a new law of nations.
There are one-and-tWenty frst-class
Legations here at Washington, each hav-
ing for its head an envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary. Then there
are seven or eight second-class Legations,
presided over by Minister Resident, and
some of them belonging to the South
American States are closed for want of
funds. The Legations are officially ar
ranged al phabetically, and the Ministers
take precedence according to the dates of
their missions, but the oldest Legation,
historically speaking, is that of France,
which was established during our Revo-
luton, and which encouraged the strug
giles for our independence. Later, the.
French Minister was at loggerheads with
the Federal Government, and the rela
tions between this country and "our
ancient ally" France, have never been
of the most cordial description, and have
several times been interrupted by mis-
understandings. One Of the most popu-
lar French Ministers, the Marquis de
Montholon, married a beautiful and &C
complished daughter Of General Gratiot,
of this city. The Count de Sartiges,
when Minister, married Boston lady,
and recent Minister, Monsieur Outrey,
married an accomplished New York
heiress.
Spain was the next nation which had
diplomatic representative here, and when
New York city was the seat Of Govern
ment of the United States, Senior Don
Diego Gardoqui occupied house on
Broadway, near the Bowling Green, where
Mrs. George Clinton, Lady Kitty Duer,
and Mrs. Beekman matrionized his enter
tainments Another early Minister was
PETER Johan Van Berkel, who came to
represent the Netherlands.
Great Britain has fine Legation build
ing, erected for the purpose, and admir-
ably adapted for dinners, balls and other
entertainments. The present Minister,
the Hon. L. S. Sackyille West, has
grown daughter, who presides over his
household. There are also a First Secre-
tary of Legation, two Second Secretaries,
Third Secretary and naval attache
Germany also owns her Legation
building, which is plain double-house
on Fifteenth street, opposite Welcker's
The empire is just now without Minis
ter, Count Henry Won Beust acting as
Charge d Affaires 0d interim. Germany
has naval attache and an engineer at
tache, who send home careful reports of
what we are doing in the art of war, the
building of steam engines, torpedo manu-
facture, etc.
Spain has no Legation building, but
large corps Of diplomates. There is an
Envoy Extraordinary, First, Second
and Third Secretary of Legation,
military attache, naval attache and
three civil attaches. It is a prominent
part of their business to watch over
Cuba, and they are often bled by sharp
detectives, who concoct fearful stories
about the building of fast ships or the
purchase of arms for filibustering expe-
ditions.l
Russia's first diplomatic representative
arrived in this country about the time
the capital was located here at Washing
ton. One of the Russian Ministers, the
Baron de Bodlsco, represented his s0ve-
reign here for seventeen years. discharg-
ing his delicate trust with great accept
ableness to our Government and the
people. He married Miss Williams, of
Georgetown, and one of his Fsuccessors,
Baron Stoeckle, also married an Amer
lean, Connecticut lady. The most
beautiful woman ever connected with the
Diplomatic Corps here was Madame De
Catacazy, who excited the admiration of
men and the jealousy of women until it
was necessary for her husband to take
her back to Europe. Boston Jour-
nal