The New York Herald Newspaper, December 31, 1872, Page 4

ee I ors } i | SEE Heer 4 NEW YURK HERALD, TUESDAY. DECEMBER 31, 1872.—TRIPLE SHEET. NEW YEAR’S EVE. “ Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New; Ring Out the False, Ring in the True."’ PREPARING FOR THE ADVENT OF 1873 Observances of the Anniversary at Home and Abroad. Old and Curious Customs of New York's Great Day of Conviviality. Mao meee 2 “TIME'S TIDE ee ee a A-TURNING 18.” Trinity’s Traditional Chimes—“‘Goodby, Old Year,” and Welcome to the New. The end of the old year has arrived, and with the chimes of old Trinity at mianight we shall be launched into the unexplored future of 1873, It ia the fashion on this particular day to indulge im a good deal of self-examination and retrospec- tion—to cast a look back over the pages in the ledger of life and turn over a clean leaf, to begin ‘the entries for the time ahead. This is a great day for making holy and praiseworthy vows, especiaily among young men between the ages of twenty and thirty, and, it might be added, young women between the ages of sweet sixteen and adolescent twenty-five. All the follies and scrapes, the lost opportunities, the thoughtless mistakes are con- jured up by the wand of memory, and “we won't do it again” is about the way the general resolu- tion to amend is expressed. It is alsoa great day with THE ARMY OF OLD BUMMERS who go on sinning from one calendar year to an, other, but are always prepared to cry ‘halt’? on this momentous occasion. Launching into another year has something in it suggestive of jumping the life to come, and people pause to think if the time be mot opportune for switching off from old habits and starting on a fresh and improved track for the future. Convivalists, with a mental reservation that New Year's Day is to be excepted, take their final | drinks to-night and vow to patronize cold water for the rest of their lives. Seven-eighths of these vows may withstand the cold of the winter, but as @rule they yield to the seductive allurements of the thirsty Summer months. With the world of young ladydom New Year’s Rve (in New York par- ticularly) is one of uncommon excitement, for on the morrow they must perforce show themselves in their best bib and tucker to multitudes of mar- riageable young men. Doubtless there is little sleep for the ladies this blessed night. To-morrow (for them) rolis in no petty pace, for it is THE GRAND LOTTERY DAY whereon many prizes for life may be drawn, and just as inevitably many, very many, blanks. That ‘so interesting an occasion should be distinguished by some observance or ceremony appears but natural, and we accordingly find various customs prevail—some sportive, others serious, aud others in which both the mirthful and pensive moods are intermingled. One of the bert known and most general of these customs is that of sitting up till twelve o'clock on this night and then, when the eventful hour has struck, proceeding to the front door aud unbarring it with great formality to “let out the Old and let in the New Year.” The even- ing is @ favorite occasion for social gatherings in Scotiand and the north ef England, the assemblea friends thus welcoming together the birth of another of Father Time's ever-increasing though short-lived progeny. IN THE ISLAND OF GUERNSEY it used to be the practice of children to dress up a figure in the shape of a man, and after parading it through the parish to bury iton the sea shure or in some retired spot. This ceremony was styled “Enterrer le vieux voutde Van.” In Philadelphia the old year is fired out and the new year fired in by @ discharge of every description of frearm— musket, fowling piece and revolver. A custom prevails, more especially among Ff, lish Dissenters, of having a midnight service jn the various places of worship on the last nighf of the year, the occasion being deemed peculiarly adapted both for pious meditation ana thankful- Qeas, and also for the receyiion and retention of religious impressions. nq to the community at large the passing fway of the Old Year and the Arrival of his #2C cessor is heralded by the peals of eel after twelve o’clock has struck, burst forth from every steeple, Warning us that another year has commenced, TUB TENNYSONIAN JINGLE. Tennyson has been ringing out the old and ring: ing in the new for many years, and we purpose to ES ®@ couple of his Verses with the old ring ty em :— ‘ Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky i he lying cloud, the frosty light ; * The year is dying in the night— Ring out, wild bells, and Jet him die | Ring out the old, ring in the new; ve ing, The year te going—tet ktm go.” . i oing—let him go. Ring Out the false, ting in the true! The DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR ‘s marked with cape edie 2 Treligious services among many of the churches. The Methodists have their watch-night services, which are coée- brated with considerable unction. The congrega- tions assemble an hour or so before midnight, and with fervent prayer, addresses and hymo: thanksgiving for past mercies fill up the fleeting moments of the dying hour of the year. Every effort ia made to convince the unrepentant of sin, the natural depravity of man, and the constant transgressions even of the most perfect are painted ‘Q the most vivid colors. MANY CONVERSIONS are made on these occasions ; indeed it is rare that they pass away without any visible fruits. Sometimes, it is true, the extravagant excitement which marks these exercises nas brought them into ridicule, but still they have done their share of good in the past and should be able to do the same in the future. Inthe early days of Method- ism in England “watch-nights” once a month were observed among the societies on the night pre- cediny the full moon. As a@ religious service it originated among the colliers of Kingswood, who had their regular Saturday night Dacchanalian ca- rousals; but under the preaching of the Wes- jeys and their coadjutors those ‘iners be- came Christians; they could never, however, be revailed hed to give up their gin and water. in the “old country” the church members fre- Era and as many as possible, stand round the aiter rails, and, clasping each other's hands, sing hymns lustily, and then, kneeling down, con- tinue in eae silent prayer for five or more minutes while the hand of tine counts the minutes which separate the old year from the new, and pessing rapidly by indicates that the new year has begun. Americans do not give such rigid atten- tion to this ANCIENT RELIGIOUS CUSTOM as do their Wesleyan brethren of Great Britain and Ireland, At nine to-night the services bie begin in most of the Methodist churches and all the sinners, enough of whom are around New York to make a pretty considerable congregation, are cordially in- vited to attend. Atthe old John street church a great crowd and many conversions of the hard cases in the Fourth ward may be anticipated. OLD-TIME OBSERVANCES. is of | | Chrlgtmes Kesthrities 2 th) be termed a restored version of thia chant. The Queen Mary alluded is evidently the Virgin :— This night it is guid New'r B'en's nighi— And we" eight ‘And tuat'sbetore ouriady. ws" The Grst thi — ‘And that's belure our indy. Good wife, butter ark ‘And ‘weigh uwa'hereice mark, is stark and stout, For mea to drink the old year out. ‘A TREMENDOUS BUSH Was made for ‘she ben” of the house, The mates furnished & {i long table with atl sorts of homely fare, anda bearkys it took place, followed by copious libations of ale, with all sorta of good wishes. The party would then proceed to the next house, where a similar acene would be enacted. How they contrived to take so met. suppers in one evening Heaven knows. No slight could be more keenly felt by a Beerness farmer than to have his house passed over unvisited by the New Year singers, ADVICK TO NEW YEAR'S CALLERS, Coming down to the manner in which New Year's will be o! whe to-morrow among ourselves, we have some vice to ive the yor men who will go out aroving and adrinking. Take heed, that you do not young men, fall into the fatal error of Bir Lucius O'Dowd, and destroy your happiness and your hives by confusion of drinks, if Rai! imbibe whiskey straight, keep straight on whiskey, but if you want to have an early interment under the sod of Greenwood mix up claret with pale brandy, then fall back upon sherry and fetch up again on old rye. In this way you will throw some business in the way of the un- dertaker and disappoint your creditors, Young men will drink to-morrow in spite of anything we may say, 50 that it is but right and proper that they should be guided in the way that will bring upon them the least evil. Our New Year's CUSTOM OF VISITING Would be a mighty slim affair without the grog. That everybody will freely concede. It 1s a livel on humanity that this should be so—that friendship itself depends for its vitality on the wine cup or the whiskey bottle. Untortunately it is too true that very many young men hail New Year's Day ag @ day of carousal when they bed get drunk as old Silenus under the suspension of the rules, and get drunk at other people's expense. Then there is a host of old topers who are always ready for a somebody treats. Now to-mor- chaps see an endiess series ie tee nd the drinks before them through the day, very prospect ig in itself intoxicatin; almost get drunk by anticipation. It is beautiful custom of renee, acquaintances and friendly relations should of tate years have fallen so much from its former high estate through means of the sottish, soulless, vul rabble of de‘ beats, who insist on making it, in place of a gemial, kind], occasion for friends to meet and be decently socl- able, a day of drunken, SLOBBERING REVELRY. Of course, in every home to-morrow excitement will begin with the very dawn. Tonight the tables will be spread with & bounteous store of cheer—boned turkey and sandwiches, cakes, bon- bons, kisses and a thousand other Dre things. ‘The sideboards will be laden with glittering legions of glasses, commanded by well filled decanters of variously tinted “‘pizen."” The last preparations are at length completed, a final and anxtous glance is thrown at the tout ensemble of the dispyay, aud then the family sit down toa hasty and not very hearty breakfast. Scarcely has the last morsel been swallowed than the gentlemen light their cigars and stroll oif to the livery stable to find carriages to carry them around on their journey of liquid joy. As for the ladies they are allin a tremendous flutter. They put a few finishing touches ie their toilets, proged to the drawing nd await with the mogt pleasurable sort of y the ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST VISITOR. Some intimate acquaintance is the one most likely to put in a first appearance. The strangers come along in the afternoon, when the ice has been broken and there is no bother in mixing in with the people who may Beppe to be present. O1 course there is much drinking of healtha, much chaffing, some flirtation, and once in awhile a case of love at first sight of the most incurable stripe. To the ladies it is very pleasant up to three or four o'clock. After that time hiccupy chaps come along with their nice silk hats at an angle, their gloves stained cigar stumps, and their manners decidedly brusque and ungentle. Them it is that a cloud of silent disgust and weariness steals over the ladies, and though *' = ™ar gh and look gracious to the last, ft in their inWard hearts the appea. \apless young men who toyed with ‘my until he stole their brains away RVBRYB "VE" TO-MORROW. It is to be ‘sal conviviality, and hundreds of y te to make ut least one hundre being the case, let them take he, fall back up le _ All else Here is. New Yeavand ene readg’s of the HEL OLD twenty-fourth call ee. is to wish a happy the day to the .As {s the usual « Jing the old year out fry of old — com twelve P.M. Mr. A, bells two separate & lowing melodies :— com ves meg? will r in, in the bel- ainutes before ged for the ving the fol- apeze. ‘arning.”” wiittle Maule Ma: ol le i “On, Would TWere a Bird!” Also'several other melodi FESTIVAL IN THE FIV the Italian School at the ¢ House of Industry. The little ones of the Children’s Italian school, of 44 Franklin stre night made happy at a festival in the c Five Points House of Industry. Abou dred persons were present. The chapel decorated with evergreens, and a Chris. ve, twenty feet in height, was loaded with elaporately- dressed dolls, and with bells, tin whistles, squeak. ing cats and other trinkets, valuable in the eyes of those who are of the unsuspecting age of four and ahalf. Tables were covered with giits of a more substantial and useful character, donated by ladies interested in the purposes of the school, THE FLAG OF ITALY, surmounted by a golden crown and garlanded with evergreens, had a conspicuous place over the centre aisle, and on every side little ered with stars announced a “merry Christmas” to the world. The brilliantly lighted room, with its crowds of happy children, afforded a strange con- trast to the wretched butlaings without, whose dilapidated roofs and toppling fronts were half cov- | with snowdri‘ts, and conc ere aled the squalid rags and famished iorm of many @ suifering, atarv- | ing wretch. THE DISTRIBUTION of gifts was made by a number of ladies and gep- | tlemen, and they consisted of calico dresses ani dolls for the girls and stout shoes and worsted com. forters for the boys, with toys for the smallest one: These outfits were only given to about two hun- dred and fifty of the children, though there were altogether 400 present. Those not regular in at- tendance received as their share of the good things | | only oranges, cakes, sweetmeats nightcaps or mittens. AN ADDRESS: was desivered in English, and afterwards in Italian, by Projessor Botta. Some beautiful and many ele- gantly dressed ladies came in carriages, and those of the poor in the vicinity who cout selves presentable congregated about the entrance and worsted | and In the lobby. These were particularly delighted Memories are still preserved by tradition of the | pr ann | manser in which New Year's Eve was observed at the monasteries when England was still a dependency of the Roman Catholic Church, The Abbot sat in his chair of state at the head of the refectory table, and as the year trembled on the verge of death the serving brother filled a mighty cup styled Poculum Caritatis, and the Su- perior and all the brethren drank in succession to each other, The merry monks of old then heid high festival through the night, makine the mo- nastery walls ring with their revelry. In France New Year's is the festival of the year. Jt ts honored chiefly by the mutual Interchange of its, and has even come to be known as “Le Ftrennes.”” Each male member of the family makes a rt of some kind to all the other members. No matter though the ¢trenne be but worth a sou’s worth of bonbons or comfits, must be rendered. Ladies, however, are exempted from giving; it is simply their privilege to receive Whsttath be olerea: and dail of sneir friends give something, A FASCINATING YOUNG LADY, with a respectable number of admirers and friends, generally makes @ very pretty little rake. In alive a spirit of emulation among the gentlemen the gifts are sometimes spread out on @ table in the drawing room, and each donor en- 13" the proportionate amount of credit to which is measure of generosity has entitled him, A PRIMITIVE PEOPLE. In the primitive parish of Deerness, in Orkney, Scotiand, it was customary in the begianing of tue with the children’s singing. ‘The Consul General of the Italian government, the Messrs. Fabri and several other Well-known Italians were also pres ent. SUNDAY SOHOOL FESTIVAL The annual Sunday school festival of the Twen- fourth street Dutch Reformed church was held tn the basement of that edifice last night. The exer- cises consisted of singing, speech-making and present giving and taking. The room was taste- fully draped with evergreens, and two Christmas trees, which were iighted with wax tapers, softened its hard outlines. About 400 gifts were distributed to vhe same number of children. They consisted of boxes of candy, books, toys and other little odds and ends which delight children. The children were not the only recipients of presents; for the pastor and Sunday school superintendent each received a handsome arm-chair, elegantly up- holstered, which were the gifts of the teachers. Miss Knight, the teacher of the imfant class, received an elegant chromo: lithograpn and @ subscription for one year to the Intelligencer. A large work basket was presented to Miss Trainor, the teacher of the Bible class. Short addresses were made Bes pastor, Mr. Reiley, and Super- intendent Pitcher, who referred to the many bene- fits of the year now drawing to its close, and ex- pow a hope for a continuation and a multiplica- ion of the same in the year to come. After the festival the teachers held a private meeting. DEATH OF A NUN. RicuMonp, Va., Dec. 30, 1872, Sister Mary Louise, one of the Nuns of the Visi tion, died last evening at Monte Maria, in this city, of pneumonia, aged thirty-nine = She wasa daughter of the late David Wiiliamaon, of Bailti- more county, Marylaud, and had been a reliqteuse Jor nineteen years anners bord. | make them- | | With the reception of the Cabinet | Tie: WASHINGTON SOCIETY. Social Life in the Capital Dur- ing the Holidays. THE PROGRAMME FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY, What Will Be Done at the White House. UIST OF THE PRESIDENT’S VISITORS. Private Receptions, Dinners, Parties and Literary Reunions. MARRIAGES TO TAKE PLACE. WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 1872. Obriatmas this year was chiefy a day of indoor observance, icy winds and snow being in posses- sion Of the outer walls. The children's parties so common to the time were nearly, if not all, broken up by the severe weather, fond parents declining to expose their darlings, spite of warm wrappers, carriages and short distances, and stout hearts in the youngsters themselves. On Christmaa Eve, though, a great gathering of the little folks took Place in the apartments of Mme. Schicblé, a Ger- man lady of acknowledged beauty and brilliant talents, for whose pleasant acquaintance our so- clety is under obligation to Mrs, Dahigren, widow of the renowned Admiral. A large tree, logded with gifts for her young guests and lit by a brillaat | Bengal light, was the centre of attraction for the children, while the hostess herself proved no less attractive to the many children of larger growth who had their juniors in charge. To borrow the language of the concert and lecture room, the audience was of a most select description. Last week little Misa Niles, of I street, assisted by the nieces of General David Hunter, the pioneer of emancipation as a ‘“‘war measure,’’ got up a Christmas Fair for the benefit of the orphans, which they managed with as much ability, and far less jealousy, than the elder sisters who now and then venture into such little enterprises of mingled vanity, flirtation and charity. The tables were Attended by several little girls, dressed in pretty, coquettish-looking caps, which gave the wearers a decidedly Frenchified look. All OUR “BEST PEOPLE” patronized the Orphans’ Fair, which was one of the most pleasant and substantial events of the holiday season. ‘The little children of St, Rose’s Industrial Home were gladdened by a generously laden tree, the gift of Mrs. Bingham, wife of General Grant's Chief Quartermaster at Vicksburg, now an assist- ant of Quartermaster General Meigs; and at all the charitable institutions there were ample gilts and glorious dinners. The Dutch Minister Resident, Mr, Bernhard de Westenberg, gave a gentleman's dinner party at Welcker’s on last Monday evening, at which the Ministers of France, Spain, Turkey, Portugal and Peru, and other diplomats, were the guests, with Mr. Assistant Secretary Hale representing the State Department. The dinner was an elegant affair. But one more interesting was that given by Mr. Chariton, of the British Legation, a few nights before, in honor of Miss Mary Campbell, to whom, as already mentioned in these letters, he is engaged to be married. The party numbered twelve, and comprised of course only the relatives and intimate friends of the “happy pair.” Mr. Carlisle, oue of Washington’s great advocates and at present counsel for Great Britain and for Spain before the British and Spanish Commis- sions on claims now sitting here, entertains the Ministers of those two countries, together with Lady Thornton and other members of the dip- lomatic corps this evening. On next Friday At- torney General Wililams will follow with a diplo- matic dinner, his guests being the leading mem- vers of the corps. CHURCH SERVICES were wel! attended on Christmas morning, such as did not go upon constraint of conscience being called out by the “extraordinary holiday attrac- tions” which the temples of religion, as of the drama, had prepared and announced beforehand, Tie Metropolitan Methodist, where the President, Vice President and other dignitaries of state hold sittings, opened with an ambitious programme on the chime belis at early dawn. The rustic Epis- copal church of St. Jonn, directly across Lafayette square from the President's house, held out the triple temptation of a new chancel, an elaborate evergreen decoration, and a choral choir of twelve boy so on, three boy Pc Retne it tenors and three bassos in English Cathedral musid. The Epiphany chucch, where Sir Edward Thornton had his pew, oifered the best church quartet in the city, \nd an adornment of post, pillar and roof surpassing \ former efforts. The ritualists of St. Paul's were ‘ated to @ midnight mass, if such an advanced may be used without offence to Anglican lism. The Catholic churches all made extra provision of music of course. At St. Aloysius’ about thirty masses were celebrated in all during the morning. This church was very beautifully decorated. GENERAL THADDRUS P. MOTT, of the Egyptian army, and son of the late Dr. Val- entine Mott, of New York, is here, with his wife, awaitin the Khedive, whom he is to accompany in a tour of the United States. Mrs, Mott, a lady of Greek parentage, ia a beauty of the Southern type, a good speaker of Hnglish and yery lively and cn- gaging in conversation. Representative Tyner, of Indiana, was married on Christmas Eve, at the Metropolitan church, to bs ny of this city, the caremony calling out almos' A QUORUM OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. West End gosaip connects the name of Mr. George W. Riggs, & banker, whose sober shirt front dis- dains to sparkle with the emblems of mushroom national bauks and crédits mobilier, with the charming widow of an old-time editor of the days of Gaies and Seaton. The same authority has it that the daughter of Senator Schurs, alter her | return from Europe, is to marry Mr. Boker, a wealthy New York merchant. One of Senatoi linghuysen’s daughters is also reported engi ged Mr. Hamilton Fish, Jr., formerly of the State partment, and now a law student at New York, bet the reputed winner of the fair maid of jersey. Mr. J. ¥. D. Lanier, the New York banker, has deen visiting hig daughter, Mrs. Dunn, wife of the Assistant Judge Advocate General, and has now gone on @ business journey to New Orleans. THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME of the President’s New Year receptions is out, and ts in all respects the same as those of former years. At eleven o'clock the ceremony is to begin inisters and their famiites, who will then remain and assist in the reception of the diplomatic corps. The recep- tions take place in the blue parlor, which is hand- somely decorated and illuminatea for the perpoes. Supporting the President and Mrs. Grant will be G rock and Dent, the military secreta- jal Sharpe, the Yankee “lord chamber- jain; Secretaries ih, Boutwell, Belkuap and Robeson, with Attorney General Williams and Post- master General Cresweil; Mrs. Frederick and Mrs, Louis Dent, the sisters-in-law of Mrs, Grant; Mrs. Sharpe, her sister, and Mrs. Babcock, wile of the President's chief secretary. Several of the Cabinet ladies will aiso be present, including Mrs. Fish, Mrs. Boutwell, Mrs. Creswell and Mrs, Williams. Miss Nellie Grant, her cousin, Miss Dent, and pos- sibly other young lady friends will also assist. All these ladies have SPECIAL TOILETS IN PREPARATION for the event. As the Mai band, in fall uniform, will be stationed in the spacious vesti- bule of the Mansion to furnish the reception music, The diplomatic corps, in court dress—with army aud navy uniforms upon such members as are en- titied to wear them—will be headed by Blacqu Bey, the Doyen or senior member of the corps Secretary Fish will present the mem to the President, while General Babcock will perform the same office for Mrs. Grant. «The Ministers Year's call will be making their first New tho Chevalier de Souza Lobo, of Foren lig ed nm Jo! pa oa nt by Madame Lobo; Admiral Polo de Bernabé, of Spain; Baron Henrt d’Offen- berg, of Russia; the Marquis de Noailles, of France, robably attended by the Marquise, his wife jefior Don Carlos Martin, of Colombia, with Sefiora Martin and his daughter, the Seforita; and, Saal, Sefior Don Viacente Pardon, of Guatemala and Salvador. The other Ministers, to whom the ceremony will fot be new, though still inter- esting for its opportunities of friendship and re- union, are, besides Blacque Bey, already men- tiened, Sir’ Edward Thornton, Baron Lederer, of Austria and Hungary; Coloucl Freyre, of Pera; the arrival of Prince Hassan, third son of | Bofior Mariseal, of Mexico; Oount Cor. Ff Italy: Mr. Steneraon, of Sweden and Norws,, Mf, Sel r, of Germany; Gounsellor Borges, ». raz (who on account of the death of his wife's brother will be unattended) ; Mr. Delfoase, of Bel- jum; Senator Flores, of Ecuador; Mr. Preston, of Hayti; Mr. Westenberg, of Holland; Jugo! Mori, of Japan, and Consul General Hitz, of Switzerland. LITTLE STARS OF FASHION. Several of the envoys and ministers will be pril- Mantly attended. nister Thornton will have four secretaries, Admiral Polo, five secretaries and attachés, with one lady; Baron Offenberg, four secretaries ard attachés, with two ladies, and the Marquis de Noailies, six secretaries and attachés, with the Marquise. Seiior Garcia, of the Argentine Confederation, and his lovely wife will be missed, as will Sefior rts and bis beautiful Cuban wife. ‘The successor of Mr, Roberts—Admiral Polo—bas his family, with the exception ef one son, a tudent of the Georgetown College, in Spain, The Admiral, who came with @ reputation right- ee Pour OAL DEMAGOG! H 1OAL Wy of the same terminal name, has lived down Ae ¥-| Bore ortuscorya,’ ‘Ho genial, renk sad atable 18 ie an manner; ‘Any in yeaa, Sat with the DI A arance of perk | ; is of low stature and slender in with light hair and side-whiskers sprinkled hale and ruddy complexion and a p oy and intimate 01 Saxon men and manners has e1 y traits pe tive character iar to Americans; 80 far from being hostile, he is extreme! r= ttal to Anglo-Saxon snd ‘Anglo-American ee a AN IMPORTANT DIPLOMATIC QUESTION connected with gonian whom iterity ret see, in savage from the Court of rey ating hig credenti Terre Fuego at the White House. Sir Edward Thornton has been kept indoors from his suburban waiks for two or three days by the snow, and 13 more disturbod and downcaat than in the anxious time when he and: Minister Schenck were being poss homints batt tie) Aig to Ceclpney Soe an- puzzling despatche: m their querulous chiefs of the State Department ai Downing street. But the present meteoric indications give promise of two or three good long stretches about town, if not in the country, between this and Wednesday, and it is hoped that Sir Edward will be bright and cheerful “again by New Year’s morn- ing. THR RECKPTION—PART TWO. After a haif hour with-the foreign Legations, the Supreme Court Judges, Senators and Repre- sentatives, Judges of the Court of Claims and Judges and officers of the District of Columbia will be admitted to see the President, This mis- cellaneous and black-coated delegation will not excite much interest, and will be speedily swept out through the East Room to admit the army and navy officers, the former in the ele- gant new uniform that the predilection of the Lapras | War Rtg for a handsome mi well dressed, has bestowed upon the military vice. General Sherman will head the ari ft cers, and Secretary Belknap will present them. Admiral Porter will lead the navy into action, and Secretary Robeson will stand by to pilot the gal- lant tars past the shoals and quicksands of the Blue Room. There is a friendly competition be- tween the army and navy officers here as to which branch of the service will make the finest display on New Year's Day. The navy is to be reinforced from Annapolis, and the marines will be gorgeous to behold. The heads of bureaus of the several de- partments, the soldiers of the War of 1812 and the association of oldest inhabitants will follow the army and navy in swift succession, and then for anhour the President and the White House, the Marine band and the ushers will be given up to all who choose to enter, and in any costumes they please to wear. During THE CITIZENS’ RECEPTION, so called, there is a great crush, some confusion and a good deal of amusement, After calling upon the President the diplomats will next call upon the Secretary of State, the army ofiicers upon the Secretary of War, the navy upon Secretary Robeson, the judiciary upon the Attorney General, the heads of bureaus upon their respective chiefs, the Senators, in the absence of the Vice President, upon whom they please, and Representatives upon the Speaker of the House. ‘The calls of offictal duty being thus out of the way those of social obligation and pleasure will be con- tinued by the gentlemen all day, except between the hours when the subordinate government ofi- cers stay at home to receive those employed under their direction. THR SOCIAL RECEPTIONS of New Year's Day will be numerous and splendid, particularity in the army and navy circle, The fam- lies of Generals Delafield, formerly chief of the Engineer corps; Ramsay and: Dyer, former and present chiefs of the Ordnance corps; Hunter, Commander of the Department of the South in the early part of the war; Dunn, Assistant Judge Ad- vocate General; Huey regs present chief of en- gineers and successor to Hancock as commander of the Second Army corps; Thomas, former As- sistant Quartermaster General; Bingham, of the Quartermaster corps; Barnes, the Surgeon Gen- eral, and Meigs, the rtermaster General; of Admirals Porter, Goldsborough, Powell, Radford and Sands, Commod Reynolds, Wise, Boyle and Patterson, General Zeilin, of the Marine corps, and Drs. Maxwell aod Pinkney will all hold recep- tions. The families of Senators Frelinghuysen and Stockton, both of New Jersey, will also receive. GOVERNOR COOKE'S FAMILY receives on Georgetown oy teed Mrs. Woodhull, mother of General Max, late Secretary of Legation at London; Mrs. Ross Ray, Mrs, Turabuil, Mrs. Marshall Brown, Mrs. Niles, of 1 street, assisted by Mrs. General Hardie, of New York, and Mra, Judge Fisher, are among the prominent ladies in private life who hold receptions. Mr. Horatio King, formerly Postmaster General, has issued cards for the customary Saturday pacer reunions at his house during the season, and others in society are perenne to do the same. This style of entertainment has become very popu- Jar here, affording the means of at least oral pub- lication before select audiences to many light | essays and poems, with sufficient morit to be en- ene but not profound enough to go into print. NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. The Twenty-fitth Anniversary Gele~ brated Lagat Men ee ‘Its fs PresSnt and Future. The twenty-fifth anniversary meeting of the New York Academy of Medicine was held last night at thé College of Physicians ana Surgeons, Fourth avenue and Twenty-third street. Dr. E. R. Peasice presided. Dr. E. S. Dansfer delivered the principal address of the evening, He sald, Jn looking back inthe career of medicine it becomed clear that grave faults have been committed. One Sf the principal causes _of the stagnation of medicine for fifteen centuries was tne slavish respect for authority. Garaulsys did more than any other one man to usher in a spirit of free in- | quiry. To-day it has become impossible for us to be phovatec by the assertions of authority. Another error was the misconception of the causes of disease. We can trace in ali the ancient notions about disease the idea that disease is somethin, added to the body; now the general idea is tha disease Is * A PERVERTED HEALTHY PRUCES: that Is, something iess than life, but still a part of life. It were an easy task to prolong the list of errors which have been committed in the past, our successors, & few centuries hence, will 8 Just as we regard our predect P uries ago, But this is certain: We ai advance of aij our predecessors in regard to two essential points—First, ctual knowl- edge, and, second, in greater certainty in our methods Processes. In proportion as we adopt scientific methods in our investigations we shall attain more absolute and | perfect results. I think that the assertion that while the science of medicine nas been steadily advanc- ing the art of disease has not advanced at all, is not founded in truth, In anatomy the advance which has been made is marvellous. We have also | More positive and certain results in diagnosis. THE ORIGIN OF TYPHUS FEVER | has been traced to imperfect sewerage and the impregnations of drinking water with fecal mat- ter. The bearing of soil moisture Ae Se! the prev- alence of consumption has been made an especial study in our own land, and a steady diminution in the Bumber of cases has followed the removal of the cause, The modes of the communication of contagious diseases are ascertained, and the pre- vention of the spread is entirely within control, provided only that sufficient power be dele- og by the State authorities. But I must ere cease, for assuredly the assertion that the medicine of to-day is immeasurably superior to that of the ey has already been made good. Turning to the future of medicine, itis evident that her progress will be proportioned exactly to the degree with which sbe adopts, in all her work, the logical methods which already have been pro- ductive of such brilliant resuits in the physical sciences. In medical education studies must be taken up in their logical and progressive order, and a knowledge of at least the rudiments of the | phy: “ al sciences must be demanded before taking up the medical studies proper. BERGMANN, A BREMEN BUTOHER, BAGGED, Yesterday afternoon Louis Bergmann, a butcher, employed on the steamer Bremen, was arrested by Officer Kaiser on board said vessel, on a eharge of being concerned in the smuggling of a large quan- tity oe leaf from Gerinany into this country. jsoner The professed a profound ignorance of the English language when interrogated as to his alleged implication in the illegal importation of the le One of the Custom House officers and an officer of the steamship ‘preter the charg nd all nation. Bergmann is held to it ex: ‘A PLOBIDA COMMISSIONER MISSING. Yesterday morning information was lodged with the Jersey City police authorities to the effect that J. 8. Adams, the Immigration Commissioner for the State of Florida, had left his apartments at Taylor's Hotel on Saturday, since which he has not been heard of. Hon. W. H. Gleason, Lieutenant Governor of Florida, has employed detectives to search for the lost Commissiougr, | OCEAN TRAFFIC. ie The Aticntic Steamship Lines of 1872. em PASSENGERS AND CARCQES OARRIED The Enormous and Profitable Business of tho Yoar—The Vosels Employed and Voyages Made Between New York and Europe— The Now Steamships Building and the Lines for Which They Are Intended. ‘The ocean traMc in steamships carried on be- tween the United States and Europe, it is hardly necessary to advise, is vast andimportant. Though for years of the greatest magnitude, it is con- stantly increasing, and the profits therefrom go into the huge pockets of foreign companies, who recognize with glee that so long as our national Legislators are blind to the interests of the Amert- can people just so long will they be on the topmost ‘wave of prosperity. During the year 1872 tem regu- lar steamship lines, all owned by European cap- italists, have semi-weekly and weekly plied their vessels between the ports of New York and those of that country. From the smallest to the largest of these, ranging from about one thousand tons to over five thousand tons, they are fine speci- mens Of naval architecture and mechanical skill, many of them being sucn magnificent and com- Plete productions in respect to strength, capacity and comfort that it would seem improvement, in the face of perfection, must now halt. These lines, representing 125 steamships, all close the year with great profit, and so enticing is the trade that the owners and directors of each have within the twelve months contracted for almost a score of additional vessels, and measures are now being adopted to form new companies for the purpose of starting other lines on an extensive scale to New York and lesser Atlantic ports, which projects, it is unnecessary to say, will likely prove an almost in, surmountable obstacle in the way of conducting suc- cessfully an American line, wholly under the con- trol of citizens of the Union, should one in the future ve inaugurated. The particulars of this vast European trade for the year 1872 are of muck interest to the mercan- tile community, showing as they do what capital and enterprise, when no obstacles interpose, can accomplish, and possibly the narration may open the eyes of intelligent representative men to that point of conviction that will urge them to use the influence they possess in the direction of aiding and promoting the interests of American citizens. The details submitted below are accurate and can be fully relied upon. They embrace the vessels employed in each line, their tonnage, the number of passages from and to New York, the cargoes carried either way and their character; the num- ber of passengers, both cabin and steerage, from .and to European ports, with other items of interest that wlll command earnest attention. It has been a year of many severe storms and consequent disasters. Gallant steamships with long lists of passengers, happy in the prospect ot Pleasant voyages across the broad ocean, have recorded the unpleasant tidings of hurricanes and hairbreadth escapes from total destruction; and one stanch vessel, with a commander congratu- lating himself on his full freight and general good luck, looking to his happy English home, left this port, never again to be heard from. Her fate is but a matter of speculation; yet ove can imagine how, in the shadows of the night or the mists of the morning, ship and crew, without, perhaps, the chance for the latter to pray, were buried in the deep. Still, with these sad remembrances, the several lines have been greatly prosperous, and the inference is exceedingly well managed. NATIONAL LINE—NEW YORK TO LIVERPOOL AND LONDON, Although but nine years in existence, this line has been extremely successful and has annually so increased its business and constructed so many new ships that it stands to-day among the more prominent who do the carrying trade between Eu- rope and New York, Its vessels are grand speci- mens of naval architecture, all of iron, of fall power, and at present among the largest in the trade. The profits of this line speak well for the ability dis- ee in its management, a fact generaliy ‘nown among shipping men and those whose business it fs to become acquainted with such de- tails, Twelve vessels in all were employed during the year, the names and net tonnage in the Liver: pool via Queenstown service being as followss— Spain, 4,871 tons; Egypt, 5,089 wons; Canads, 4 076 tons; Grecce, 4,310 tong; England, 4,800 teaas;'Italy, 4,310 tons ; France,3,676 tons ; making ®; total tonnage Of 31,132 tons. These vessels dv~ag the past year made fifty-five weekly trips from Liverpool to this port and filty-four from bére to Liverpool, the quick- est of which are accredited to the Spain in April By in running from Queenstown to Sandy Hook in eight days and thirteen hours; and the Egypt in making the Passage eastward in eight days and fourteen q 2 gargoce garried petwoon ene Points or i reach the enormous quan Ae 323,000 tons, being divided from Liverpool to New York in steel rails, tin Pa manulactured steel and iron in bundies and sheets, soda, skins, rice, earthenware, hops, bundee goods, silks, prunes and sardines from Bordeaux, wincs irom Rotter- dam, &c., to the amount of 103,300 tons; and from this port to Liverpool, 214,700 tons, consisting of rain, cotton, tobacco, cheese, lard, bacon, pork, ef, Hour, &c. In the twelve months the line has brought to New York 33,690 cabin and steerage coat Mie and taken from here 6,393 persons in ue cabin and steerage. The management is ig city advises that the cabin. trade has greatly in- creased during the year, and that the new ships Cauada and Greece, by being constructed with apar decks, similaf {6 the other yossels, have be- come quite popular, insufing comfort and safety in wet and heavy weathei he Englaud is now undergoing exteusive aiterations, aud will be spar-decked, She will algo have new engines. e National line, during 1872, has been running vessels direct to,Londcon and return, On the trips to the westward they call at Havre for goods and passengers. itis proposed to forward a steamer weekly either way, 80 soon as the trade will war- rant, which t{me the agent here looks forward to hopefully. The vessels employed in this service are:—The Queen, 4,471 tons; Erin, 4,040 tons; Hol- land, 3,847 tons; Helvetia, 3,976 tons; Denmark, 724 tons; aggregating a tonnage of 20,058 tons, je twenty-one trips from London to ‘ork via Havre, and twenty trips to London direct. The at ge amounted to 40,500 tons, con- sisting of pig iron, lead, wool, paper, soda, rice, ale, pickles, burlaps, &c.; and from Havre, champagne, brandies, chinaware, fancy goods, leather an Ct goods. To London the cargoes have been chiefly grain, cheese, pro- visions, sewing machines, hop: ples, &c. eabin and steerage passengers lea’ ng here num- bered 1,121, and arriving at this port 13,800. Queen, Erin and Helvetia are having new engines of the compound principle built for them, an im- provement which will put them in the front ranks among the modern Atlantic fieet. ANCHOR LD EW YORK TO GLASGOW. This line of transatlantic packets has been un- precedently prosperous during the few en of its existence. During the twelve months passed twenty-nine vessels have been engaged in their New York trade. Of these belonging to the com- any Were the Alexandria, An; ‘Assyria, Aus ralla, Britannia, Caledonia, California, Coinmbia, Dorian, Europa, india, lowa, Ismalia, Napoli, Olym- = Sidonian, Trinacria, Tyrian, Venetia and Vic- torla; and in the same time they chartered or freighted the following:—Andes, Alps, Violet, Fenella, Nemesis, St. David, Northumbria, Miranda and Maze; ese are from 1,000 to 3,500 tons burden. The New York and Glasgow vessels cali at Londonderry to land and embark passengers. In connection With this trafic there are branch lines to various ports in Europe. By one, the Northern Scandinavian, there are despatched three or four steamers monthly, connecting on arrivais frem New York with the fi of Granton, Christian- sand, Christiana and Gottenburg. Another branch of the compaty’s service is from Glasgow to ports in the Mediterranean, which maintains during the busy season a weekly communication. The above vessels during 1871 made 110 trips each way, bein; from Glasgow, via Londonderry, 76; and from Medi- teranean ports, 34. Many of these, notwithstanding the stormy weather experienced, were in excellent time, The cargoes brought from Glasgow to New York consisted principally oF pig iron, machinery, granite, iron rail 'y goods, clay pipes. amounting to 120, tons; and from the rancan pol green fruits, dtied fruits, railroad iron, Wines, sumac, dry goods, statuary, &0., to the hgures of 30,000 tons. The outward cargoes, footing up a total of 179,500 tons, were made up of rain, four, provisions, lard, oilcake, staves, sew- fg Machines, cheese, apples, &c. The year’s busi- ness in passengers consisted of 2,655 cabin and 27,200 steerage—in all 29,855, from Glasgow and Londonderry, and from the Mediterrancan 388—all cabin. There sailed from here in their vessels to Glasgow and Londonderry 3,225 cabin and 5,710 steerage passengers, footing up the grand total of 39, The fine steamers Anglia and Aus- have each crossed the Atlantic mn times during the year, The now etg) vessels are the California, Victoria, Italla and Uiympia. The first and second of these are mag- nificent productions, and fully equai in strengtl Gud appointments to any vessels adoay, ‘The Gale 1 Welt donia and Napoli, thi — '. Bh, ing, were lengthe: anew throughout witere. are teet ana Sitea ‘e ee tue oe fleet of “weekly ex: Bolivia, Cast is opts, —_— re Of Neary foi thous fons a and appointulenter ef che tase ane GoMARD Linu —say YORK TO - ships still holds its former great ro 4 Abyssinia, Calabria, Java, 01; - ea Mah, Wet, a 5 tA fe Ay Siberia, Russia and “Bootitin al character of this feet need not be commet terisia, in the boat “thelr ap manne! polntaients are of the highest erdek. They make . a Dum each way in the twelve ria Mliens an being irom New York in et pao pee ‘and two howe, and from Queenstown, eight days and six The cargoes brougnt from Liverpool consisted: ary goods, tron, tin, machinery, &c., to the amount Of 210,000 tons, aud to Liverpool grain, cotton, pro- visions, &c., about 274,000 tons—ip all, the enor- Pasdengers carsied by the avove stesmalipe wae led by the above 8 was ont wide a tae following manner?—Frem Lag. a pt ve. 1 course of construction the Kothnia and ‘Scythia, ‘steamsni ‘when completed will sur} ry peop g geo menta the finest of the WHITE STAR LINE—NEW YORK TO LIVERPOOH.. ‘Though comparatively in ita infancy, the White Star line has made for itself a name in the Atlantic carrying trade, Its vessels are among the 4 and most complete in their fittings afloat. \4 onstruction introduced for the first q ot the improvements that have so comducod fo mace an ocean Voyage, in the absence of terri! one of comfort and pleasure. ‘The vessels during the year were the tic, Oceanio, Baltic, Republic, Celtic and Adriatic, each of the enormous burden of about three thousand five handred tons, ‘These mado during the year thirty-seven trips to New York and thirty-five to Live the average time westward being nine days, eleven hours and eleyen minutes, and eastward, ht di nineteen hours and fifty-eight minutes. it trip on record, or so reported, was made by the Adriatic of this line. She left Queens- town May 16, and arrived off Sandy Hook in remarkable time (apparent) of seven days, eight hours and filty-Ave minutes. The passengers car- ried in the several trips trom Liverpool will num- ber somewhere about twenty thousand and from New York about twelve thousand. These fj are not accurate, but Sproziniate: to The cargoes brought to this port consist of coarse and fine dry goods, in bales and cases, and, in season, oranges, lemons and grapes, sardines, steel, tin plates, bleach powder, soda ash, pot porter in casi hardware of all kinds, iron rails, wines and liquors, dried fruit, Cp we and hoj ut two thousand tons trip. From New York they have ave! every satilt about 45,000 bushels of grain, 1,750 bales of cot! 400 tons of provisions, and during the season 30, boxes of cheese, agregating about two thousand tons. The vessels building are the Germanic and Britannic, and if possible they will surpass the ocean palaces now owned by tne company. The United States mails are carried by these steamers. INMAN LINE—NEW YORK TO LIVERPOOL, The long established and popular Inman line em- ae during the year fourteen vessels, being the ‘ity of Brussels, 3,069 tons; City of Montreal, 4,459 tons; City of Paris, 3,081 tons; City of 2,911 tons; City of London, 2,965 tons; City of Lim- erick, 2,536 tons; City of Halifax, 1,000 tons; City of Antwerp, 2,391 tons; City of Baltimore, _— tons; City of Washington, 2,806 tons: City of New York, 3,500 tons; City of Dublin, 1,998 tons; City of Bris- tol, 2,800 tons, and City of Durham, 1,000 tons. These made eighty-six trips each way, ave og about one thousand tons of cargo, that to New York consisting of dry goods, steel, iron, tin plates, wire, machinery, and to Liver- pool. made up of cheese, four, pork, beef, lard, corp, wheat, apples, \ Otatoes, &c. The passengers carried in the sev- eral a number 63,670, being of cabin and steerage that arrived here, 54,500, and sailed from here, 9,170, Several very quick trips have beem made vy these vessels, the more noteworthy that Of the City of Rrussels, which left New York No- vember 9, arriving at Queenstown in eight Gaya, six hours ana thirty minutes, The same vessel from Queenstown Septeraber 20 and arrived o@ Sandy Hook in eight days, four hours and sixteen minutes, ‘The Inman Une has in course of com- struction two vessels, the City of Chester and City of Rickmond. They will be important additions to its enormous aud just!y popular fleet. WILLIAMS & GULON'S LINB—NEW YORK TO LIVRG- POOL. This line is among the most promising in the Atlantic trade, and deservedly 80, ag its veasela are large, stanchly constructed and well &p- pointed, 'rhere were employed during the year six steamships—the Manbattan, 2,965 tons; Min- nesota, 2,965 to! Wisconsin, 3,226 tons; Wyo- ming, 3,430 tons; Nevada, 3,125 tons, and Idaho, 3,152 tons. The trips made each way number ffty~ two, bringtng to this port 1,251 cabin and 24,! steerage passengers, and taking to Euro 1,540 cabin and 3,531 steerage working of the twelve montis footing of 31,314, The mangoes carrié averaged, each way, 2,000 to: consisting of dry goods, and metals from Liverpoo! and grata provisions anc cotton from New York. The Montana was launched in Novembes, and wiil be ready to take her place on the line in February next. The Dukota be lawnchéd in a few weeks and be ready for business garly in the Spring. These new vessels are Constructed in the best manner and will be ited. Sila bialerassiehy's Wasa HAMBURG-AMERICAN PACKET COMPANY—NEW YORE TO HAMBURG. In this line, Peta | reguiar weekly trips from Hamburg, via Havre, to New Yerk, and trom New York, via Plymouth and Vnerbourg, to Hamburg, are the following steamsbips:—Frista, Thuringia, Silesia, Westphalia, Hulsatia, Cimbria and Ham- — each about three thousand tons bur- den, The steamers Allemannia, Saxonia, mania and Vandalia are employed for extra to this port Chee} the Summer months, w! Ltn le Winter they form a weekly line from famblrg, via Havre, Havana and New 01 The steamers Borussia, Batavia and Teutonia, from the Hamburg-West India line, run monthly from Hamburg, via Grimsby, Havre and St, Thomas, to Colon (Aspinwall), also touching Porto Cabello, Curacoa and Savanilla, while on their return trips to Europe they also stop at Trinidad. During the year the steamers made fifty regular and seven extra trips to New York, carrying 5,562 cabin and 37,226 steerage passongers, while 3,978 in cabin and 5,047 in steerage were conveyed from this port to Plymouth, Phin and lismburg. The cargoes on an average rei 1,000 tons from Hamburg and Havre each trip, con- isting of dry goods, metals, German and French produce, wines, hops, &c., aggregating about sixty thousand tons, From New York to. Hamburg the steamers have carried avout fifteen hundred tons each trip, made up of provisions, grain, rosin, sew- ing machines, ciocks, agricultural machines and implements, furs, starch, apples, &c., making aa aggregate of about eighty-iive thousand tons, The vessels building for the company art Pomera- nia (Hamburg and New York), Franconia (Gam- burg and New Orleans), and Rhenania, Sae Alsatia and Lotharingia (Hamburg and Wes: Indies). ‘Thege are to be well built, full-powered and finely appointed. NURTH-GERMAN LLOYD—NEW YORK TO BREMEN. Daring tie year this line has empioyed fourteen steams ips—the America, Bremen, Deutscliland, Donau, Frankfort, Hansa, Hannover, bones Koln, Main, New York, Rhein, Strassburg an Weaser—each of he tons burden. ‘These made seventy-five round trips, bringing to this port 46,42¢ passengers, of which number 10,000 were cabin, ‘and taking therefrom 2,877 cabin and 6,479 steerage port gto The cargoes averaged 900 tons from remen aud Southampton. and consisted of goods, silks and hardware, while the outw: ight, averaging 1,200 tons, was made up of cotton, provisions, xe and tobacco. new steamer Mosel, of 3,500 due tons, is here next month, and will be followed by the Oder, Neckar, Kohenzollern, Kohenstanfen and Sater, making a regular semi-weekly line. The North German Lloyd aiso maintains a fortnight], tween Bremen and Baltimore via uthampton with iour steamers, and is building two others to ad up a weekly line during the year. In aduiti to these the company runs four steamers betwe Bremen and Aspinwall, touching at St. Thomas, Colon, Savanilis, Curacao, Porto Cabello and La- uayra. . BALTIC LLOYD—NEW YORK TO STETTIN. Five steamships were bags thy fon in this line dur- ing the year, these being the Humboldt, Franklin, Bladworth and Jason, each of 2,600 tons, and the Thorwuldsen, 2,600 tons. These made twenty-three voyages, carrying to Stettin 13,200 tons of cargy, consisting ot general merchandise, provisions, &c., and to New York 9,760 tons, inade up of wines, drugs, metals, &c. ‘The passengers of the tweive months number 6,743, There are now Hs ns | for the company two vessels, which will be larger than any others of the line, aud possessing superior act modations, combining all the modern im- rovements in this respect. The names will be the irnst Moritz Arndt and Washington. GENERAL TRANSATLANTIC COMPANY—NEW YORK TO HAVRE. This line employed daring the fond year six steamships—the Pereire, Ville de Paris, St. Lau- rent, Washiagton, Europe Nouveau Moude— each of three thousand tons bu twenty-six voyages each way in tweive months, carrying 10,487 first-class passengers and an aver- age cargo both east and west of 850 tons, As these vessels were built for the ages std trade, the amount of cargo carried comparatively ‘The vessels building are the Vilic de Havre, Vill Lyons and Atisatique. They will ve ol large tonnage and well appeinted. A FBATRIOIDAL STRUGGLE, Albert, George and Charles Diiss, the three acro+ batic brothers who used to perform at Barnum's, went into the shooting gallery 487 Eighth avenue last evening and soon engaged ina fight among themselves. In the course of tue molée Albert drew & pisto!, whici his brothers, tn _attem by HI take from him, accidentally discharged, passing through hia lett hand. Me was taken te the Twen‘ieth precinct station louse, where tit wound Was dressed, by & physiman, alter which Rt igit Gor ioe,