At once political and journalistic Washington was on the _qui vive_.

The Hungarians became the object of a solicitude, not to say a curiosity, which must at times have tried their souls.
The first formal action of the Hungarian committee took the shape of a return reception, to be held in the hotel parlors.

The invitations, liberal as they were, were sought for quite in excess of the supply, and long before the doors were open, it was quite assured that the affair would be a crush.

The administration, for which Mr.Webster, our secretary of state, had not hesitated to write in most determined fashion to the attache Hulsemann regarding the presumptuous Austrian demands upon our government, none the less was much in a funk regarding "European obligations." Not wishing to offend the popular fancy, and not daring to take decisive stand, the usual compromise was made.

Although no member of the administration was sent officially to recognize these unofficial ambassadors, a long suffering officer of the navy, with his wife and one or two other ladies, were despatched quasi-officially to lend color to the occasion.
Such splendor as could be arranged had been provided for the setting of this event.