The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-04 00:00:00

GARIBALDI AT SOUTHAMPTON.

Glom oc ancIAL azrokna.)
SOUTHAILYTON, SUNDAY Ntottr.

This morning broke gloomily, and the
weather, which up to last night had been bright
and clear, was now as dreary, damp, and
wretched as the most hypochondriacal could
desire. We were in the utmost uncertainty as to
the time of Garibaldi's arrival. Indeed, it was
during a conversation with well informed people,
and at the very moment of one gentleman proving
by irrefragable argument that no boat leaving Gib-
altar at the time specified,oould,by any possibility,
reach Southampton before to-morrow (Monday) at
mid-day—just as we were severally arranging our
plans as to the disposal of our leisure, that Mr.
Wilkinson, one of the principal officials of the
Peninsular and Oriental Company, rushed in, and
demanded "were we ready F' As is not unfre-
quently the case in this world, that which bad been
declared impossible had come to pass, the Ripon
was rapidly approaching, and the steam-tug Aid
(placed at the disposal of Mr. Seely and some few
other gentlemen by Captain Engledue), was now
waiting to convey us on board. A hurried drive
down to the tidal dock, some few minutes
delay, and we are puffing rapidly out of the
harbour. Mr. Wilkinson goes with us, and has to
exercise some firmness at the moment of starting,
for, although there has not been time for the news
to spread, there are already more would-be passen-
gers assembled on the wharf than it is possible to
take with us on the boat. Once off, I note that we
are a party of some forty or fifty strong, and as we
glide rapidly down the Southampton Water, with
the low-lying Hampshire coast on the one aide,
and the remains of the New Forest on the other,
we resolve ourselves into little groups--some point-
ing out objects of interest on the banks, others con-
sulting as to the precise form of reception most
likely to be acceptable to Garibaldi, and others,
again, telling and listening to anecdotes as to his
last visit to Southampton-water (about 1856), when
he came to purchase a small vessel for Caprera, and
was the guest of the father of Miss Jessie White.
Over and above Mr. Seely, there are a goodly list
of men assembled on board in Garibaldi's honour.
Yonder qtands his Grace the Duke of Sutherland,
General Eber, Captain Roberts, and Mr. Austin
Dolmage, who may be taken as fair representatives
of one class of the general's friends. Messrs.
Semenza, Serena, Vivanti, and Negretti as mem-
bers of the Italian committee in London ; Mr.
Joseph Cowen, as the chairman of the Newcastle
committee which presented Garibaldi with the
sword I have already named, and as a close and
intimate friend of many years' standing ; Mr.
Richardson, as the member of the Common Council
who is about to propose the presentation to him of
the freedom of the City of London, and as his
constant correspondent—may all be quoted as re-
presenting distinct bodies, each of which enter-
tains an ardent admiration for the great man we are
so soon to see. A cry of "There she is ! coming
round by Calshot Castle," and every eye is strained
to obtain the first glimpse of the expected boat.
After a little hesitation, and one or two miscon-
ceptions, we all see the masts towering up over the
point to the right, and in a few more minutes the
Ripon is completely visible. Although a very short
time elapsed before we are alongside, a gentleman
near me, misled by his impatience, insists that the
Ripon is at anchor, and it is only when the foam at
her paddle wheels is pointed out to him that he
will believe our assertions that we are undergoing
no unusual or unwarrantable delays.
A few wore minutes, and we are eagerly scanning
the faces of the passengers on deck, and one good-
looking middle aged gentleman, in a white hat, is
immensely cheered in mistake for Garibaldi. When
his modesty prompts him to retire below (as he does
the instant he discovers onr mistake) we look in
vain along the line of faces for the grand head with
which, either from personal knowledge or through
the medium of the print-shops, we are all familiar.
"There he is !" "No !" " Yes !" "No !" and our
enthusiastic blundering is ended by our being
brought up alongside. I was one of the
first people on board, and after a few
momenta' hesitation as to which way we should
turn, in the wilderness of *yaks, Anglo-Indian;
lady passengers, invalids, children, and luggage,
wherein we find ourselves, we hear that the general

in the saloon, and at once proceed thither. Our
eager glances fail to find him, and after
a hurried gaze up the long green covered
tables, and up and down the seats whereon are
other ladies and more children, we only succeed in
seeing the gentleman whose beard we had already
cheered, and who looks as if he thought we were
about to repeat our blunder. "The General is in
his cabin," says a steward ; and in a moment
that cabin is full. The Duke of Suther-
land, General Eber, and Mr. Seely, are the first
to greet him. Mr. Dolmage considerately stands
at the dour to prevent any undue crowding ; and
the rest of us stand as near to it as we conveniently
can, anxiously waiting our turns for intro-
duction. I hear a full-toned but sweet voice
saying, " Better, better, I thank you much,"
in reply to inquiries as to his foot,
some minutes before that voice's owner is visible to
me, and it is impossible to avoid envying Mr.
tiegretti mid Mr. Joseph Cowen as they are
severally invited to greet their old friend. The
cabin is IT this time full, and the natural eagerness
of those yet outside is gofer unallayed, when by a
change of positions I obtain my first glimpse of the
general. lie is seated on his couch, with sling
cigar-case and courier's bag hung up over head, is
shaking hands warmly with "Friend Joseph
Cowen," is asking after the good town of Newcastle,
and gracefully acknowledging to all around the
many kindnesses he has received. It is unpleasant
to have to allude to the only hitch during
the day. But either through misapprehension
of what is due to Garibaldi, or from in-
difference to the interests Le has at heart,
efforts were made to dissuade the general
from an.. pting the hospitality of the Mayor of
Southanipteu until to-morrow. Mr. Seely, who
in the er-1 instance had thought of conveying Gari-
baldi to Brooke-house by a chartered steamer direct
from the Ripon, had cheerfully waived his own
proposition, and had acceded to the natural wishes
of the mayur and municipality. The Duke of
Sutherlaud's invitation to Stafford-house bad been
warmly accepted, but still there was a hitch, and as
most of the passengers by the tug had not been in-
troduced, Garibaldi acceded with a cheerful
" Better, better so," to a proposition that
the question should be discussed in the saloon
itself. Leaning on his walking-stick, and
limping slightly, be proceeds, accompanied
by all of 11.4 to the cushioned seat at the end of the
saloon. In truth a kingly looking man, some five
feet eight inches in height, he is broadly built, and
his presence is pre-eminently commanding ; he has
a broad and lofty brow, soft and gentle eyes, which
sparkle with humour and playfulness, a full-sized
well shaped nose, a massive jaw indicative
of power, and a smile which a woman might envy.
He wore light and thin tamales, smartly made