The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-17 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17.

BLoon, according to the proverb, is thicker than
water, and though the Atlantic rolls between the
Americana and ourselves it is quite clear that the
descendants of Englishmen in the States still
retain a large amount of genuine English feeling.
How could it be otherwise, indeed f A whole
people can no more cut themselves off from the
influence of their historical antecedents and tradi-
tions than a man can jump from his own shadow.
And the Americans, notwithstanding their obtrusive
pride in their superior republican fixings, and their
noisy abuse of the outworn government machinery
on this side of the water, have a sincere attachment
to the old country, and a real though unacknow-
ledged respect for the old institutions. The visit
of the Prince of WALits has naturally developed this
latent feeling in the strongest form. Such a novel

of American sentiment has an interest
for us deeper than that of mere curiosity, and
its special features are well worth noticing.
There can be no doubt, in the first
place, that Baron Reerater's reception in
the United States is thoroughly hearty and enthu-
siastic. The New York journals are probably
justified in saying " that the enthusiasm has been
" even greater than was displayed by the people
" of the British provinces." Bet the welcome, if
quite as hearty as that given to the Parka in
Canada, is in many respects very different, being
thoroughly American and independent. The
curiosity is more intense, and the criticism more
free, while at the same time the general interest is
more spontaneous and disinterested. That the
curiosity should be intense is quite natural. It is
the first visit a British Prince has ever paid to the
great and powerful Anglo-Saxon empire which has
sprung with such magical rapidity from a few
primitive British settlements. To the mass of the
people in those cities of the West royalty is only a
vague tradition, "read of in books," perhaps,
" and dreamt of in dreams," but never in any
shape brought within their actual experience.
Kings and princes are in their mind connected with
the American soil only by dim but brilliant
memories of their forefathers' early struggles and
triumphs. The original notion many had formed
of a Royal Prince probably included something
haughty and repulsive, if not tyrannical and over-
bearing. It M true that the reports which pre-
ceded the Paieez would have considerably modi-
fied such a preconceived opinion. But they would
at the same time intensify the popular curiosity.
This must be borne in mind in reading the account
of the Palecz's reception on his arrival at St.
Louis and Cincinnati—of the immense crowds that
filled the streets, the quays, the stations, and
every spot where the ?twice was likely to be
visible even for a moment—and the exclamations
that greeted his appearance. The behaviour
and exclamations of the crowd evinced the
strong excitement of the popular mind—an ex-
citement evidently compounded of real interest
and the honest desire to find out, by actual in-
spection, what a live Prince was like. At Alton,
for example, when the Pater' went on board the
steamer waiting to convey him to St. Louis, the
crowds that lined the landing-place had the oppor-
tunity of taking a good look at him, and the im-
mediate result was an audible photograph of his
appearance, dress and manners. " His nose is
" Roman." " He seems fagged." " He looks
" pleasant." "I thought Ina hair was lighter."
"There's no harm in that face, sure." The
last exclamation probably one of agreeable
surprise from some simple-minded citizen, who
had imagined a Royal Prince would almost
of necessity be physically obnoxious to the repub-
lican mind. The spectators were astonished and
delighted to find in the representative of the hated
institution of monarchy a quiet, gentlemanly
youth, with a bright eye, pleasant smile, and
charming manner. " He's regular Dutch," is
probably the curt compliment of another equally
gratified spectator. Indeed, it is easy to see that
the popular curiosity, while intense and even ob-
trusive in form, and free in utterance, is far
enough from being hard, vulgar, or unsympathetic.
It is frank, kindly, and even considerate ; for,
taking into account the enormous size of the
crowds assembled to greet the Parses, there has
been little of that rough and boisterous behaviour
ahuost inseparable from the hurried movements of
large masses to a particular point.
The better classes of American society seem,
indeed, to be particularly anions on this point.
They are laudably anxious to convince the Prince
of W►Lea that the amplest political liberty does
not involve social license. The New Yost Herald
reflects this feeling in giving as account of the
Palace's reception at St. Louie :—" The turbo-
" lent irregularity of a mob," says the writer,
" however well meant or dictated by good feeling,
" could not fail to grate harshly upon one of so
" much natural and acquired refinement. There-
" fore the lower strata of the democratic element
" may prove somewhat uncongenial to him. But
" I am happy to say that the people of the
" United States generally, and the superior order
" particularly, have studied his comfort, pleasure,
" and wishes, with a delicacy dictated by that
" good sense which is their prevailing character-
" late-, that has not failed to impress him
" and his suite with a very favourable idea
" of American consideration and courtesy."
The impression which the PRIN. It has hitherto
produced upon the American people is certainly
equally favourable. All the accounts agree in
stating that his appearance and manner have won
the send will of the people wherever he has ap-
peared, and that the longer he stoi s in a place,
and the better he is known, the more he is liked.
The Newt York Herald even goes so far as to say
" not only that there is a universal desire to pay
" him respect and du him honour," but that "the
" affections have been widely enlisted in his eel-
" fan•." This feeling pervades all claims of citi-
zens and emigrants able. In America the old
traditi-nal loyalty of the Irish, so long sup-

•
A
pressed by interested ,agill•Son and clerical
aliens at home, has ices play once moat,
and comes out with characteristic fervour.
" No clam of citixens,"says *local American paper,
" were more boisterous and enthusiastic in their
" greetings of Baron RIWYRZW than the sons of
" the Emerald illegant ' way they had
" of following the advice of a sage Guardian, that
" advised them to have no part or lot in the
" matter. When the PRINCE was seated in the car
" yesterday morning, ready for his departure, an
" Irishman was observed giving vent to his feelings
" in a manner that showed that he was fairly over-
" come with enthusiasm. After showering a score
" of compliments on the Prunes, he gave the coup
"de grace by swinging his hat and shouting, Be
" dad, and come back here four years from now
" and we'll run you for President.' The Royal
" suite were greatly amused at this unex-
" pected invitation, and the PRINCE came near turn •
" bling from his seat in a paroxysm of laughter."
At Harrisburg another enthusiastic Irishman got
ready an open carriage and four greys for the
Panrce's use on his arrival. Hitherto, in fact,
the Paixca's progress has been a triumph, and his
successes will no doubt be crowned at Washington
and New York.

If our cousins across the water are hearty in
their welcome, they at the same time vindicate their
independence by a kind of criticism that is at once
curious and characteristic. At the Cincinnati
ball, for example, we are told that "the Puttee was
" apparently very much embarrassed at times ;" and
also " that he made several mistakes, not being
" au fait in American style," whatever that may
be ; "but ho soon recovered himself, and enjoyed
" himself in his usual style," which it would seem
is not exactly American. Again, when he ap-
peared at St. John's churcho the morning after
the bell, we are told that he was " dressed as
" usual," with the comment—" Some people say
" he is looking seedy, but be is probably saving
" his ` best clothes ' for his New York visit."
This is decidedly an American, or, rather,
New York criticism. The Broadway swell prides
himself above all things on the glossy newness of
his whole suit, his shining hat, loud patterns, and
obtrusively fashionable cut. He does not yet
understand the beauty and mystery of that exqui-
site fit and quiet style which is the true perfection
of dress. The Prince of Waimea appearance will
be a powerful " caution " to these gentlemen. The
most amusing kind of criticism, however, which
the PRINCE'S visit has elicited is the kind of
apologetic explanation some journals think it
needful to offer of the enthusiastic welcome
given to royalty by a democratic people.
" Man is by nature regal and princely," says a
St. Louis journal. " Democracy is the cordial
" recognition of this fact, and seeks not to un-
" crown men, except by crowning all men.
" Heaven meant mankind for a race of kings and
" queens, princes and princesses, and to realise
" that end is the aim of democracy. In ages of
" rudeness, homage to the royal character of
" some men was a step towards the general culture
"of such character. In our time, and in this conn
" try, we claim to have emerged from that period
" of pupilage—to have done adulating, and to
" have become kings. But exclusive royalty is
" part of the history of human progress—a sale-
" tory and not dishonourable part, and as such
" commands interest. This is an interest in con-
" ventional royalty not only justifiable but honour-
" able. The more intelligent and genial the citi-
" min is, the deeper will be that interest. Nor is
" curiosity 'in itself mean or unworthy. We
" are so made that we love to see and learn,
" and when an object of legitimate interest has
" for us the charm of novelty, curiosity is praise-
" worthy in proportion as it is intense. These
" remarks are made in vindication of the intelli-
" gent interest felt by the American public on the
" occasion of the visit of the Prince of WALEN to
" our shores. Without a particle of undemocratic
" deference, our people may laudably gratify the
" wish to see the heir prospective of the British
" throne." From this lofty height of principle
the orator suddenly descends again to the common
level of fact by stating in the next sentence that
" Baron RENFREW and suite arrived at St. Louis
"at half-past five o'clock last evening." The fact
is, the latent feelings of the people are far stranger
than their abetract attachment to any exclusive
principle. And they have received the Heir to
the British throne like the descendants of Eng-
lishmen.