The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-11 00:00:00

Mk PEABODY'S AMERICAN FETE.

[The following notice was prepared some days since;
but publication was tceidenially delayed. The event re-
Ferred to has, however, importance enough to render
this notice of it still in good time; for it has awakened
increased cordiality between Englishmen and Americans,
and thus established a claim to permanent remembrance,
not as a mere fete; but as an occurrence of inter-national
interest and significance.—Ens. Sun.]
On the evening of the 4th inst., Mr. George Pea-
body, an American merchant of eminence, long resident
in this country, gave an entertiinment," at Willis's
Rooms, to a numerous and distinguished party of
English and Americans, whom he invited "to meet
the American Minister and Mrs. Lawrence.

The entertainment was taken out,',of the sphere of
mero fashionable assemblies, by the fact, that it was
given on the anniversary of the declaration of American
independence; and so given, with intent to show that all
hostile feeling in regard to the occurrences of that re-
mote period has subsided, and that the people of Great
Britain and the United States may not sinly dispassion-
ately recur to those events, but may meet together, in
perfect harmony, on the very day whicrt most pointedly
brings them to mind.
The entertainment itself was worthy of such an ob-
ject and of the occasion; and the unanimity of the feel-
ing which it sought to inculcate was evinced by the pre-
sence of great numbers of the leaders of opinion and of
fashion both in this country and the United States; and no-
thing could exceed the cordiality and good-feeling which
pervaded the entire aisemblage.
The apartments were brilliantly decorated with light
drapery, festoons of flowers, and a profusion of British
and American flags; a portrait of Washington adorning
one end of the vast saloon, and a likeness of our own
Queen gracing the opposite extremity, each surrounded
with a graceful drapery composed of thelliags of the two
countries skilfully blended.
The evening was ushered in by a concert, which in-
cluded some of the first voeal talqat which the metro-
polis can command. Miss Catherid-Hayes lent the aid
of her clear and powerful voice, and her impassioned but
graceful execution, and Cruvelli charmed the audience
with her highly cultivated performance; while' the
thunder-toned bass of the world-renowned Lablache and
the pure tenor of Gardoni made an ensemble of choice
and perfect vocalization not to be surpassed. Cruvelli
was warmly applauded, and Miss Hayes literally en-
tranced her audience by the depth of passion and the
power of voice which she threw into the performance
of the romance of " Ala! mon filar
The concert ended at eleven o'clock, and the room
being promptly cleared, dancing commenced with much
spirit, under the auspices of a well-disciplined orchestra,
and was continued (with only the intervention of supper),
until a very late hour.
The supper itself, which was served at one, was of the
rarest and most costly description. The rooms were de-
corated no less tastefully and appropriately than those
above; and the tables were replete with the choicest de-
licacies, the rarest fruits, and the most beautiful and
fragrant exotics.
_ _ _

The Duke of Wellington arrived about half-past
eleven o'clock. His Grace was received by Mr. Pea-
body, and by him conducted through the ball-
room, and presented to the American Minister.
The Duke afterward made the entire circuit of the room,
returning, in the most affable manner, the respectful
salutations which greeted him on all sides.'His Grace re-
mained until nearly one o'clock, and expressed his gra-
tification at being present, and his hearty concurrence in
the spirit of the entertainment.
The attendance was very large indeed, and included
not only many of our own nobility and others of high
rank or position, but a large number of distinguished
Americana, who were either visitors to the Exhibition,
or had been summoned to London to be present on this
occasion. Nearly 1,000 persons must have partaken of
Mr. Peabody's hospitalities in the course of the evening,
and about 800 sat down to supper. In addition to his
Grace the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of Clan-
ricarde, Sir Edward Cust (Master of the Ceremonies to
her Majesty), his Ratcellency the American Minister
and Mrs. Lawrence, the following were among the
persons present:—Col. T. B. Lawrence, and Mr. Davis,
Secretary of Legation; the Duke of Val?ncia (Marshal
Narvacz) and Aide-de-Cainp, Marquis of Ely, Marquis
and Marchioness del Bayatio and Aide-de-Camp, Earl
and Countess B,ctive, his Excellency Governor Brown,
U S. Minister to Russia; Viscount Torrington, Lord
Glenelg, Viscount Canning, Lord and Lady Dormer,
the Countess of Eglinton,' Countess Powlett, Lady
Talbot de Malahide, Lord Charles Manners, Lord
Charles Russell, the Lord Mayor and Lady
Mayoress and his Lordship's Private Secretary, Lord
Marcus Hill and Lady, Lord Dudley Stuart; Mr.
Baron and Lady Alderson and the Misses Alderson;
Mr. Baron, Lady, and Miss Parke; Mr. Justice,
Lady, and Miss Williams; Mr. Justice and Lady Cole-
ridge; Judge Duncan, Lady E., and the Misses Pon-
sonby ; Lady and Miss Wallace; Mr. Tuffuell, M.P.,
Lady Anne, and Miss Fuffnell; Sir Duncan and Lady
MacDougall, the Governor of the Bank of England and
Mrs. Mulkey, Sir Archibald and Lady Maclean, Sir
William De Bdthe, Sir E. Antrobus, Sir W. and Lady
Molesworth; Sir J. and Lady Walmley; Sir W.,
Lady, and Miss Clay; Ludy, and the Misses Cust; Hon.
J. Grattan and Lady Louisa, Count and Counteso