The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-23
fcoRRrspospENcE OF THE REPUBLIC.

Fraaer's Observation-Disclosures Of ". y Socisty-
Mr.. Bristed-Woodbwy Langdon-A Feast
american LurWy-Colonsi Ihorns- Distinction
not acquired by Wealth in this country Our Hap
py Gopernmsnt-Eatsrta 10 Warrington
Huni-Jenny Lind and Captain West-Ihe Store
ship Erie.
New YoRK, November 20, 1850.
Ffarr's Magazine, the only high tory among
the English monthlies-for Blacktoood, il must be
remembered, is Scotch-has during the past year
contained a series of sketches of New York society,
which bear internal evidence Of being the produc-
ton Of cis-Atlantic pen. The sketches are
ceedingly truthful, although highly colored, and
contain good deal Of information which will be
beneficial to English readers, and good deal Of
not very delicate satire national foibles, that
might do good at home if it could only be diHuscd
among the authors countrymen. The sketches
describe just that phase of American society which
no other writer among us has yet attempted to OK
hibit-the habits and manners of our very wealthy
families. II 10 pretty well understood that the wri
ter of these sketches is Mr.. Charles Asor Brsted,
grandson of the late John Jacob Astor. He has
introduced so many we'll known incidents of his
own private life, and made many illusions 10
we'll known people, under slightly disguised names,
in these sketches that he must be quite willing 10
be known "a their author Having been partly
educated at Oxford, he is sufficiently familiar with
English manners to know precisely where to strike
10 hit John Bull Gin the raw" and he often docs
ii in most direct and unmistakable manner. His
recent sketches devoted 70 descriptions of wa
tcring places, country seats on the Hudson, and
New York summer life out of town. Mr.. Brstcd
vaa swndlcd out Of thousand dollars year
ago by young British officer, the son Of a high
legal functionary in London, and the grandson OF
the Earl OF Ellenborough, whose name was Law.
The young cornot came TO New York on spree
from Montreal, where he wa. stationed, and, run
ming short Of money, borrowed thousand dollars Of
Mr.. Bristcd, and gave him draft on the colonel
of his regiment, which dishonored. Mr.. Bris
ted made representation Of the affair to the young
scamp's honorable father, who refused 10 refund
the money, and Mr. Bristed then made complaint
to the head Of the army, and the corne was in con
sequence dismissed from the service. Mr.. Bristcd
appears TO have inherited something Of his grand
fathers love Of money, for bis loss is alluded TO
continually in his sketches, and the unprincipled
descendants Of tho ilostrious lawyer, Lord Ellen
borough, pretty thoroughly exposed under the
name Of Iawlcss, while English travellers in
America are shown up 10 most merciless manner.
MIR. Brsted's pictures Of the society with which he
ia moot familiar are not calculated to excite much
respect for "our fret men," either at home or
abroad. Vulgar extravaganza and lavish cr-
pcnditure of money in articles Of mere luxury, no-
cording to his version Of New York society, are the
distinguishing traits OF our rich men. There is,
no doubt good deal Of the proi In Mr.. Bristed's
| scmblancos; his "nommo dc plume" by the way,
| il Carl Benson lie is quite willing that the world
| should know tho amount of his income, and the
manner in which he spends it. A cousin OF his,
Mr. Woodbury. Langdon, last season gave sup
per to small party of his friends, which was duly
| trumpeted to the world. The cammeliss used on
the occasion to decorate his rooms cost eleven
| hundred dollars. The florists OF New York could
| not supply sufficient number Of tbcse fashionable
flowers, and the green houses Of Philadelphia bos-
| ton, and Baltimore were CLEANED Of their choice
blossoms 20 grace bis table; the cost OF the banquet
and the wines was in proportion. Dclmonico'sbill
for the rare dishes furnished was eighteen hundred
dollars. Tho number Of guests invited was but a
dozen. It was fast worthy Of the decadsnoe Of
Rome. The last London papers contain flaming
accounts OF marvellously rich entertainment Civ
on by the Mayor Of the city Of York to the Mayors
of England, at which Prince Albert and many mo-
bic pcrsonages we're present. The entertainment