New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-07-23
FOURTH OF JULY AT LONDON.
Mr.. Peabody's Festival.
correspondence Of The Tribune.


LoSpoS. Saturday. July 5. 1851
Times are changing yea, verify are al
ready somewhat changed. Signs, thick as black
berries. proclaim the fact that, although the sid
r5rirn, of isolation and antagonlsm has not abdi-
Gated. new syirii is abroad IN the world, and
a new order of IDEAS stirring the minds OF men,
that people are beginning dimly 10 discern the
worth Of united effort, and to merge national pre-
ludices in the desire OF information, cooperation
and good will
..S,raws." saws the ptoverb. "shOw which
WAY the wind blows and this assertion belngu
doubtedlv true. the superb entertainment given
Yesterday. IL honor OF the national birthday. TO
the American Minister. and Mrs. Lawrence, by
George Peabody. Esq. the well-known Amer
ican Banker. nav. without exaggeratlOn be men,
TONED as one among many other indications of
This welcome change For many years Mr. Pea
hodv has gwen brilliant party on the Fourth 81
Iuly hut hitherto the guests have been eXclu-
sivelv American: this year, however. rntsrnGfron-
aLfv being the order of the day, Mr. p conceived
the happy idea of extending his hospitality to the
English also, thus uniting the representatives. OF
the two great clans OF Tlval cousins IN a magnih-
cent ftte de fauiHe.
The entertainment was gwen al WIlllss
Rooms St Jamess. the immense suites OF
APARTMENTS being decorated in the richest and
most tasteful manner. But for the many other
attractions OF the evening. the affairs might
almost have been styled a Feast OF Roses for
not only was the broad staircase bOrdered with
the gayest flowers from innumerabe conseUa-
tories but every lady, on entering the reception
room was presented with a handsome bouquet,
and amid the American and British flags, glded
oive-boughs and other emblematic devices with
which the walls were hung. wreathes and gar
lands Of flowers were everywhere lnierspersed-
The fte opened al hali-paSt nine, with a con-
cert. 70 which Nile Cruvelh. Miss Catherine
HAYES the Lablaches, GOrdOnl and SvOn con-
trlbuted their united talent. With such per-
formers II is needless to say that the concert
was delightful.
At eleven the company al burned to the ball
room, a vast saloon, Splendldly ornamented irsm
the upper end of which, above the raised plat
form. where Mrs. Lawrence received the saluia-
tlons OF the guests. General Washington looked
down benlgnanty upon the brilliant scene,
Queen Victoria smiling amlaoy' AMID hags and
banners, from the opposite wall.
The com d'aii presented by this great gather
ing the diamonds and feathers Of the mannas.
the gay dresses Of the daughters, the many
beautiful faces fitting through the mazes OF the
Dances was extremely hne. LoveheSt among
the lovely. with Juno-hke part whose dignity
the Oympian Queen could hardly surpass, was
the beautiful Duchess of --, IN her younger
DAYS acknow edged as one OF the most beautiful
women IN England simply dressed III white
wateTed silk, with tiara OF pearls above her
queenly brow. How beautiful IS beauty Why
are there not more radiant faces, such as shine,
TO light UP our dark planet Q glorious lady, the
nobleness of whose beauty far exceeds that OF
thy rank
Warehouses;. Countesses, HOn0rableS. were
there by the score, with their correspondents OF
the steiner sex, Lord John Russell, the Lord
Mayor with his diamond star the Aldermen &c.
About midnight the Duke OF Wellington made
his appearance, attended by two footmen IN NV
ery The " Iron Duke as he is often styled,
is now quite the old man, with hooked Roman
nose dark blue eyes. now much more dim than
formerly and few gray locks grown very thin.
His gait Is somewhat feeble, but still dIgnihed,
and his manner is quiet and afiabe. lie was
warmly cheered on his entrance, and all eyes
were instantly TUNED to the platform where he
stood, paying his respects to Mrs Lawrence
people crowding round the old veteran, with the
greatest interest, to get sight OF HIM
The dancing was kept up with unfag glng
spirit until | o'clock. Old English Glees and
Madrigas being occasionally sung between the
cotons and waltzes At | o'clock the guests
descended by several passages TO the supper
room, where magnificent collation. was LAID
out on long tables that completely lined the
room
After supper, dancing was resumed, and was
kept up until the morning light was visible IN the
east
Nothing could he more admirable than the
whole of the arrangements, and the fifteen hun
bred guests assembled on this occasion seemed
all to be equally delighted with the beauty of the
scene, and the uIbanty with which the honors
of the entertainment were done by their hospta
bic host, who must have expended, IN the carry
ing out of his amicable project no less sum
than ten thousand dollars
The moral of this beautiful festival, fully APP
preciaied by all present, Is soon told. and de
clares that II Is much wiser and also much pleas
anter for the people OF different nations to ex-
change balls without cannon rather than with
them, and to meet IN festive gatherings rather
than on the field OF battle. So mote II be
QUANTUM