Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-26
TAE FOURTH Of jULY TN LONDON

dependence. This event passed off with the ut
most brliancy. The entertainment included
concert and ball. About 700 or 800 invitations
were issued, of which more than one half were
TO Americans. The concert commenced at half
past 8, according to programme, which comprised
the leading artists of Her Majestys theatre
Dancing began at eleven. The decorations of
the ball room were in the most excellent taste.-
Portraits of the Queen and Washington were
placed at either end, and bust of Franklin occu-
pied pedestal. We take the following account
of this superb entertainment from the last letter
of the New York Courier's London correspon-
dent
Ibegn my letter with reference to the superb en-
tertaDment given by Mr. George Peabody on Friday,
because it has been for these few days past the unver
sal topic OF conversation, and the press has also been
full OF t-evncing already how just and accurate was
anti American feeling, and gain the good will of all
classes towards country. The entertainment con-
sisted OF "Concert, Bal and Supper"
The intention OF Mr. Peabody in fixing upon the
Fourth of July for this entertainment to demon
srate that all feelings of irritation in regard the
event which that day recalls, has long since passed
| away, and that Engshmen and Americans need no
longer abstain from naming it, have any feeling, but
that they may meet that day we'll as any other
| time The hearty concurrence of the first
people Of this country in this sentiment has been happily
and triumphanty shewn by the nature and extent of the
| attendance on the occasion. party more numerous
brilliant, or including fuller representation of the
|
been assembled outside the walls the palace ITSELF and
certainly, "Alnacks'' lin the devoted which
this ball was glven) never displayed any thing like the
spendor and prousion which characterized this
| Company began to arrive al O'clock and by half
past nine, when the concert commenced there 500
people in the spacious hall. The concert began with
punctuaity, and, beng iudciousy short, passed off
'more than we.' The talent engaged was of the
highest order and the half dozen musica morceau1
selected for performance also surprising excel
lerce and popularity.
| T,abIacha Gardoni CroveIi and Catherine HavaS
were the leading vocalists and all received with
the warmesi applause. Miss Hayes, in particular,
| charmed the numerous body OF our counrymen who
had not before heard her exquisite singing; and not
little surprise was expressed at the great compass OF
her voice, and the extreme cearness and power OF her
lower notes Cruvelli's performance OF mel DOLCE"
was most delightful and received with every expression
OF APPROVAL and nothing could exceed the enthusiasm
| with which Miss Hayes romance of "Ah, mon fs'
was received. Then came Lablache and Gardon in
superb Duet; and the majestic tone OF the former
trasted we'll with the sweetness of Gardonis voice.
Indeed, the concert master piece of skiliu and
Judicous selection and arrangement. The moment the
last note had ceased to vbrate, the benches
moved as if by magic, and punctua to the carte, dan
cling began sat eleven O'clock" u
About halt past eleven attention was Withdrawn
from everything else, and the music unheeded
| by the dancers. as the venerable Duke of Wellington
was announced and entered the room, side by side
with M Peabody, who having remained until then
in the reception room," entered the ball with
| his Grace and conducted him through it to the dais
and presented him to Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence. Above
the dais upon the wall, and tasefuly canopied with
the blended flags OF England and America, hung por-
trait OF Washington; and the old Duke him
self in chair uhe char itself worked in embroidery
by an American lady and before pressed by any
human form) directly beneath the picture of Washing
top and facing The portrait of his own Queen, the en-
husiasm ct the assembly could longer be repressed,
and the feelings OF the qualification and respect which
till then had been suppressed, burst all bounds, and
found expression in loud long continued and oft re-
peated cheers, until the hall rang again with the acca
nations
Rx, tI,;e
including many OF the leading aris,ocracy OF this coun
try, and all the respectable Americans who either
to be found in London, or within reach of Mr.
Peabody's bosptable summons.
Supper ensued at one o'clock, A M. most Of the
guests remaining to partake oft; and prepared
scale OF prousion and with and elegance
ly surpassed. Throughout the entire suite of rooms
flowers and drapery adorned the walls; the flags ofthe
two Anglo-Saxon nations were every where in
combination, while the tables literally loaded
with the finest and raest fruits and every other con-
celvable decacy, nerspersed with of the most
fragrant and costly exotics.
After many opportunities for observation can frank
of royalty itself any thing to excel the the spen
dor or munhcence of this entertainments and it has
produced an impression upon English society which
will not be forgotten, and which Mr. Peabody well
foreknew in undertaking it.
The London correspondent ofthe New York Com
mercal Advertiser concludes his account ofthis grand
affair as follows:
Congratulations on the happy idea which Mr. Peabo-
dy had thus carried and which will be rendered
memorable from its occurring in the year of the
Exhibition, poured in from all sides. He has for
time been regarded in monetary circles the leading
representative OF your country and he could certainly
have rendered greater service both nations than
that of causing them to blend for the first time after
seventy tive years OF separation in common recogni-
ton OF the 4th OF July, and of the blessings ii has
terred both upon themselves and the world.
The following is an English description of Mr..
Peabody's banquet. 1t is from the London Morning
Post:
Mr. Mr. George Peabody the eminent and wealthy
American merchant and banker, land OF the ear
lest and most municent subscribers to the fund for
erecting the Crystal Palace invited numerous and
distinguished party last evening to meet his Exceency
the American Minister and Mrs. Lawrence, at aeon
cert, ball and supper given scale of unsurpassed
elegance and magnitude at Wiliss Rooms.
This entertainment is remarkable, not merely for the
manner in which it was gwen but especially from
the fact that was given on the anniversary OF the de-
elaration of American independence, day on which,
from feelings of delcacy, all public assembages of
Americans in England have heretofore been scrupu
lousy avoided. But Mr. Peabody has assumed that
the uhe loI any eeng OF irritation, in regard to the
day, or to the event which it Commentaries is long
! past and that Engshmen and Americans NAV meet
| upon that day, in as much hamony and good fellow
ship as upon any other OF the three hundred and sixty
| five.
And it certainly would appear that his feeling on the
subject has the concurrence of both our countrymen
and his own for the attendance this occasion was
numerous and fashionable and worthy the unsurpass
ed elegance and magnhcence which characterized the
arrangements throughout.
And it may be observed that in thus boldly breaking
through the prejudice attached to his particular ami
versary Mr.. Peabody has only followed out the prnci-
pie enunciated by his late Majesty George the Third
on his reception of the first American Minister who
ever presented his credentials the British court to
whom the king declared that, having been the last man
in his kingdom to acknowledge American independence
so long as there was hope of defeating it, he would be |
the foremost recognize and sustain it now that had
been formally acknowledged
The entertainment commenced with concert, in |
GLIDING the performances of yocalsts no less dstn-
guished than Cruvelli, Catherine Hays Lablache and
Cardoni all OF whom acquitted themselves with remar
kable spirit and received enthusiastic applause. The
performance Of Cruve in the aria 'Nel dolce incan-
TO-" and that of Miss Hayes in "Ah mon fls' was re.
ceived with peculiar enthusiasm
The company included many distinguished Ameri-
cans some of whom have been assembled by the Ex-
hihition and many have come over from the cnnti-