New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-07
CHANCES AT EUROPE. =. No. TX.
sights in London.

Editorial Correspondence of The Tribune.
LONDON, Friday May 23 1851.
HAVE been much occupied, through the last
fortnight, and shall be for some ten days more,
with the Great Exhibition, in fulhlment OF the
duties Of Juror therein. The number of Ameri-
cans here mot exhibitors) who can and will de-
vote the time required for this service Is so small
that none can well be excused and the fairness
evinced by the Royal Commissioners in offering
to place as many foreigners (named by the Com
missioners of their respective countnes0 as
BritonS on the several Jurles well deserves to be
met IN a corresponding spirit ] did not,
therefore, feel at liberty to decline the post
OF Juror, to which had been assigned before my
arrival, though 1t involves much labor and care,
and will keep me here somewhat longer than
had intended to stay. On the other hand, It has
opened to me sources OF information and facilities
for observation which could not in a bret visit
to a land of strangers, have otherwise hoped to
enjoy spend each secular day at the Exhlol-
tion-genorally from 10 to o'clOck-and have
my evenings Tor other pursuits and thoughts
propose here TO Jot down few of the notes on
London have made since the sailing Of the last
steamship.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
attended Divine worship IN this celebrated
edifce last Sunday morning. Situated near the
Houses of Parliament, the Royal Palaces Of
Buckingham and ST. James, and IN the most ar
istocratc quarter OF the city, Its external appear
ance Is less imposing than had expected, and
what saw Of its interior did not particularly
ptft-
and barbaric profusion OF carving. groIning and
all manner OF costly cOntrlvances for absorbing
money and labor, made on me the impression OF
waste rather than taste, seeming to give form
and substance to the orators smile of the con-
tortions of the sbyl without her inspiration
better acquaintance with the edifce, or with the
principles of architecture, might serve to correct
this hasty judgment; but surely Westminster
Abbey ought 10 afford place OF worship equal
in capacity fitness and convenience 70 a modern
church edlhce costing $4,000, and surely 1t
does not. think there Is no one of the ten best
churches IN New-York which is not superior TO
the Abbey for this purpose.
i thought myself acquainted with al the ap.
proved renderings of the Episcopal morning ser
vice, but when the clergyman who oficiated at
the Abbey began to twang oui, Dearly beloved
brethren, &c IN a nasal drawing semi-chant I
was taken completely aback. II sounded as
though some graceless Friar Tuck had wormed
himself into the desk and was endeavorlng. un.
der the pIetense Of reading the service, to carica
ture as broadly possible the alleged peculiaritv
Of MethOdlst!c pulpit enHnclation supeumposed
upon the regular Yankee drawl As the service
proceeded, | became more accustomed and more
reconciled 10 tins mode OF utterance, but never
enough. so 20 like It. nor even the responses
which were gwen m the same way, but much
better After came away, was informed that
this Semi-chant is termed iato7iag, and Is said to
be revival Of an ancient method OF rendering the
church service. If such be he fact, can only
say that in my poor judgment that revival was an
unwiSe and unfortunate one.
The Service was very long-more than two
houTs-the Music e1celent-the congregation
large-the Sermon. 50 far as | could Judge, had
nothing bad IN IT, Yet there was an Eleventh
Century air about the whole which strengthened
my conviction that the Anglican Church will
very soon be summoned 70 take her stand dis.
tnctly on the side either OF Romanlsm or of Pro-
,estantisin, and tha, the summons viii shake
not the Church only but the Realm 10 It's center.
RAGGED SCHOOLS.
In the evening | attended the Ragged School
situated IN Cartsr's Field Lane, near the cattle
market in Smithheid. [where John Rogers was
burned at the stake by Catholics. as Catholics