Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-07-29
THE FOURTH OF JULY in LONDON.
MA. PEARopY's FETE.

we nave IeCelVeu ny tlle last atrlWl from Eu-
rope full accounts of the gTspd banquet given by
GEO. PEABODY, Esq, to the Amssjcans in Lon
don on the recent Anniversary of American In
dependence. This event passed off with the ut
most brilliancy. The entertainment included a
concert and ball. About 700 or 800 invitations
were issued, of which more than one hail. were
10 Americans. The concert commenced at half
past 8, according to programme which comprised
the leading artists of Her Maesty's theatre
Dancing began at eleven. The decorations of
the ball room were in the most excellent state
Portraits of the Queen and Washington were
placed at either end, and bust of Franklin occu-
pied pedestal We take the following account
ofths superb entertainment from the last letter
of the New York Courier's London correspon-
dent:
begin my letter with q reference to the superb
terainment given by Mr.. George Peabody, on Friday
because it has been for these few days past the unver
sal opic OF conversation and the press has also been
tul OF ;-evncing already how just and accurate
Mr.. Peabodys belief that it would do much to allay
anti American feeling, and gain the good will of all
classes towards country. The entertainment con-
sisted of Concert Ball and Supper"
The mention OF Mr.. Peabody in fixing upon the
Fourth Of July TOR this entertainment to demon
strate that all feelings of irritation, in regard to the
event which that day recalls, has long since passed
away, and that Engshmen aud Americans need no
longer abstain from naming it, or have any feeling, but
that they NAV on that day as well as at any other
tine season. The hearty concurrence of the first
people OF this country in this sentiment has been happily
and umpnanty shewn by the nature ard OF the
attendance on the occasion. A party more numerous
or brilliant. or including fuller representation of The
rank, veal and fashion of this country, has never
been assembled outside the walls OF the palace itself and
certainly" Atmacks, lin the rooms devoted to which
this ball gwen displayed any thing like the
spendoE and prousien which characterized this scene.
Company began 10 arrive al O'Clock, and by half
past nne, when the concert commented here were 500
peopis lii he spacious hall The concert began with
puncualIty and, beng JudciouSly short, passed off
s'more ;han WE'LL The talent engaged was of the
highest order, and the half dozen mu.i lea morceaug
selected for performance also Of SURPRISING excel
lie and popularity.
L4bache, Gardoni, Croveli and Catharue Hayes,
We're me leading vocallsts and all were received with
the wafuest applause. Miss Hayes, in pa tcular,
charmed the numerous body OF our countrymen who
had rot before heard her exquisite singing; and
ie surprise was expressed at the great compass OF
her voice. and the extreme clearncss aud power of her
lower notes Cruveili's performance OF mel DOLCE"
vas most delightful, and received with every expression
otspproval and nothing could exceed the enthusiasm
wi'n hich Miss Hayes romance of "44h, mon f's'
was received. Then came Lahlache and Gardoni in
superb duett and the male sc of the former con-
tfased well with The sweetness OF GardonIs voice
indeed, the concert was master piece OF skiul and
]udclous selection and arrangement. The moment the
last note had ceased to vbrate die benches were re-
moved as By magic, and pnnctua TO the carte, dam
eng began lat eleven o'clock"
About halt past eleven attention was Withdrawn
from everything else and the music on uuheeded
by the dancers, as The venerable Duke OF Wellington
"as announced and entered the room, side by side
with Mr.. Peabody, who having remained until then
in the reception room," entered the ball room with
his Grace and conducted him through it to the dais
and presented him to Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence. Above
me cais the wall and tastetully canoped with
the blended flags of England and America hung por-
ait OF Washington; and the old Duke seated HIM
self in chair Qhe char itself worked 10 embroidery
by American lady, and never before pressed nv anv
human iorm) directly beneath the picture of Washing
too and facing The portrait of his own Queen the en-
thuslasm Of the assembly could longer be repressed
and the eeags OF the qualification and respect which
ii lnen 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 acela-
nations.
including many OF the leading arsocracy of this coun
try, and all the respectable Americans who were either
10 be found IN London, or were within reach of Mr.
Peabody hospable summons.
Supper ensued at one o'clock, A. M most of the
guests remaining partake oft and was on
ale of profusion and with care and elegance rars
iy surpassed. Throughout the entire suite of rooms
flowers and drapery adorned the walls the flags OF the
two Anglo Saxon nations every where seen in
combination, while the tables literally loaded
with the finest and rares fruits and every other con.
ceivable delcacy, inierspersed with OF the most
fragrant and costly exotics. -
After many opportunities for observation can frank
y say that have never seen except under the roof
OF royalty itself any thing to excel the the splen
dor or muncence OF This entertainment; and it has
produced an impression upon English society which
VII not be forgotten, and which Mr.. Peabody well
toreknew in undertaking it.
The London correspondent ofthe New York Com
mercal Advertiser concludes his account ofthis grand
affair oliows:
Congratulations on the happy idea which Mr. Peabo-
dy had thus carried out and which will be rendered
more memorable from its occurring in the wear of the
Exhibition, poured in from all sides He has for some
ue oeen regarded IN monetary circles the leading
representative oil your country and he copld certainly
have rendered greater service 10 both nations than
that OF causing them to blend for the first time after
seventy nve years OF separation in common recogni-
e nj n nd Of tl,o
ferred both upon themselves and the world
The following is English descripton of Mr.
Peabody's banquet 1t from the London Mornno
Post ih'ns
Mr.. Mr.. George Peabody, the eminent and wo.l,h,,
American merchant and banker, land one of the ear
lest and most municent subscribers 10 the h1nd far
eiectlng me crystal falaee0 invited numerous and
distinguished party last evening his ExcelIencv
the American Minister and Mrs. Lawrence at aeon,
cert, ball and supper given scale of unsurpassed
elegance and magnitude at Wis's Rooms
his entertainment Is remarkable not merely for tho
in which gwen, but more especiav from,
the fact that 1t given The anniversary of the de-
cia:son OF American independence, day on which.
nom feelings OF decacy, all pubic assembIages OF
Americans n England have heretofore been scrupu
ious.y evoded. But Mr.. Peabody has assumed that
the time Tor aay feeling of irritation, in regard to the
dAy, o. 10 the event which it commentaries, is long
past and that Eng ahmeu and Americans NAV meat
upon thar day, in as much hamony and good fellow
SHY as upon any other OF the three hundred and sxy-
& e
And certainly would appear tbs. his fasin, on tho
SUBJECT has the concurrence of both our conntrvmen
aud his own; Tor the attendance on this occasion was
numerous and fashionable and orthy ofthe unsrnass
ed elceaHce ano agalhcence which characterize the
orange .nerks throughout. S ''e
And may be observed. that in thus boldly break;no
through The prejudice attached 10 his particular a;
versary, Mr. Peabody has only followed Out The orin
pie nuncIated by his late Majesty George the Third
IN his reception Of the first American Minister who
ever presented his creden ais the British court. 10
"hcn he king declared that having been the last man
~ his kngLom 10 acknowledge American Independence
so long as there hope of debating it, he would be
The !oienos 10 recognize aud sustain il now that il mad
beer iorT ally acknowledged
lie entertainment comfnenca1 with a concer, in