The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-05
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON, D. C, AUGUST S, 1852


Yesterday, Mr.. Golden did me the kindness
to show me the Houses of Parliament. He
first introduced me into the gallery Of the
House of Commons, behind that Turkish bar
barism. the lattice-work screen, where | be-
held q as through glass darkly,n few scat
tered NJ p s. some sitting bolt upright. some
lounging on long green benches, leisurely legs-
lating, with their hats on The speaking was
brief conversational, and commonplace. Mr.
D'Israeli spoke for about quarter of an hour
on the affair Of the expulsion of the mission
aries from Austria. The Chancellor Of the
Exchequer has look decidedly and darkly
IIebraic When say this, | must confess that
| have in my eye the modern Abraham. who
lends money to fast young men with handsome
expectations; or the modern Moses who pre-
sides at the pawnbrokers counter rather than
the faithful patriarch of old or the wise law
giver, leader and feeder of Israel. The face
wears to me no high character, but is cold,
polite, and subtle in expression. ] could only
see the sentimental exquisite who penned
" Henrietta Tempie,p in the dainty waistcOat
and spiral black curls Of the Chancellor In
the House of Lords some cause was being
tried-a black-gowned, big-wigged advocate
was speaking before u black gowned aud big
ger-wigged judge. knew Lord Brougham at
once. from the admirable though not oyer-com-
plimentary sketches of Punch. He looks some
what broken, but hardly so old as ! expected
to see him.
The new Parliamentary palace is beautiful
and magnificent in the extreme. We have
nothing even family comparable to it in our
country; and long may it be ere we have, for
such q purpose. The splendid unsuitableness
Of this gorgeous edice for the theatre of grave
legislation, it seems to me, can be scarcely
questioned Infinitely more suitable surely,
would have been the pure and severely simple
Greek architecture, strong. and calm, and cold
like Government and Law. rather than the
elaborate, fantastic, and poetic forms of the
Gothc-a style whose effect is always graceful
rather than stately and whose associations are
romantic and religious.
This morning the Earl of Carlisle, to whom
| brought letter with his well-known kindi-
ness and courtesy, called, and brought in ad-
dition to the great pleasure of his acquaintance,
one of her Majesty's tickets to the gallery of
the House of Lords for the Propagation which
is to take place tomorrow. So | shall behold
that splendid pageant. His Lordship also ia
vored me with tickets to the London University
where, this afternoon, the prizes were dstribu-
ted-the Earl Of Carlisle presiding From wit
Messing this very interesting ceremony have
just returned.
After distributing the prizes in his own pecu-
liarly graceful and affabe manner speaking
some words Of praise and encouragement to
everyprOud and blushing winner of academical
honors Lord Carlisle spoke at some length,
eloquently and nobly. He was followed by the
Lord Mayor, and by Joseph Hume, fine speci-
men of true-souled old man The latter COM
plimented Lord Carlisle as "a noble who en-
mobiles nobility"
In the conversation during his morning call
his Lordship spoke of our country with appa-
rently most pleasant recolectons of his visit
He expressed deep interest in the great prob
lem-that solemn question of our age and
land-Slayery. He was reading, he said,
book which bore upon this subject, and which
impressed him most powerfully, both as an I'M
answerable argument against slavery and as a
work of genius. He added that the style and
the story were so fascinating that i was with
the utmost difficulty that he could lay it down
before finishing it. OF course, it was Uncle
Toms CABIN which is creating an immense
sensation in England
have spent Il delightful evening with Mary
HOwtt-a charming, true-hearted woman, as
she has uncOnsciously written herself down in
her books The poet Alaric Watts was pres
ent, and the gifted painter, Margaret Gillies
Mary Hewitt the younger beautiful, natural
girl, is an artistic of rare talent and most poetic
spirit have also met the authoress, Mrs
Grove, very interesting and genial person
who, if she has nightside y to her ina
ture," never turns it on her friends.
Elihu Burritt is still in London. doing good
with all the powers of his fine intellect, his un-
tagging will and his great heart
Adieu GRACE GREENWOOD.