The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-21
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.

PARIS June 80, 1853,
American papers received here announce
that MIR. Marcy has issued an order requesting
American Ministers abroad to lay aside the
ridiculous court-dresses they have been in the
habit of wearing on state occasions, and to ap-
near in the simple garb of an American citizen.
The order ought to be mandatory; for some OF
our countrymen are snObbish in their tastes,
and will be apt TO find some pretext for sporting
.ssrs-9s~4r- nc rs Is
required to appear in the presence Of his own
sovereign. The rule is reasonable one, die
tated by tho equality of independent nations
in rights and dignity The costume is thus
made to symbolic the sovereignty of the ma
ton represented, The simplicity of democratic
usages is inconsistent with barbario display
No court pageantry is required st the White
House. The American whether in private or
public station attends the leyees of the Presi-
dent in the simple dress of citizen. The
usage springs from the nature of our insttu-
tons, and is a significant symbol of the Prin.
ciple Of Equality Self-respect requires that
we should maintain it in our intercourse with
other nations The representative abroad of
the American People degrades himself and tho
sovereignty he represents, when he consents to
appear in a foreign Court in any other than
the dress Of an American citizen He does
what no representative of any other Power is
required to do, or would disgrace himself by
doing. Just think Of tan American Minis
ter putting on the mean livery of foreign
Court-the bright breeches rufled at the
knees the wig, the cooked hat, the tremendous
sword--in a word, about such fnery as the
tootman Of q snOb might wear IL is marvel
lous that our Government should have ever
tolerated such insulting tom-foolcry There is
something childish in those court pageantries.
They are rather too weak for an age of iron,
and fire, and steam. There are men, even in
England, who will not tolerate them. Richard
Golden and some other liberal members of
Parliament have never been presented to the
Queen, or attended the dinners given by the
Speaker of the House, for the simple reason |
that they could not stoOp to put themselves in
the absurd court dress required to be worn
upon such occasions One of them remarked
to me, that he did not like to make a fool of
himself-to put on garb in which he should
blush to see himself in mirror, OF have his
children look at him
There IS q wonderful passion for hveries
among certain classes of the English People
and the liveries are infinitely more fiaring and
glaring than Americans can imagine. The
other day, in London, ! saw huge footman,
with bright-red breeches scarlet vest and coat,
powdered and pomatumed wig cooked hat, and
furnishings to suit! Sometimes the color is
sky blue, or bright green, or yellow, or purple,
OF crimson, all over, or mixed and variegated
in the most fantastic style. And the poor fools
are as vain of their fnery as so many peacocks
1t is difficult to say for whom one feels the
more contemplation the men who can thus
glory in their shame or for the masters who
point to their shame as the symbol of their
wealth and position.
London is a far cleaner city than | had sup
posed Its great thoroughfares are well paved
and every day swept and well watered Phila-
delphla IL the only American city that will
compare with it in these respects The police
regulations, too, are admirable The city is
remarkably well-ordered and governed, with
out any offensive display of force The police
Is numerous but very unobtrusiye and polite
In my wanderings about London, have never
tailed to obtain from them courteous REPLIES to
the many inquiries have had occasion TO
make.
From what have seen of London, | am con.
WINGED that Americans entertain exaggerated
views in regard to the condition of its poor.
saw less suffering, fewer indications of squalid
poverty than had expected, Many causes
have OF late years worked together for their