Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-11
AMERICANS IN ENGLAND.
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.

AMERICANS IN ENGLAND.
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.
An Interesting Festi0al-lH. George Peabodys
Dinner 10 The american Minister.
We have received from private in London a
highly interesting Of very splendid entertain
ment given to the Amsrican Minister Mr. IsaERsoLL,
and his niece, Miss WILcooKs the Star and GArAa-
Richmond, "a the 18th = Nal ~ PHAsa1s;
andwe feel sure inst shah tho readsn Of TIE
Times while we shall only do simple justice to one Of the
noblest hearted and most Of our country
men, by publishing ii much at length as our space
will allow No American who has visited England within
the past ten fifteen years needs to be told who Mr.
PEABODY is how much he is constantly doing to make
his countrymen feel al home upon British SOIL or how
largely he has contributed unotentatous but most
effective way to strengthen that feeling of friendship be-
tween the people of the great nations which SO
much of their peace and prosperity must always depend
Possessed of prncely wealth. the fruit solely of his own
industry and business talent and gifted with than
prncely benefcence, he to know greater plea
sure than to extend to Americans in London the warmest
and most profuse hospitay-taking occasion, OF the
me bring them into direct social intimacy with
some of the worhiest and the best of the English people,
and thus substantially serving great public ends while
promoting the personal enjoyment of his countrymen
Besides the private and restricted entertainments
which will be fresh in the grateful recoecons of many
of our readers whose good fortune may have thrown
them within reach of his hospitality the grand and bril-
liant Public Ball in London, given by Mr. Peabody on
the 4h Of july 1851 and his splendid parting dinner to
the American Exhibitors the Worlds Fair, will not
speedily be forgotten.
Those Americans in London fortnight since, who
were at all familiar with the incidents in Mr. Peabody
e the traits Of his character have endeavored to
note were likely be much gratfed than surprised
by the receipt from him Of the following Card:
"CLuB CHAMBERS, No. Is REGENT STREET
Mr. PEABODY requests the honor of Mr. B-s
company at dinner on Wednesday, the 18th Of May at
clock at the Star and Garter Richmond, to meet the
American Minister and Miss Wilcocks An early
will oblige."
Richmond readers know eight ten miles above
London the Thames and celebrated as Offering TO view
Of the oveest and beautiful landscapes the face
of the earth Upon the h commanding the finest view in
town. stands the Star and famous among hotels
is Richmond among From the large bow windows
in each of its upper stories the eye may range over view
uan beauty the genius of caade could ever eign,
This favorite OF the poet Thomson be wrote
his Seasons ION table still preserved and shown by,
and he has sgnazed its beauty in Of the finest passages
of that Poem.I
Mr. PEABoDYs guests were out generally In carriages
from London and they began assemble in the drawing
room soon aftor FIVE. At about six Mr. PEABODY took
the chair-Mr ISGERsoLL, the American Minister, with
tho Of Glasgow, being seated side, and
Bishop McIvane Of Ohio, with Miss Wilcocks, on the
other. Mr. Henry Stevens Mr. j. p Van Allen, and Col.
T. B. Lawrence acted as Vice Presidents Two long ia
bes extended the whole length Of the dining hall, at
which the company then sat down. There present
about one hundred and fifty persons, Of whom eghyfve
were American and sxtyfve English ladies and gentle
men.
During the dinner a most animated flow Of converse
tion was kept up-making the hall sound like the
gathering place Of dispersed family rather than Of
meeting persons scarcely two in ten of whom had any
acquaintance with each other before In gallery pro-
yded with piano several pieces Of vocal music per-
formed at intervals, according to the programme
After the cloth had been removed and thanks returned
Mr. PEABopY rose, and in few, earnest well-chosen
words expressed the rery great satisfaction which it
pave him to meet so nany friends from the two great
TONS with both Of which he closely connected
such an occasion He said it had always seemed to him
matter of great importance that the people Of England
and America should, much possible, be brought
into relations of social friendship, and nothing had
given bm greater pleasure during his residence here
than the opportunities he had occasionally enjoyed Of
contributing to desirable result. He had prepared
in which he had endeavorcd express the spirit
he desired to see prevail and which his friend the Ame-
rican Minister, had very kindly consented to read.
The toast then read by Mr. ISoEnsoLL follows
The Queen: The President Of the United States and
dom-the two great nations whose common origin, mu-
tua interests and growing friendships
union created by resemblance in language, liberty re
gion, and law"
This toast received with very great applause, and
after this had somewhat subsded, Mr.. ISsrRsoLL
and addressed the company as follows:
II has been my lot occasions since have been
in England meet society less international in its
character than the with which have the pleasure
be united 1t has been my good fortune to par
take in small extent of social intercourse II has
sisted of public compliment and private hospitality Whe
ther public private, compliment hospitality, has
been always influenced by amable feelings towards our
country, although exercised in immediate relationship
with her representative. These friendly greetings have
been extended for the part by loyal subjects Of the
Vueenby true British hearts, met together on British
ormy manifested and uniform alaerity has been shown
in due return for kindness which ought to be felt between
two great countries almost identified as they are by
many circumstances Of resemblance and sympathy These
occasions nave presented themselves when tendencies of
regard on he one side were supported by the many and
the sro7g whe single feeble voice alone could answer
for the tendencies the other The individual
cy Of stranger and devotion to his own distant land
met with cheerfulness collective influenza and numbers
in their ancestral home. Personal merit and CON
sderation the side of the many feeling of ust
and becoming sensbility was wanting trust in the
individual
The hospitality Of bost has brought together do
somewhat di ferent company. Our country os ve as
England is lar gely represented here Uosnital;ty M
our open hearted friend is cardinal virtue II 4 d;sn
puished not only by its iberaty but by tho discrimnat
ing fitness Of its associations. Fortune although com
monty painted blind is content to in his behalf in
more respects than one the bandage from eyes He
has happily brought together, in just equpose Of
bers his friends Of each nation Strangers made vel
como by those who are to the born and all