The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-30

cannot be doubt that wise and good agents
can raise this city to be the first in comfort and
the first in public virtue, as well as the first in
prosperity, in the world.
THE LEANDER's RECEPTION AT New YORK
THE NORTH STARS RECEPTION AT SOUTHLAND
ToN.-A good deal of virtuous Indignation is
being expressed in certain circles at the recep-
ton of the British frigate Leander by the city
Of New York. 1t is said-and we are bound to
admit the truth of the assertion-that when the
United States frigate St. Lawrence went to
Southampton, with our contributions to the
London Crystal Palace, she was received with
the highest honors the municipality could be-
stow. Her officers were feted. the vessel was
visited, and every soul on board was the object
of frank and large hospitality. Again, when
the yacht North Star anchored in the same port
the authorities rendered the same civilities to
her owner. He was invited to dinners, compli-
mented in the newspapers, and fattered by
every attention which kindness and policy
could suggest On the other hand when the
Leander arrives here, with the Royal Com
missioners to our Crystal Palace, the event
is barely noticed in the papers no civic
reception is extended to her officers or
passengers and to crown the contrast,
the captain loses several of his best hands
by desertion, and is compelled to pay one
dollar per ton for water. On the one side, we
see an open-bearted generous welcome offered
to American ships in British port; on the
other reception, in which Indifference and
sulkiness seem equally mingled, bestowed on a
British vessel in the port Of New York. If we
add that one or two obscure prints have not
scrupled to suggest that the latter was deliber-
ate and Intentional, and that the bulk Of the
American people have looked upon the Leander
and her passengers with positive feelings Of
dislike, we shall have done full justice to those
who now complain that the city has been guilty
of gross rudeness and inhospitality.
We have no intention of playing Sbrigani to
the Lenders Pourceaugnac, and 'apologizing
on behalf Of the city" Respectable men can
entertain but one opinion in regard to the re-
ception of the Leander whatever the British
captain may say or think on the subject. every
one of us must regret that it did not partake of
character more honorable to us and gratifying
to him.
We are. however. fortunately enabled to give
such an explanation of the occurrence as will
at once convince the most thin-skinned "Brit-
Usher" that it can in no degree be ascribed to
national prejudice or ill-will. For several years
past the municipal authorities OF this city have
been in the habit Of extending large and noble
hospitality to the distinguished foreigners who
have visited u.s. Considerable sums of money
have been spent to do them honor, and none of
those who have accepted our profered civilities
can assert that our purse was stinted or our
welcome meagre. On the strength of such re-
captions the city Of New York earned a proud
name for the magnifcence Of its civic festivals
and its lavish hospitality. 1t was the boast Of
this community that no king or pc tentate could
pay more distinguished honors to deceased
patriot or an illustrious stranger than ourselves
All this. however. was one day discovered to
be prodigal extravaganza, serving no salutary
purpose, and arising solely from the innate de-
pravity Of the men who filled the highest NUM-
cpal stations Hospitality was declared to be
another term for peculation. and civic ceremo-
mics were pronounced wanton waste of money
A law was passed in the State Legislature en-
acting that the city should not be suffered to
appropriate the public money for such pageants
gave only on three national anniversaries. This
law was formally ratified by an immense major
ity of the people Of New York. 1t was in short
their deliberate sentiment as expressed at the
polls, that we have had enough of civic recep-
tions and public .fstes. and that it was incxpe-
dent to repeat them hereafter.
It was with this law and this vote before
them that the Common Council Of the city saw
the frigate Leander. with Lord Ellesmere ON
beard enter the port of New York They well
remembered the reception of the ST. Lawrence
at Southampton under similar circumstances.
The very papers which announced the arrival
Of the British vessel contained the accounts Of
the generous welcome offered to Commodore
Vanderbilt. To say that the first impulse Of
the Common Council was to initiate SO worthy
an example is merely to give them credit
for the ordinary feelings Of men. But
the law-there it was, in plain, uDequivo-
cal language, forbidding anything Of the kind
Around them, on all sides, they heard them
selves branded as thieves and robbers on the
very ground of previous receptions Of similar
nature Whole vocabularies Of explosives had
been exhausted in consigning them to inramy
for having expended the public money for civic
celebrations Under the circumstances, what
could they do but suffer the Leander arrival
to pass unnoticed?
They did 80; and az might have. been ex-
pectcd, the very men who were the loudest in
reprobating their previous OUTLAWS for public re-
ceptions now burst into fury at their neglect of
our British visitors. When they gave civic
festival they were called thieves; when they