Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-02

teered his services several occasions within three
four years to aid me in decorating the rooms procuring
and arranging the music, toasts, &c. On this occascr
he undertook the friendly Office, and am glad thai
he happens to be in London give such decided
contradiction the principal statements Of the United
States Secretary of Legation the following letter
| contains
Mr. Somerby presents his compliments to Mr. Peabody
and begs to say that his attention having been called
the late extraordinary circular issued from the United
States Legation in London terminating Mr. Peahody's
course the fourth OF july and in which his (Mr.
Somerby'sl is Extensively well incorrectly
introduced he deems it incumbent ON him to make few
remarks in reply thereto.
Mr. SomerSy did not las set forth by the United States
Secretary of Legation at London visit the Legation
peatedy consult its members in reference the
eramme of the dinner given by Mr. Peabody the 4th
of July At Mr. Peabodys request and with the aid Of
I Mr.. Corbn, an American gentleman residing in Pa
rs he prepared series of oasts which he submitted
Mr. Buchanan through the hands of his Private Seere-
tary The submitting them to the American Minister for
his approval Mr. Souerby viewed more an act Of
tesy the part Of Mr. Peabody, whose desire it
treat bis opinion with all Difference, than necessity of
gaining his acquiescence Nevertheless, Mr.. Somerby
did suggest that prominent Americans might be in Lon
don friends Of the Legation unknown to Mr. Peabody
/ who would respond to of the sentiments.
/ The programme, after being submitted to his Excel
lency, was, by his Private Secretary who made copy
in his handwriting returned to sr. Somerby, with
the distinct statement that it had the approval of the
Minister; the order deyiatedrom the dinner
That misunderstanding may occur, Mr.. Somerby here
states that the following is the order in which
them from the American Minister, through his Private
Secretary, viz. " The day celebrate 1.-THE Queen"
| :. The President of the United States sc. SC.
In reference to the music cdUice was asked; but
Mr.. Semerby well remembers having stated to members
Of the Legation that songs would be sung portions of
which would be omitted, inasmuch the conciatng Of
good feeling the day Of celebrating National In
4 dependence was object not to be lost sight Of.
Instead Of encounterng difficulties in procuring the
. ~.
expressed his surprise that her Majesty should
readily grant theruse unofcal ntiration to
Colonel Phipps That intimation to the effect that
Mr. Peabody would consider it high compliment to his
countrymen If her Majesty would grant them to complete
the decorations Of the banqueting hall Colonel Law
the only person connected with the Legation
whom application made in reference to the portraits
did he write Colonel Phipps in his official capacity
That objections to the presence of Englishmen ut the
celebration raised by the Secretary, Mr. Somerby
admits to be true hut he felt assured they would not
Cence Mr. Peabody whose course would be independent
of the approval or dsapprova OF the Secretary OF Lega
1 ton tie American Minister having already expressed
his assent thereto. Mr.. Somerby weuld especially call
attention to the two paragraphs here quoted:
81 demonstrated most earnestly with Mr. Somerby
against the English tone that to be given to
sion which, above al others, ought to be American
hesought him to urge upon you was in vain for
/ Mr.. Peabody any else to attempt to bury the
Revolutions that this not IN American idea; that
the great object of celebrating the 4h of july 1916
to keep alive forever the hatred Of yrants and the love
Of bertyal the passions Of that conflict in which the
Republic into exisence aud that BESIDES nothing
than the notion that this sort of d.
luted nationality would command the respect Of English
for If they did not suspect it to be Dsncere they
would certainly regard it as contemplate Nor did fail
to Mr. Somerby that il could not be expected that
Mr.. Buchanan and the members of the Legation would
consent by their presence, countenance such mode
of celebrating the Anniversary of American Indepen-
dence
"Thc result Of these interviews was that programme
agreed upon ut the Legation; the proposed muta-
ton of national songs the ndscreet attempt to give
precedence the of George H. the
of Washington the British TO be given to the
affair in difference to Sir Emerson Tenant and few
English gentlemen whom you had invited-a these OBJ
iectionable features distinctly abandoned by Mr.
Somsrby in yonr name and, as he declared, with your
sanction, although with reluctance your part Then,
and not until then, did the American Minister and the
members of the Legation formally accept your invitation
to be present These circumstanceshe negotiation the
agreement the comprehensive plan Of invitation the day.
the presence of the Representative Of the United States
impaired to the occasion the attributes Of
national celebration"
These Mr. SoerJy most sphdtealy pronounces merest
fd6ricaoas, The most tororn epcd9en having their origin
only IN the Secretarys fruitful imagination.
Mr.. Somerby much regrets that the American Secreta
of the American Legation should have far forgotten
the respect due to his Office TO stain, with
Of language and bad temper--both beneath criticism
his extraordinary diplomatic circular His country yet
claims interest in the character of that Office which,
had the Secretary calmly considered he might have
meraton the reading his strange TRADE must naturally
excite.
| LONDON, MoRLEy's HOTEL Nov. 11Tn, 1854.
The idea of obtaining portraits Of the Queen and Prince
Albert from the palace originated with Mr. Somerby and
when he communicated it to me understood that COL
Lawrence had written private note COL Phipps ask
ing if such application would be likely to be
| full. With the impression my mind that such note
had been SENT although COL Lawrence did not write till
the following day,) and meeting few hours after with
gentleman Of great influence at the palace, mentioned
the subject to him. and have to believe that the
Queen had been made acquainted with wishes
before Col Lawrences reached COL Phipps; and to
that circumstance may be attributed the promptness with
which they sent The following Of letter
from high authority in reply to note from
panyng the return of the pictures places beyond doubt
the feelings of the Queen with regard to the matter
Her Majesty constantly receives spontaneous marks
of respect and Consideration from citizens of the United
States that feel certain that her Majesty glad
have this opportunity Of personally showing her good will
towards meeting of American gentlemen.
i g BucKISGHAM PALACE, July 10, 1854"
If what have said is sufficient satisfy the public
that the proceedings the occasion Of the dinner
all that the devoted friend Of his country could de-
SIRE and that my letter to the Boston POST was truth
full in every respect trust that the following letter from
the Hon. Judge UpHAM, United States Commissioner,
in London together with the confederation Of large
number of Americans who present at the dinner
on the Attn July, win be conclusive
! 50 ALBEMAaLE STREET, LONDON,
/ SEPTEMBER 81, 1854.
DEAR SIR: friend Of yours has enclosed to acopy
- mI1A&n ol,t 20 <b.