The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-21
INDEPENDENCE DAY In LONDON.
: The Celebration or che Fourth 81 July In
London.

The Celebration or che Fourth OF Saiy In
London.
OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.
LoSDos, July 8. 1854.
The morning dawned bright and serene; the
somhre city, with its world Of dngy dwellings
and massive palaces, seemed, for once. to
have cast of its gloomy mantle of murky
fog, and, like New England sky hung out soft
and clear to arch the festive scene beneath; the
armament was bright and sparkling. London. with
its wilderness of habtations, seemed waking from
refreshing sleep, bright with freshness to welcome
that day which, 80 forcibly to an American abroad.
recaliss the associations Of home-makes him love
bis oountr, more. No booming cannon Numbered
through the air-no bells rdng their merry peais--
no playing, laughing, frocking, fre-crackering
musical strains, nor giddy sports, broke the quiet
repose of this wilderness city as the mellow glim-
mering Of the Fourth of July dawned upon it.
Nofreman, with his favorte machine, was seen
throwing water high in sr-no floral procession to
attract admiring crowds--no thoughts Of long pro-
cessions municipality mustered, were there to denote
the day-aothing. save the .amplighter shutting OF
his lights and the heavy tread Of q muddling po-
Eceman, disturbed the monotony of the scene. But
the day was ushered forth with the vivid reoolec-
zion Of all these things1 fresh in evory American
mind, beating high In the emotions Of every Anne
ricsn heart.
For weeks the Americans in London had talked
OF the coming Fourth, Of project for celebrating
IL, OF all the happy things that would be said to
make Americans more social fellows. One said It
must be grand ball at vauxhal; another said that
would not be just the thing; and third said din
ner and speeches were the only things through
which the glorious Fourth could be celebrated All
1his ended with much talk and little cider, few
copper conscience gentlemen shaking their heads
with the ominous words" Twill cost too much ~
There was however, ne failing reserve in store;
and It was said every son Of man born on Yankee
soil, who could be found in London, rich or poor,
high or low, would be afforded an opportunity of
celebrating the Fourth in o munifcent style. A
few days more and the rumor proved TO be founded
in fact for even we, In the humble lodgings Of
marrow street, at three and six pence week, four
pence for rush light, and six pence for bowling to
the pretty maid every time she opens the door,
received o monster card, in an ominous envelope,
sealed with the veritable blue eagle all smothered
with stars, upon which Mr.. George Peabody said
he requested the honor Of Mr.. Ben Brigham's COM
pany at dinner on Tuesday, the Fourth Of July, at
Eve O'Clock, at the " Ster and Carter" Richmond.
II was not long before we found any amount OF Gu
rious sons Of the other side Of the water exulting
over the same kind Of invitation, and the antici-
pated pleasures Of the day. How many were going
10 be there who were going to be there what
where the toasts TO bel how, or in what order Of
Succession were they, to be given and who were
every inq uisitive son who held an invitation. 1t
would seem that every man imagined himself the
very person marked out BY the generous host as
the object upon whom to level his compliments and
expect speech in return. In truth, so strong was
this impression that, few days previous to the
Fourth. son Of Arkansas
But the day, as we have before said, was ushered
In bright and serene The propitious prospect was,
however. soon dspelled by the gathering of murkey
clouds, which began to shed SPOT and drizzle rain
on every thing beneath. With shutting and opening
prospects Of rain and sunshine, we we're disap-
pointed one hour and encouraged Git rained right
down at intervals rs only LYNDON rains CAM the
windows above shut up and drew back the curtains.
Just then Old SOL il his face had been frightened
expressly for shining on the Fourth bazed out Great
was the joy. We smoi hered ourself In our Sunday
fxings bol,ed out Of the huose, through the dirty
street. to Hungerford bridge, where we paid our
copper cash, and bridgeda It in search of the Wa
terioo station. We arrived safe, aud found ga
theriog OF free and easy citizens we at once recog
nized 70 be Americans To remain in company
and listen to the quaint remarks of ones fellow
citizens is extremely instructive. II yrs particu
larry so on the present occasion. They didn't re-
cognise Us; and so we moiestly and modify paced
Che platform, atiDg the time for starting. We
heaIo the fat-faced New York general discuss with
pointed emphasis, the muddled policy of Mr.. Pierce's
the advantages to the South of the annexation of
Cuba the shrewdlooking railroad president from
Ohio exut over his In negotiating his bonds
and sending home half million; and we heard tie
colonel from South Carolina, who crossed aud re-
crossed our steps, put word in now and then,
which sounl ed very large. And too, there was
the scho olmaster from Connecticut, most learned;
and with bright, shioing speectacles n gold frames,
covering his eyes, peering with knowledge, his wise
savings mingled strangely with the railroad and
political jargun. And there was tine stiff, staid
3houghtfukiooking man from Massachusetts,, with
coat 30 nicely cut psntaloons Of smoothest
q arrange contrast between his careworn face and
that Of the colonel from South Carolina Presently
q leanfaced gentleman, his features extremely
sharp presented himself, saluted the railroad gen.
tleman from Ohio, and inqured-somewhrt dis
committing the gehtleman-if he had seen the very
nice things he had said Of him in the Pennsylvania
pApen? The gentleman only replied with blush.
The eignal being given for starting. the gentle
men made rush for the first class cars the gentle
man from Arkansas, nearly out OF breath showing
his long frame into the door just as they were
moving Oh. In the cars, onward bounding, we
Thought the ears Of one or two English gentlemen
must have been peculiarly edited at the mary
wonders IN our own country, so glowingly set forth
by the General from New York and the school
master from Connecticut, who were continually
wondering what the English would say II they were
to zee them.
ON arriving at Richmsud we soon found oar.
selves jamned into the narrow space Of an English
omnibus, rolling away for the Star and Garter, with
the gentleman from Arkansas at our side, ntmatiug
dhat be would Ike to be introduced TO the company.
Arrived at the house, mild rain still drilling we
found our way to the reception rooms, introduced
Che gentleman from Arkansas TO Mr.. Peabody, and
had the extremepeasure Of hearing him regret that
that gentleman did not introduce him to all con.
fspicucus persons present. Some hundred and sixty
eeotlement high, low, rch and poor, With sprtok'