The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-30
Our London Correspondence.

Our London Correspondence.
LONDON April IL, 1854
English Courtesy Ezemplfod al the Dinner Of the Lon
don theatrical Fund Socidy-Disrespeful Treatment Of
the Secretary Of the american Le0ation-yhech q ID
Dickens Of English Manners.
It is many years since Mr. Charles Dickens gen.
tleman Of acknowledged genius visited the United States
and received with every attention 1t in the
Of hospitabe people to bestow. Mstaking the kind
enthusiastic people, who prone to welcome
strangers with warmth Of feeling they cannot under
stand he repaid IL with the worst of ingrattude he
prostrated the nober traits Of genius for the gains de-
rived from the sale of few more sixpenny books.
Throughout the country there little that pleased
him-ttle that he could speak well of-little that he
could not exaggerate and turn into dcule of which
gave pound for every drachm of truth At hotels men
made themselves intolerable bores and he being little
lon-greatly magnfed within himseK-was overwhelmed
by their Stories their rude remarks their want OF civ
y-the absence Of everything genemany. He descend
into the lowest rudes and toughest grades Of Amer
can society, drawing forth the mental, clothing him
in the lowest and most vulgar slang and presenting
him to his countrymen as true specimen Of the
American gentleman. With him Americans were all
Courmondes and addicted to other habits equally
pernicous. We have ever viewed Mr.. Dickens vulgar
trade with which he repaid kindness, in the most
lenient light attrbutng to vanity what properly
belonged
lberalminded OF Englshmen entertained friendly feel
ings toward America, have forgotten prejudices,
charged them to want of information nstitu-
TONS and endeavorea to cultivate better understand
ing Yet, notwithstanding this, constrained to
say Mr. Dickens, in representing American character
must have drawn his models from home and pawned
upon his counrymen specimens Of their rudeness
for the genuine American commodity. We never were
favorably struck with this fact than last Mon
day night, at dinner given by the Theatrical Fund
Society, at the London Tavern.
Given simultaneously with the Dramatic Fund dinner
in New York; dinner at which every respect is extend
ed to Misunderstanding grand was anticipated.
our Consul and Nj welsh, were Invited guests and Il
being suggested that appropriate toasts would be gven
Mr. sckes according to invitation was prepared to re-
spond Ascending to the dining room, few minutes
after the chair had been taken Sckes in company with
another American inquired Of person at the door,
him, or inform him where the seats Of the American
Consul and Secretary of legation were located Youn
''Where we End one OF the stewardsf' Mr. Sickes
inquired.
pass in; l don't doubt you'll find soats'
They passed in, when the rivalry of spoons was so
great that every man seemed contending for wager
Tho Stewards in their hurry to get their moneys worth,
ching their soup, heads down. spoons plying
as by steam power, and servants running riot in fear
the top his his plate Here they stood for
several minutes, unable TO set the notice Of steward
I waiter-anybod Ihes saw no alternative but to with
draw; finally they about to do Mr. Sickles
recognized Old Chrpendale sitting at OF the tables,
and begged that his friend would inquire Of him what
provision had been made for seats After penetrating
through crowd Of walters he reached Chippendale and
was that seats had been provided at the extreme
courtesy this evident Interpretation Chppendale him.
self had demonstrated against it-they found their
Of the ROOM where the wind, sweeping up the passage
and through the door, WAS extremely chilling AZ if this
in the following rotation" Adams, Esq., Sanders
Esq, American Consult a. Walsh, Esq, Secretary
American Nj. sas.. E h.ms sss
the extreme foot Fortunately, neither Mr.. Sanders
Mr. Walsh were present, and it quite evident
as private citizen the coarseness Of the procedure
would not have ranked deep in his feelings. Never
theless he maintained the dignity and GOODNESS Of gen.
tleman, determined not to return disrespect for the
want OF courtesy he had received at their hands. Re-
to the Queen cheered with the rest remained standing
while the national anthem being sung, "a singular
contrast to the conduct Of Mr. Champion at Washington
and with his friends, retired as 1t con-
cluded.
1t is due to Mr. Sckles to say that since he has been
most friendly feelings with the middle classes and al
though he has with an Amercanisn it would be well for
others to follow abstaned from toadyng the
cracy, has, with this single exceptontho Dramatic
Fund Assocation-been received with tho highest re-
Pect wherever he has Some of his speeches have
been decidedly American but they reported be-
they were not made at festivals given by the ars
tocracy
Now, this Dramatic Fund dinner was presided over
4
many leading literary characters present. But we
have supped on the cold shores Of Greenland,
ron, and dned In the backwoods of Georgia,
and never in our organizations have we seen
& ' te such
should not be got and such want Of common dccency at
common table person opposite us, as II astonshed at
have champagne, too How many glasses have
waitersand seizing the bottle from his hand filed
glasses fearing he should not get another rs kept firm
bOtte-despatchel Qlass--fed aQai
then passed the bottle across the table, sayingYou
Sa Q, soms ., this OF not get drop
himself here" Not responding to his rudeness he with
dew the bottle and putting another glass at his dis
osal passed ii to friend at his right Another got his
late full of fish, which he had been from time to time
cking up ard finding that the ready in which
he piled Knife and fork attracted observation he turned
To waiter, who had to inqu if he wanted an
eher supply, and empiied nearly half Of that upon his
late back on that in the walters hand Presently
lnn specimen OF an Englishman representing himself
he landlord came along apologzng for position
| he foot of the table, and in the draft of the
door. He consoled us by saying we must get along
this timc-there more than he expected present
that things would be very different the next time We
come. Another thirsty individual while one OF the
walters carrying Off the half empty glasses in his
dredge, seized one Of them, set it before him for
waiter In vain telling the man Il was eay
ings An individual sitting not far from when the
rose water came roun not content with using it for his
most disgusting manner, used his napkin for "wipe"
applying it to his nose These exaggera-
uon neIe were even worse anu more vulgar proceedings
proceedings that would have disgraced the back woods
of South Carolina; but forbear TO give them hoping
IL will be misfortune witness them again
An Engshman left who informed us that he had
been in New York. begged that would not take what
as q specimen Of proceedings at public dinners
generally. Unlike him, however, the only individual at
Mr.. scke's right and who every few minutes took oc-
cason to he OF the wards yet had
power TO act would inquire what would like TO be
helped TO- order the waiter 10 bring It, and when
grasp the dish like bird of prey shelp himself bounti
fry, then pass TO US, saying would be find
il very good
In the same manner, that after inviting Mr.. Sckles,
the Secretary of legation seat provided for him,
except at the foot OF the table, toast was proposed TO
the President OF the United States In this douhy
fortunate that Mr. sckes withdrew in proper time We
are informed that Mr. Corbyn Of New York responded to
the toast Of the American Dramatic Association APP
pIortiate speech.
At the Iramatic Fund Dinner in New York there has