Washington sentinel., 1854-07-25

As State rights measure, we regard this
bill as Of transcendent importance.
THE GREAT MIR. GEORGE PEABODY
AND HIS GREAT FOURTH OF JULY
DINNER.
Mr. George Peabody, the American banker,
resident in London, has perfect right to give
dinners when and where he pleases. He is a
very rich man, and enjoys what he no doubt
esteems very high privilege inter
course with the titled and untitled aristocracy
of England. His magnificent entertainments
are garnished with plate Of silver and gold,
and enjoyed by the highest lords and ladies'.
However, we have nothing to do with Mr..
George Peabodys private dinners.
But when he gives a public dinner on the
Fourth Of July--a patriotic dinner-a dinner
in honor, not Of the Kings, Queens, and the old
monarchies Of Europe, but Of American inde-
pendence, and has the proceedings of the occa-
sion pompously paraded in the newspapers, we
cannot be charged with invading his privacy,
if we shall think ft to make it the subject of
comment.
The dinner to which we refer was given at
the Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond. His COM
pany consisted of one hundred and sixty Amer
leans and several English gentlemen Of distimc-
tion "Among the decorations of the hall, "
says the Liverpool Journal, 1were portraits
of the Queen, Washington, and Prince AL
bert. The compliment paid to our transat-
lantic brethren by her majesty, in directing
that the portraits, by Winterhalter, of herself
and her royal consort, should be taken from
the throne-room and conveyed to Richmond,
was evidently appreciated by all present. The
dinner was sumptuous. Upon the removal of
the cloth, an international song, written for the
occasion by Mrs. J. R. Peabody, was sung and
received with loud applause. The passing of
two loving cups Zone English the other of
American oak, grown on the ancestral domain
Of Mr.. Peabody, in America) was the prelude
to the regular toasts.
@Mr. Peabody proposed the first toast, The
day we celebrate which was heartily re-
sponded to.
aMr. Peabody, again rising, said, placed as he
had been, he had many times felt qualification
in having the honor of proposing the health of
her majesty the queen. Pointing to the por-
traits of her majesty and Prince Albert, Mr..
Peabody related the kind manner in which her
majesty, ordering them from the throne-room,
had placed them at their disposal. He de-
scribed the happy blending of cordial senti-.
ments, so graciously and literally sanctioned
by her majesty.
"The announcement produced deafening
burst of applause, the band playing God save
the Queen. When the music had ceased,
three cheers were given for Prince Albert.
Some enthusiastic American proposed one
more, which was responded to with hearty good
will.
asThe President of the United States was
the next toast proposed. This was drunk with
nine cheers given with great eclat, one or two
American gentlemen, however, we're rather
slow to rise.
"'The memory of Washington was proposed
by Sir James Emerson Tennet who made on
the occasion some excellent remarks"
1t is simply absurd to invite Englishmen to
dinner party in England, gotten up in honor
Of the anniversary of American independence
1t would have been, if we can imagine such
thing, just as proper for the old ITaelites
to have invited the Egyptians to unite with
them in commemorating the exodus and the
destruction Of the Egyptian hosts in the Red
sea. However, if Englislnen are good-natured
enough to take part insuch celebrations, we
viii not undertake to casure them. But the
American who invites thsm does very foolish
thing. They are his guess. If a polite man,
he would desire to suppress every thing that
would offend their feelings Mr.. Peabody in.
vited them, and Mr.. Peabody, we are informed,
did do every thing to saw their wounded feel
ings. He even maimed the "Star Spangled
Banner and Hail Columbia" by cutting or
leaving out all unpleasant or Objectionable al
lusions to England
The first personal toast drunk on this occa-
sion, was not to Washington, not to Jefferson,
the author of the Declaration of Independence,
not to the Chief Magistrate of the United
States, but to the Queen Of England. Neither
the good, gentle, and amisble Queen, nor heI
subjects present at the dinner, were responsible
for this. 1t was Mr.. Peabody's own act. II il
not wonderful that the American gentlemen
present were offended at il. Mr.. George Pea
body, though very wealthy banker, yer.
good aristocrat, and capital toady, is not made
of the stuff that American patriots are, his os
tentatious professions to the contrary notwith
standing. He surrendered to England tn
honors due to the anniversary of bis country
independence. He completely emasculated tn
. 4th Of July. His gratitude TO the Queen fc
the loan of her royal picture with which I
garnish his hall, oyercame his patriotism; an
the remembrance Of the sages and heroes
tbc rcvolufion was lost in scrv,ltv IN tho Ouoe,