The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-06
English Domsstie Hi.h LIfe.

Ao8uDu UOm00tlG HIRD Life.
The following pleasant picture Of domestic III
smong the English nobility 10 given by an Officer
OF the United States steam frigase Merrimac Itia
contained In . letter written at Southampton
October Ssh, and appears In the Wilmington CN
CO. Journal:
We have been visited great deal here escpsci
ally BY navy men. and have created something Of
an excitement in the naval world judsins by the
pieces in tho papers. Much attention has been
paid as ashore, too. especially by two families-
one that of an old East India General the other
that of Lord Hardwicke General Frazier has
passed most Of his life in India, but now lives in
ease and comfort on the Southampton water. At
dinner at his bouse We had an opportunity ct
seeing how the aristocracy here live. Lord Hard
wicke and family, and several other guests were
there to meet rs, and everything was in splendid
style One turbaned Indian, with several other ser
wants, waited at table. The plate was superb. and
the dinner the most recherche. We sat down to the
table at halfpast seven. These are always epaulet
and sword ocea sions
Lord Harduicke's family consists of his countess,
his eldest son, (about ls or 20, and Lord Royston
by courtesy) three of the finest looking daughters
you ever saw, and several younger sons. The
daughters-LadyE Elizabeth, Lady Mary and Lady
AgDita-are surprisingly beautiful; such develop
ment, such rosy cheeks laughing eyes and unaf
iessed manners you rarely see c,mbined They
take great deal of ont door exercise, and come
aboard the Merrimac in heavy rain, with Irish
thicker soled shoes than you or / ever wore, and
cloaks and dresses almost impervious to wet-
They steer their fathers yacht, walk the Lord
knows how many miles, and don't care cent
about rain besides ooing a host of othes things
that would shock our ladies to death; and yet in
the parlor are the most elegant looking women in
their satin shoes and diamonds ever saw.
The countess in her coronet of Jewels Is An ele-
giant lady, and looks like fit mother for three such
women. His lordship has given US three or four
dinners. He lives here merely during the Yachting
season and leaves on Friday for his country seat
at Cambridge, where he spends his winter, as do
AL English gentlemen of means, hunting, &c, and
when Parliament is in session he lives in London
in bis town house Here he has host of servants,
and they wear the gaudiest lievery-white coats
with big silver buttons, white crava.s, plush knee
breeches and vest, white silk stockings and low
shoes Lord Hardwicke's brother is Dean of York.
high church dignitary; has two pretty daughters.
and ia himself jolly gentleman.
After dinner the ladies play and sing for as,
and the other night they got up = game of blind
mans buff, in which the ladies said we had the
advantage, inasmuch as their 'petticoats rustled
SO that they were easily caught" They call things
by their names here. In the course of the game
Lord Hardwicke himself was blindfolded and
trying to catch some one, fell over his daughters
lap on the hoor, when two three of the girls
caught him by the legs and dragged his lordship,
roaring with laughter, as we all were, on bis back
into the middle of the floor Yet they are perfectly
respectful, but appear on a perfect equality with
each other In fact the English are great people.
Two clubs here have offered the free use of ther
rooms.