The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-02


II is curious to see how rapidly, and yet how
impercep6bly, this country is being Anglicised,
and no less curious to observe how strenuOusly
the natives persist in believing that they are
building up state of society peculiarly and
distinctively American. am inclined to be-
lieve that the points of difference between the
United States and the mother country are not
only yearly decreasing, but are in reality less
to-day in number and magnitude than before
the Revolution. The old feeling of political
hostility, which in reality has been for years the
enly barrier between them, is gradually dying
out, and they are now flying together as if by
the mere force of sympathy. OF course, it is
impossible to demonstrate automatically the
existence Of a movement of this sort but 1t is
by no means difficult to detect numerous very
trustworthy indications of it, in manners litera-
ture and pursuits. English newspapers were
never so much read as they are now, and Eng
fish news never so extensively copied by the
daily press here Two or three London week
lies have now large circulation in the States
All the reviews and monthies have a wide and in
creasng circulation. Punch is in everybody's
hands, and is keenly relshed. English society,
English social, religious and philanthrOpic move
mentS are watched with the closest interest. The
leading incidents of them all are discussed in
the newspapers with az much assiduity, and in
pretty much the same tone, as if they were
home topics. OF late years, a taste for agrcul
tural shows has been springing up, which is
certainly of British origin. Every year there is
now a monster horse show, TO which the best
bloodS from all parts of the country are brought,
and which is followed by dinner and speeches
in regular Bnckinghamshire style. All through
the country there are now large farms held and
worked by wealthy amateurs, stocked with
choice breeds of cattle imported from England,
and cultivated with almost as much enthusiasm
as Tiptree. The colleges have taken to boat
ing with as much zest as either Oxford or
Cambridge; and Yale and Harvard, the two
leading universities of New England, now have
their clubs and matches every year. More than
this, there is a rage springing up for base ball
and cricket, and foot-ball-sports almost I'M
known a few years ago. Cricket, especially, has
this summer been quite in vogue. With a lit
tie multiplication of the wealthy and leisurely
class, | shall not be surprised to see fox-huntng
one of the fashionable amusements. Perhaps
no portion of the public inclines so strongly
England-ward as the religious public, which
here enjoys an Influence that is far from falling
to its lot in the Old World. The religious press
in particular is intensely British and all pulpit
illusions to England are as fattering as the
most { Bush of her sons could desire
heard a sermon in an Episcopahan church,
about sixty miles up the Hudson, two weeks ago,
in the centre of an old and somewhat aristocratic
neighborhOod the scene of many of the stirring
episodes of the Revolution, which was simply a
long panegyric on England and her institutions,
and fervidly exhorted the congregation to closer
| religious fellowship with her. A visit paid by
Mr.. Charming, ofLiverpOol-a nephew ofthe late
William Ellery Charming, and now the success
sor of Mr.. Martineau in the Unitarian church
a..
| demonstration on the part of the Unitarian
| clergy of much of the same sort. A meeting
was held ON Sunday evening" at which the lead
ing Unitarian ministers were present, and Mr.
| Claiming was charged with enough kind mes
sages for the British Lion, TO keep that furious
| animal in tender mood for years to come. 1t
| is rather amusing to witness the desperate eff
| forts of the Russian and French party here to
| fight against influences of this sort 1t is quite
evident that rs long as they are at work, it mat
tiers little what treaties made by diplomatists.
Blair's defeat in Missouri, which, as | told YOU
| some weeks ago, was looked on as a heavy blow
by the Free Soil party, is likely TO prove at least
a moral victory, after all Mr.. Blair is about 10
contest his opponents return, and is, it is said,
| IN possession of proofs of aud on a monstrOus
| scale, perpetrated by the Administration and its
agents. . Astounding disclosures. seriously
duplicating the Government, are promised, and
| We are all on the tiptOe of expectation
| The contest in Illinois still rages with undi-
minished fury. Douglas is lighting the battle
! with intense bitterness. The fact is, he has
everything at stake, inasmuch as if he loses his
| seat IN the Senate, his chances of nomination
| TOR the Presidency at the next Democratic Con
| ventlon are gone. If Illinois were to return
/ hlm, considering the amount of popularity he
| scraped up at the North by his opposition to
the Lecoumpton bill last winter, bus prospects
| would perhaps be better than those of any man
4 in the Democratic ranks but his position is
dangerous III the extreme
Seward IS the man most spoken ofalreaty as
| the Republican nominee in the next cam.
| paign," and there is not much doubt that he
/ will be pitched upon. 1t would be hard 10 tbink
/ of man in the North who better represents II
| both in its strong and weak points He is self
/ made--has risen from very humble position
| by dint of hard work and selfdenial. He is 3
| great constitutional lawyer, an able and astute
/ politician chsste and vigorous orator, and has
/ great popularity is all the more remarkable and
| more creditable from the fact that his manner
| as well as his temperament are cold, and that
| he has hardly one of the oratorieal qualities
| which bring down the applause of popular
audience. lie has all his life long been sin
cere, consistent, and vigorous opponent Of Sla
very lie began the battle when he stood almost
alone IN Congress. Now he numbers his fol
lowers by the hundred. There is no public
man whose antecedents are more honorable
ana whose great talents have been used so wise
| iy anGf so well. His only great blunder was in
joining IA the British outrage" uproar last
spring. 1t chagrined many of his best friends