Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-10-22


America by an English COclSney Trav-
eler-"Hon." Grantley BerIeIey,s ReIa-
tion of his Experiences" in the United
States.
"Hon." Grantley Berkeley recently de-
livered lecture at Glasgow, and part of
what he said we take from the London Ne,cs
Of the 9Th, received by the arabia He
stated that he was not struck with admira-
tion at the buildings, and only saw one
large street-Broadway--but which did not
surpass in appearance Piccadilly in London
He saw no magnificent buildings, but a nua-
ber Of most gigantic hotels. There was one
custom in America which could not be too
much condemned, and that was the terrible
custom of splitting. Why the Americans
condescended to SO filthy habit, and made
such pig-styes of their places of resort, he
could not tell. Why the ladies' drssses.in
rdil'cdy carriages in America acre fire feet
high IN tobacco Juice. Laughter. He re-
lated of one lady who had newly furnished
her house, and who, being aware of the habit
ofspitting by the gentlemen, had taken care
to have spitting-dishes placed over her car
pet. There was one great shot in that line
Laughter erl-coming one evening she knew;
so, when he was in the room she kept push
ing about with her pretty little foot the
spittoon, that he might not spit on the car
pet. He looked, as he (Mr. Berkeley thought,
said, "If you don't take away that dish,
will spit in it." GLaughterl Which was
the very thing the lady wanted.
He (Mr. Berkeley found in New York that
the statements of Mr.. Golden and Mr.. Bright
were utterly in error. Instead of holding
up America as place for us to copy, as re.
garded its political state, it was in the great
est state Of political confusion and tyranny
that had ever come before him, and he ought
N IN Qf fha 1aNo
country, having represented in Parliament
the western division of Worcestershire for
twenty years. He had learned something of
coercion in this country, but he had never
witnessed such frightful coercion as he had
seen in the United States. He described the
kind of influence that was there exercised
by the lowest classes in controlling the polit-
ical elections. He granted that oppression
might be harsh in this country, but it was
nothing to the oppression of the mob in
America. The ballot there was curse to
America, instead of a boon, and gave no free
dom TO the exercise of the franchise.
What could be more serious than the fact
that the classes III America possessing wealth,
the upper classes of aristocracy, held them
selves aloof in dignified silence during these
elections, because they knew they were over
whelmed by the masses2 Messrs. Golden
and Bright knew they were not telling the
truth when they held up the American in
stitutions as an example for us. Mr.. Berke-
ley then referred to the reverence which the
Yankees exhibit toward titled rank, regard
ing him as great gentleman who is born to
title, even though he does not possess
wealth. No person travelling in America
was considered respectable unless he was ae-
companied by a "man in black" to introduce
him to the people among whom he came.
Mr.. Berkeley then described his Journey
to Philadelphia, achere ttoenty-four men aoere
raiting his dTriUdL on The raiIsvay platform
the news of his visit to the place having
preceded him-his journey across the Allie.
gheny Mountains, and his arrival at the CITY
Of st. Louis. He found the whole country
was watching him, because his arrival and
purpose in America had been heralded by
| the newspapers. When he reached st. Louis
he found he had not sufficient funds for his
requirements and he encountered Scotch
| gentleman whom he had never seen before
and who gave him authority to draw upon
his credit wherever he travelled in the States,
refusing to accept as security even his (Mr.
Berkeley's) signature, but merely telling him
to settle with him when he got home. He
then described his journey to Kansas City,
and his joining in that part of the country
other sportsmen on buffalo hunting excur-
sion. During the second day of their trav-
cling he kept a sharp lookout, expecting
to see some Of those mighty animals in their
own lair. On sudden one of the company
pulled up, and they soon came upon num-
ber Of bisons who appeared upon an emf
nence, in magnificent relief against the clear
blue sky. He should never forget the
grandeur Of the scene as he came up with
eleven of those animals. He was very lucky
that day, having killed one of them. Mr..
Berkeley described briefly the scenes and
character of the sport he enjoyed while
hunting the bisons on the prairies, and con-
cluded his lecture amid much applause.