Gazette and sentinel., 1860-10-20
Baron Renfrew in Richmond.

--'r '-'aA ~ ~ y " ~ -
mond was not without peculiar pleasure
to that large class of poor, weak hum
anity that fawn upon and pay unbccom.
ing court To place and power Rich
mond, though the capital of the proud
old Commonwealth of Virginia, has
many citizens who, with no proper self
respect, have little American pride.
Baron Rcnfrcw's visit was in no pub
lie capacity whatever. For his private
: pleasure and instruction he has very
properly visited the United States, and
extended his visit through the three
great scctions-WcSt, South and North.
lie wanted no public reception, and de-
cent politcncss demanded that his wish
cs should have been complied with.
Every man has full and complete power
to make a fool of himself; but we deny
any mans right to bring contempt and
ridiculc upon his country. Still more
do W. condemn that impious and irrev-
crcnt curios ty that filled the House of
God on Sunday, with a gazing, inatten-
tive crowd. \ man-worShip which pays
unbcceming homage 70 the representa-
tive of a foreign power, at the cost of
disrespcct to the symbols of the Holy
Sacrament, is neither becoming to man,
nor respectful to God. The particular
crowd tnat gathered in st. Paul's church
Sunday morning, could not have been
collected by any Divine, however sacred
his character, or great his intellectual
abilities. People, to whom Episcnpacy
is an offence, hockcd to gaze upon a
bcardicss boy, who has, as yet, exhibited
no talents whatever. The prospective
head Of English Ep~iscopacy, receiving
the homage Of American EpiscopalianS,
Prcsbytcrians. Baptist, Methodist, Cath
oiicS, Jews, and that larger portion of
the people who belong to no sect, was
neither in proper keeping with our re-
ligious OF political principle.
Il had the pleasure of shaking hands
with the princc"-was announced 10y
an individual. on the steps Of st. PauIs
Church, on sunday, with as much self
satisfaction as if something really noble
had been donc-thc poor fellow never
one reflected that what had given him
so much pleasure" may have given the
Baron no little contempt for him. The
pleasure Of shaking hands is altogether
relative and dependent upon being mu-
tual. u it gave no pleasure to the Ba-
ron, we cannot conceive what pleasure
it should give to him who had seized
his hand. If, to shake his unwilling
hand, gave pleasure, to have kissed his
foot should have given more.
The rapidity Of the Baron's movements
was not the least singular part of the
whole proceeding. The Dispatch says:
Leaning upon the arm of the Mayor, the
royal visitor was conducted rapidly to q bar.
ouche in waiting his suit as rapidly followed,
and took seats in the carriages designated.
The movement was executed so quickly, that
few persons could discern the features Of the
Prince or any Of his party. All the specta-
tors could boast OF, was having seen a Young
gentleman in a light oyerssck and white hat,
whom they took to be Baron Renfrew, pass
hastily by in the twilight, and with many ex
pressiOnS of disappointment they retraced
their steps to the CITY,"
In fact the whole thing looked like q
silly race-asr though the Baron was
badly scared, and flying from the eager
crowd of negroes and boys who shouted
around his carriage wheels-at this we
arc not surprised if the Baron directed
it, for the young man had doubtless
never seen anything like it until he ar
rived in America. English people, who
are daily accustomed to royalty, pay
their homage and respect by q polite
Difference to its wishes o~btruding moth
ing upon.i its privacy. 1t was new, even
for Americans, who, pretending a cor
tempt for all distinctions between man
and man, protesting and proclaiming
equality, to debase themselves before
the Baron in a manner his own subjects
would have shrunk from.
But, the worst part in this ridiculous
farce, was the pointed disrespect to the
house Of God, ON the part of the organ
list, in playing "God save the Queen"
in the midst of the communion service.
The canons of the church say-"And
especially it shall be his (the Minister'sl
duty to suppress all light and unseemly
music, and all indecency and ~irreverence
III the performance, by which vain and
ungodiy persons profane the service of
the sanctuary"
The Rector of the Church, we believe,
it been in his power, would have
instantly suppressed the ''irreverence."
If God Save the Queen" was due to
he Baron, "Old Virginney Never Tire
ihould have followed for the benefit of
he Mayor.-Riehmond Enquirer.