The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-11-13

Graphic Descriptions Of the Exeter
Hall Meeting.
dent. who heard Mr.. Beecher's great speecl
at Exeter Hall, London, says:
1t was evident, indeed, that the speaker
who knows thing or two about audiences
felt that the meeting was his. and that 30 IN
terrupsion would succeed. But many OF hii
friends had serious appehensions. One OF the
editors Of the Star, himself distinguished
speaker, and thourogbiy acquainted with
English audiences, who sat near TO me, whis
pered in my ear,-"There are great many
here who do not cheer; there is strong
chance for row yet. but the meeting Is IN
such condition that its result will depend
on the power and equanimisy of the speak
er." Then, 4" l replied, "you need not
fear" II Mr.. Beecber had heard our brief
whispers he could no. have more distinctly
appreciated the remark Of the editor Al
this moment, although be had been interest
ing all along. he Suddenly stepped one side
from the desk upon which bis notes lay, and
his face cleaned Ike a swoard leaping from
its scabbard. No more misses, no more
cheers. now for half an hour; the audience
is maguetized, breathless; when the first
pause came, Sir Somebody, sitting behind
me, said. "Wby, he looked at first like =
heavy man, but he's got wings" whilst a
reporter near our feet whispered audibly to
brother, "Oh, but he eau put things -
Mr.. Beecher forgot all things but his sub
iec.; his tongue burned with living Goals /;
his arm pointed like phophet's rod. The
shams Of our enemies in England-their
tas of peace when they mean every kind
of bloodshed except that which is for justice
the aspect Of lamb with the voice of a
dragon as St. John saw it their cant
about emancipation being not principle
with Mr.. Lincoln, bat only an expedient, as
If it would make liberty any less prise to
the slave and humanity if they got it-all
these collapsed palpably before The masses
then gathered, and all the fine points Of
Roebuck and Lindsay became tosds under
the touch of HE flame tipped spear
"This canno. go on" whispered clergy
man near. these strokes draw too much
blood; the victim is writhing 10 pain now :"
Again did Mr. Beecher level his lance it
was at those WHO where making capital out
of what they call American sympathy with
the oppressor of Poland" Nothing could
exceed the drollery with which, almost blush
ing, he presented the loving and jealous
maiden, who, when her suitor is not ate ntive
enough, gets up Irritation with some other
man. america frts with Russia. but has
her eye on England. - Then leaning
little forward. he put on an indescri badly
simple expression, and said mildly, "IMink
50 too. Ind now you knoao eractly hosc ne
fell tchen you -firted wiM Mason at he
Lord Mayors banquet" l cannot attempt
to describe the effect of these words on the
throng. The people arose with shout that
began to be applause, but became shout of
laughter. The hit was SO perfect and fell
citous that roars of hearty laughter told that
that topic was summed up forever. Three
loud groans given for the late Lord Mayor
his place is now filled with much better
man-ended that scene, and the drama
proceeded.
La the heat of Mr.. Beecher's Grafton
was given denunciaton of Slavery more
powerful than | have ever heard from his
lips. he scored and scourged it until it
seemed to stand before us hideous monster
bloated with human blood and writing UNI
der his goads. He told, apropos of those
who said, "Wby not let the South eoP'
The story Of Powell Buxton's Selling the
dog by the neck, and holding him with
brave grasp.
At this moment, colored man from the
South. known as Davis Drummer" on
account Of his having once belonged in jeff.
and having been drummer in the Confed-
crate army. stood up on his seat. which
was exactly in the center of the building, /
waved his hat and was vehemently sppIau-
ded. William Graft, we'll known here
since his victory over Mr.. Hunt, at the Ed. /
lnburg Congress, on the ethnology of the /
negro, with his wife, whose story (she hav-
ing travelled in the disguise of Southern
gentleman. her husband being her servant,
from the far south TO freedom) has made
her heroine In London, sat near Mr.. Bee.
cher on the platform, and they too, with I
other colored persons in the hall, arose and /
waved hats and handkerchiefs, the audience
cheering until the city outside seemed to be .
W aked up, for we heard a storm Of shouting
voices on every side of the building out
side
The crowd also caught sight of an old Z
lady (white) in the gallery who had huge
umbrella, which having expanded 10 its /
utmost dimensions. she waved to and fro /
like a mighty balloon, which had very
comical effect indeed. To this was added /
a ia, man, an excellent type of Johp Bull
as picture in Punch, who had laughed so
much at the droll portions OF Mr.. Beecher's
speech that he could laugh no more, SO he
could only cross his hands on his stomrch,
sway to and fro, and give vent to wheezes
and grunts, the death-rattle Of laughter.
These and many other incidents got
the audience at one time into highly
tickled state; and some of US remembered
a saying of Luther, that there was moth
ing that the devil hates SO much as q hearty
augh."
Mr.. Beecher. having sustained himself
throughout better than | had ever known
him 70 do Beforehand l am pretty familiar
With his grand success in our own country
having carried the meeting entirely, and
evoked the warnest expressions Of good
will to America-set down, leaving the
audience hungry. and shouting, "Go Oh,
20 on
correspondent OF the Eayening Post,