Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-02
EnthusiastIc Reception of Henry Ward
Beecher in England

EnthusiastIc Reception of Henry Ward
Beecher in England.
Mr.. Beecher, who has made public ad-
dresses in several places in England on
American affairs, seems to have produced
g most profound impression. He has been
received with great enthusiasm, and lis
tened to with most absorbed and delighted
attention by thousands Of the people, and
yet sll his meetings have been disgrace
fully disturbed by Southern ROwdies, now
residents in England, and those who sym
pathize with them. In these trying scenes
Mr.. Beecher bore himself with great calm
ness and self-pOssessiOn, turning the tables
completely upon the coarse, vulgar and
malignant disturbers Of the meetings. At
some points riots were anticipated, but the
coWardly rebel sympathizers were vastly
tn the minority, and their venom msnifes-
tel itself in loud and bOisterous disturbsn-
oes, flling short Of positive, riOtous vio-
lenoe. Cqder all these disadvantages, Mr.
Beeehers Prformances displayed all his
usual eharaee.-iItics Of wit, pungency,
force, eloquence I'D argument. It is as
serted by correspohlents that his ad-
dresses cannot fail gretly to enligbteu
and influence for good, the .ublio mind of
England on American affairs. The Inn
don Times of course assails him, b. vba,
does it think Of the rOwdyism in Amer.s
which it is so fond of portraying, as com
Parvd--iIh Inhn Balls rOwdyism as ex-
hibited in Mr.. Beecher's meetings2 We
have already given some account of Mr.
Beecher's meeting in Manchester, but the
following private letter in addition, which
ispublished in the New York Independent,
80 vividly portrays the effect produced
that it will be read with great interest:
LIVERPOOL, Oct. 10, 1868.
Mr.. Beeeher fairly astonished the ns-
tiVes in Manchester last night. I have
never seen an audience so completely car
ried away, 90 uproriously enthusiastic.
The meeting was held in Free Trade Hall
which will hold 1000, and was packed to
oVerfowing. Southern sympsthizers had
made desperate efforts to prevent 1t. The
Mayor had been appealed to, and assured
that riot and bloodshed would occur if the
meeting were to be permitted; and, as
last resort plscards we're posted about the
streets, warning the people Of the danger,
and advising all TO keep away.
The result was as | have stated-a
splendid audience Of 1000 persons, in
which, however, at the far end Of the gal
lery, were packed about hundred South
eFn roWdics, and their interruptions did
good, by giving Mr.. Beecher breathing
time, and showing to the people the quail
ity Of the opposition.
When the meeting broke up there was a
perfect rush for the plsttorm-the women,
(God bless them y seemed perfectly wild
to grasp Mr.. Beecher's hand, and believe
some Of them actually climbed over the
mems heads to get on the platform. As it
WAS evident that if he remained he would
be shaken to pieces, few strong men
grasped him and carried him bodily of the
stage, but in doing this they had to pass
under part Of the gallery, and in an in
slant shouts we're raised, "Pass him up
here"-HIfs our turn now" ETC., etc.
Some jumped over to the outside, and
AooSAAA6 uoWu1 AlGAttECu " get buhke1
others reached their umbrellas and took
their shake through them. He was got off
st last and into the Committee room,
which was instantly filled and the door
fastened After a while we got of in a
cab, amidst the hearty cheering Of the
crowd outside.
80 passed of Mr.. Beechers first public
appearance in England. His speech was
q perfect suooess-he was himself; and I
could see he felt that his audience was
with him. He looked splendidly-the old
IRE, the old esrnestness, and bursts
enthusiasm, were all there. Nor was 1t
the worst part Of the meeting to hesr the
remarks around us when he made his ap-
pearsnce-'splendid looking felloRD-
She's not man to be put down here to-
night"-"young, amt he 2"-aabout forty"
--"oh, not 50 old as that" etc., etc, etc.
A secessionist sat on the seat with MS, and,
daring the lecture, was disposed to make
some talk, u1til lady in front turned