Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-04-18
ORR LONDON LETTER.
LONDON, April 3, 1866.
To the Editor ef@e Wing:

I 10 the EQltOT " 6e p"'S
THE IMPENDING WAR.
The news from the Continent looks very
soually. The Emperor of the French has sent
his cousin, Prince NAPOLEON, with whom he
appears to have become reconciled, on con-
fidential mission to Victor EMANUEL, OF course
about the war between Austria and Prussia ;
but whether he advises him to strike for
Yenetia or warns him against it, noione can tell
Austria is prepared to act on the de-
fensive, and if there is a war Prussia must
begin it. Austria is in actual occupation ofthe
province which Prussia is determined to annex.
Austria protests against this annexation, as
does the rest of Germany, but Austria cannot
withdraw without dishonor. Still the matter
may be compromised or postponed.
AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF THE QUEEN TO Mr.. PEABODY.
The following graceful letter has been written
by the Queen to Mr.. PEABODY:
WINDSOR CASTLE, March %, 1866.
So The Queen hears that Mr.. PEABODY intends
shortly 10 return to America, and she would be sOry
that he should leave England without being assured
by herself how deeply she appreciates the noble act
of more than princey munifcence by which he has
I
her subjects residing in London. 1t is act as the
Queen believes, wholly without parallel, and which
will carry its best reward in the consciousness OF
having contributed largely to the assistance OF
those who can little help themselves The Queen
would not however have been satisfied without
giving Mr.. PEABODY some public mark of her sense
of his munifcence, and she would gladly have con-
ferred upon him either BarOnetcy or the Grand Cross
of the Order of the Bath but that she understands Mr.
| PEABODY TO feel himself debarred from accepting
L. fnrf ba
| Queen TO give Mr.. PEABODY this assurance of her
personal feelings, which she would further wish to
mark by asking him to accept miniature portrait oil
herself which She will desire to have painted for him,
and which, when finished can either be sent tOhim to
America or given TO him on the return which, she
oces to hear he medtates to the country that owes
| him so much"
| The London Times says It is to an American
that we are indebted for the greatest boon ever Civ
en- to the poor of London, and it TO citizen OF the
United States that the Queen has thought it right to
address this personal expression Of gratitude. We
cannot but believe that such an occurrence will have
/ no little influence in augmenting the good feeling
/ which should prevail between the two countries.
! Mr. PEABODY has done more to foster among us a
/ kindly feeling for his countrymen than could have
| been effected by generation of statesmen, and
the Queens letter will, we hope be received by the
Americans as a conspc nous evidence of the friendly
regard toward them which such acts have called
| forth on our part. Between no two countries are
|
land and America, and we trust that this story of
| munifcence and of gratitude may long be remem-
bered in both nations as a pledge of peace and
friendship"
THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.
The Easter holidays are observed here to an
extent unknown in the United States. Indeed
it may be said that the citizens of the Great
Republic know nothing ola holiday in the sense
implied by that term to the European. Since
Friday until this Tuesday morning there has
been no regular work in this city. From the
stock exchange to the green grocers' shop ev-
erything like business, which could be avoided,
has been. During the day time the parks and
other promenades have been crowded with the
middle and working classes, and at night the
thousand theatres, concert halls and picture
galleries of London have claimed their atten-
ton. 1t is really pleasing sight to witness
the enjoyment of the bone and sinew of the
land as one sees it at such season as this
The strong, sturdy laborer and the brawny ar
tizan, in their best clothes, and, where they
have such belongings, invariably accompanied
by the females and children, enjoying them
selves in the beautiful grounds which provi-
dent nation has supplied for their amusement
and recreation. Here they roam at will, watch
ing their little ones trundle their hoops, play at
ball, tip, cat or anything else they please or
roll on the soft, green turf, unrestricted by
notices TO "keep off the grass or "not to sleep
on the benches" The parks of London, as
we'll for their number and size as for the great
taste which has been lavished upon them, form
one of its greatest attractions, and its denizens
show how highly they are appreciated by the
vast numbers constantly visiting them. Then,
for Easter, all manner of excursions are gotten
up by railway and steamboat companies for
the benefit of those who wish to go to
the country, on which occasions the
fares are so reduced as to bring a trip
of fifty miles or more by rail and return
within the means of almost every one. An
other great attraction of this period is the an
nual review of portion of the volunteers at
Brighton. This, as you will see from the pa
pers of to-day, was unusually grand this year,
the citizen-soldiery being honored by the pres
ence of the Prince and Princess of Wales
ANOTHER ATTEMPT To FLOAT THE NoRTHUM-
BERLAND.
A third attempt was made on yesterday to
float the iron-clad Northumberland. Hydrau-
lie rams, battering rams, fifty horses pulling
on double purchases, fourteen steam tugs, a
steam capstan with a fifteen inch cable, and all
the barges, camels and casks which had been
made fast to the monster to increase fotation,
pushed, pulled, hammered and lifted in vain.
The ship remains exactly where she stopped
two weeks ago last Saturday. In about a
fortnight from now higher tide is looked for
than has occurred since the vessel has been in
her present awkward position, and another eff
fort will then be made to start her. If this in
turn should fail, then there will be nothing
for it but to shore up the ship securely, remove
the present ways and cradles, and construct
under her others of such form and such incli-
nation as will admit of the weight being moved
by the power which can be applied to it,
Meantime this great achievement in naval ar
chitecture remains in a very precarious situa-
ton. She might become utterly ruined by a
very slight cause. In the efforts which are
made and to be made to get her into the wa
ter, of course all props and supports along the
ships sides are of necessity removed, and she
is kept upright only by the cradles. A slight
inclination to the one side or the other, the
sinking of a pile or the crushing of a piece of
timber, might make wreck of the noble ship.
1t is not a case like the " Great Eastern"
which was launched from the same spot. She
was built broadside to the water and launched
sideways. Along her enormous side there was
surface and to spare upon which mechanical
means could be applied for forcing her along,
and thus she was pushed inch by inch until
gotten into the water. With the NOrthum-
berland, lying end on, with her bows reared
into the air, the case is very different.
LUsUs NATURE.
| A strange anatomical phenomenon is recorded