The New York herald., 1868-11-17
GREAT BRITAIN.
FROM eua LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

t"oM Vua SunuJH 1uanISTUuuChi
The English Earthquake-Curious Civic Cers.
monies--Tho New Lord Mayor--Prayius for
the President-rhe New Parliament and
Worisingmcn - Prospects OF the Coming
Eleetions-Engiand Halting and Hesitatinx.
LONDON, Nov. 8, 1858.
The London journals have at length been forced to
admit the accuracy OF the Information which sent
you last week in regard to the earthquake In Eng
land. They are generally about week behind the
HERALD. They now admit, however, that very sen.
sibe shocks were felt between ten and eleven O'Clock
last Friday night In Ireland, Wales the Isle OF Wight
and the western and midland counties OF England
The vibrations were strong enough to cause bed
steads to rock and crockery rattle and the waves
seemed to come from north to south. You will
remember that similar phenomena were OBJ
served here af1er the great earthquake st
Lisbon century ago, and undoubtedly these are the
distant results Of the tremendous shocks that have
desoated South America The immense tidal wave
at New Zealand came also from the same cause. The
London Times, after at first ignoring the earthquake
altogether, now goes to the opposite extreme and
in remarkable editorial, published yesterday, in.
forms us that England ''may be o dormant volcano,
as Vesuyius was till after the Augustan age;n that
we 'stand right over Of the great assures" and
that 'the neighborhood OF the internal fire con-
tributes much to the mildness OF our climate as
the Gulf Stream" The consequence OF this sensa-
t,on article is that the Times readers are suffering
from an earthquake panic, as foolish as panics
usually are and az unfounded.
Last week very curious old ceremony was per-
formed by the city authorities. BY solemn procla-
lnauon the tenants OF piece OF ground called "The
Moors' were ordered to come forth and do their SER
on behalf these Tenants anS oare cS
up one ,iaggot with hatchet and another
casa w1s ShoOs Forre The tenants Of place
counted SIX horseshoes and sixty-on nails in the
brancer, who gravey responded "Good number.n
These ceremonies seem very absurd but II one Of
lose their rights to the grounds once called 'eThe
Moor" and ''Ihe Forge,n but now OF immense value.
For example, there was an estate IN Fnsbury leased
on lease which could be perpetually 70.
newed. The property brought In about $4,000
London omitted 10 give the necessary notices OF
newa until the day after they due BY this In.
astcal Commission and the city loses large source
or revenue. Absurd as the ceremonies may be,
therefore, the authorities think 1t better to out fag
gots and count pais once year than part with any
During the week we have had two gorgeous dis.
plays OF old customs. First there was the process
sion Of judges in their tremendous wigs and splendid
robes, through Westminster Hall, The three nav
Judges appointed to try election cases under the new
Bribery act attracted special attention. Second, the
newly elected Lord Mayor, attended by the civic AZ
the Lord Chancellor and, as ali the parties were
attired IN their wonderful official costumes, the
scene scene had quite feuda pomp Speeches wer:
reporting. The Chancellor advised the Mayor 70
attend 10 the duty OF hospitaity-almost the only
duty that his ordshp has to perform. II Mr.. Allen
the Lord Mayor who has just gone out OF oice, had
attended to such advice he would have been 70
mean man he gave few dinners, bad wines and
weak turtlesoup and the whole city turned againss
the oce nea for wo Of his ancestors haxs occu
pied the chair. He says that he Is determined 70
keep up all the ancient state Of the position. and
cordingy all Voc old pomp OF Lord Mayors Day
November o-wil bs observed this year. Last year
the state coachss the men in armor and all the ether
feudai paral hernaa were laid aside and tae Mayor
drove To Westminster quietly aud sensiby. Then tho
Times grandioquently announced that the glory
wrong as usual. This year there win he moro eory
than ever. The retiring Mayor was conservative,
but gave up the old ridiculous customs. The present
Mayor is liberal, but revlves them. "What mad
world my masters ~
There was not word OF news in the papers this
morning concerning the progress result Of the
American Presidential election bus yesterday all tho
journals conceded that Grant was 20 win. The
that has held ouI u lately for the democrats il Is
the fashion now among English Journalists 70 pei
America and sas Americans In words although
believe that this 10 merely cloak to cover up tae
chicanery now in progress In regard to the Alabama
claims, about the settlement OF which you may ex-
pect TO hear some very important news shortly.
There was q funny instance OF this pettlng IN the
Times day or two aq0. A solemn leader WAS de-
"a
American residents at Dresden, and the English
were soundy rated. 1t appears that thc Americans
attended the English church there and subscribed
Clergyman introduced the name OF the Presidents of
the United States after that OF the Queen OF England
IN the prayer Tor those Ia authority The hrst ams
tins innovation occurred od Englishman sud
denly exclaimed, II thought this was an English
church ~ The result was appeal TO the Bishop OF
London who gave PERMISSION Tor another more ex.
clusyely English church TO be opened, and the
Americans were left almost alone In the old church.
edifice and would donate more liDerally
than the Englisn; when iol the new cler-
row ensned and the clergyman was bued into
Withdrawing the name. so the matter stands and
OF London in the hope or soltsawdering the Ameri-
cans. But II seems 10 me that English prayers for
help President Johnson, who Is now past praying
for; aud they won'i help President Grant who can
get along caplially without them. Let the English
pray for Jen Davis, @ they used TO do. lie needs
prayers and what the use OF their changing their
tactcs az this late dayf
II IL now oiIically announced that Parliament will
be prorogued on tho lltn inst The elections win
take place immediatey afterwards aud win take
sTc an up Tho % Addresses 'ue issuea ss
speecees delivered r tne new and old
VIII be composed pretty much the old Parliament
f. and venture 10 predict that you win nnd no
workingmen's candidates IN it-but or two at
best. Most OF the 'carpet.Daggers,n about whom
have already written you, have been compelled 70
WllHuT4W elb1er from WAHt vi UlcHue OF Iunu3.
Odgcr has been forced TO back out In favor oi Sir
Henry Boare-because Mr.. Hoare has .'sr' 70 his
name and Odger's has not. The liberals expect 70
sweep everything before them, and the Tvnes Gays
that the only fear 10 lest their majority shall be too
great Nonsensel Look at the list OF candidates
published In tne papers. The conservatives are 81
well drilled and disciplined as regvaI
army never interfering with each other
never running three candidates for two
seats. Tho liberals are scattered, divided, car
rying on guerlla warfare, putting up nve eandl
dates for the TWO places and wasting their strength
everyw here. or course they will have o majority
but IL Will not be a very large one-probab,y not y
large as it IL at present. There are grave doubu
whether 1t will be large enough 10 turn Disraeli ou
al once. The only way TO get rid OF him Is by dL
rect vote OF want OF confidence or an Amendments v
the Queens speech, and as Mr. Gladstone has nevei
dared 10 risk lbat with his present liberal majority
sixty 1t IL not likey that he VIII be Douer win M
majority reduced. The liberal organs are already