The New York herald., 1869-12-01
ENGLAND.
A s.Dish'' OF London Gossip-Queen vicroria,s
Visit to the City-George Peabody's Death
The Irish Questions and English Church
Asfuirs.

Visit to the Ciiy-George Peabody,s Death-
The Irish Questions and English Church
Affairs.
LONDON Nov. II, 1869.
There is something suprelatlvely ridiculous in
London city pageant, ana In the present matter OF
fact age the comic features of such an affair impress
themselves strongly the mind OF the spectators
as 10 DC fatal to dignity. There may be something
in the fact that through the long seclusion OF the
Queen public shows have of late years fallen into
disuse IN England, and the people have got out OF
the habit OF seeing Christian men strut about the
streets or parade themselves horseback, decked
out after the fashion Of the heroes Of opera bouGe
and broad burlesque But whatever the cause 1t is
certain that in the recent city visit Of her Majesty
the Queen, on the opening OF the Hoborn
viaduct and Biackfrlars bridge, comedy was In the
ascendant and the crowd assembled to do honor to
the occasion was Enthusiastically irreyerent. The
Lord Mayors 1Dery was laughed at; the well deve-
loped gentlemen who walked about in stage dresses
and tight silk stockings were jeered and hooted,
and mace bearers, sword bearers, beef eaters and
other bufroons in the procession came in for their
full share OF 'chan." The royal lady herself was,
however. well received, aud while her once great
popularity Is evidently gone never to be reganed.
there is no doubt that her people were glad to see
her once again among them and tnat her first
appearance in public for many years will have
good effect. The Queen appeared to be IN good
spirits on her way to the city, but probably the
ceremonies which she went through for the first
time without her husband at her side. awoke recoi-
iectons to which she is unfortunately too apt to
give way, and ner return to the railway station
shc was evidently deeply affected and nearly over
powered by the agitation OF her feelings.
The honors offered to the memory OF Mr.. Peabody
by the English nation have been fully noticed in
your cable dispatches that 1t Is unnecessary to 90
into q detailed account OF them here. The press has
been lavish OF encomiums upon the great phantbro-
pist and 1t now appears tnat IN the eleventh hour
the Queen was anxious to signify ner regard for the
man who had conferred SO many blessings upon her
subjects. It Is proper to state, however, that Mr..
Peabody, during his lifetime was kept In ignorance
OF the high esteem IN which he was held by the
British aristocracy In fact, he was as subject as
any other man to English snobDshness, and was
persstentiy refused the entree here termed
the par ercellelce "socety.n Since his death an
esimabe English mob eman, who was one of the
very few who had Deen at the trouble OF fnding Mr.
Peabody out and doing homage to The man, has ex-
pressed regret that he not more courted and
better received among the English aristocracy aud
has commented wih some severity upon the fact
that the American owner OF PriUress could enter
doors that were closed a4llust tae American phlan-
thropist.
Tho speech OF the Prime Minister at the Lord
Mayors dinner Is usual exciting considerabie
comment. This time-honored banquet comes dur
ing the dull season in polcs, ana the Premier Is
always expected to speak, and Is generally expected
to say something, the politicians are Kept on the
anxious seat until they nave read the words ne has
uttered. The peculiarly OF Mr. Gladstone's speech
Il that there is in 1t nothing but words 1t Is full
of commonplace phrases, without 80 much IA a
suggestive hint OF future policy aud not line that
gives comfort friends affords vantage ground 10
an enemy It's noticeable feature s It's profou0d
humility. Mr.. Gladstone IS very 'umbie; nis mo-
desty Is so excessive indeed, that it may well be
mistaken for sef-laudation Yet the London papers
are all commenting the speech as though IL were
really some oracular utterahce from which could
be gathered the future policy OF the government aud
the uuro fate OF the nation. by some II is regarded
as somewhat desponaent In tone, 80 far as tue pro-
babe failure or success OF the coming irish Church
bill Is concerned while others affect TO regard ltB
very humbleness as 1udication that the Minister
feels his great power, and desires to ssarm envy by
seif-depreclatl0n Mr. Gladstone found iimsef COM
PEELED TO say something about foreign relations, and
80 ne congratulated his bearers that the part OF Eng
land was now that OF paciiicator and that she had
still great power III heaiing diherences between
foreign nations. The recent death or Mr.. Peabody
afforded him an opportunity OF saying something
about America, and, as he no longer has q Reverdy
johnson at his side 10 throw everything and every
body into confusion by buring out some piece OF al.
polatfc intelligence that should be kept profound
secret he contented hinsef with remarking that Eng
land was never likely to go TO war with country that
produced such men as the great phianthropist. All
fhia 10 will be seen, was the Inerest commonplace
that could fall from any mans lips, and yet from the
fuss made oycr the sLeech In the cty Dapers one