The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-02
LONDON GOSSIP.

CRICKET MATCH-ROYALrY AND CHURCH
EVANGELISM.
LONDON July 10, 1875
In letter I sent you last week was very
dolorous about the state OF our weather,
and now, 1 regret to say we are in greater
grief; indeed, the unceasing downpour has
ceased to be a subject for satlrcal mlrth
and is beginning TO be looked upon with appre-
hension. For the last forty-egh hours the rain
has fallen throughout England without the slight
est intermission, ana this morning kilograms,
have been received to the effect that the hoods
out in Monmouthsnire, thousands OF acres
being submerged, many roads rendered impassa-
BILE and boats performing the ordinary duties OF
carts. The destruction to property is, of course,
considerable, and several lives have been lost.
The whole OF the West Of England is threatened
with submersion, and the damage done TO the
crops is immense. Here IN London we cannot
complain OF anything so serious. as 1t Is only the
RUIN OF OUR PLEASURES
that we have 70 bemoan. Friday and Saturday
last were fixed for the great cricket gala OF the
year, the match between the boys OF Elton and
Harrow schools, which invariably takes place at
Lords Ground, and which not merely brings to-
gether the friends OF the players, but has gradually
grown to be looked upon as kind or enormous
aristocratic picnic at which the fashionable world
assemblies. To give you some idea OF the manner
in Inch this is carried must tell you that 1t
mas become the custom for fashionable people TO
send up their carriages and breaks to the ground
on the night previous to the play. There they
are all ranged In treble and quadruple lines, and
to them the company resorts for the double pur-
pose OF witnessing the sport and eating luxurious
luncheons; in fact, on the Elton and Harrow day
Lords Ground. which is situate as st. Johns
" ood within three miles OF Charng Gross. more
nearly resembles the space behind the grand
faa Iawn Gnr un n
place devoted to manly exercise. This year the
first day OF the match, Friday, was a completely
blank day. The rain came down with such perse
verance that the whole ground was
SWAMP,
and the space in the immediate vicinity Of the
wickets had TO be covered ankle deep in sawdust
in order 10 AFFORD the bowlers a foothold. Out OF
the nine hours usually devoted TO play only two
we're available, and IN these the qualities OF the
antagonists could not be judged, playing as they
were under such exceptional circumstances.
A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT.
Saturday promised better, inasmuch as there
was no actual rain falling, but the clouds were
heavy and lowering and the general aspect inaus-
plcious. The weather. however, held up suf-
fcientT TO afford a Iairish days sport, and what
was even more grateful TO the company TO allow
the ladies' TO throw of their outer wrappngs OF
waterproof and TO appear in their garments OF
many colors.
THE FoUR-IN-HAND AND THE COACHING CLUBS
were well represen ted-Lord Londesborough,
with the Duchess OF Manchester on the box seat
by his side; Lord Abinger, Lord Seyton, Lord
Aylesford Lord and Lady Westmorand, Mr..
Eaton (wno sits member Tor Coventry, and
consequently as the waRs say naturally handles
the 'rlbands" we9' LORD MacclesneId
are there There, 100, are innumerable baroucnes,
lan9aus and brtskas all 1led with falr occupants,
perpetually appealed to by their male friends,
VINO CLIMB the wheels or hang on to any available
percn Tor conversation purposes. Tney cast by
occasional giances at nne pay anu are MANY IN
not so long ago either, wnen
LUNCHEON AT LORDS
meant a sandwich aud a bottle OF Bass; now the
'-proper thing" 10 DO IS TO bring up your butler
and footman to erect an imprompIu table on tres
sells under the trees, 10 cover IL with fair CLOTH
to give every guess q finger napkin, and to make
great display OF plate as lies IN your power.
mere must De ice pals, too, for the champagne.
and fruit and finger glasses 10 finish up with
Tins is undoubtedly luxurious, but, somehow
horribly our OF place, and nothing could be more
absurd than TO see these little scnoolooys whose
greatest pride ought 10 be In roughing II, waited
upon by powdered footmen and giving themselves
the airs or accomplished gOuTHletS.
HOW VERY UNFoRTUNArBi
Certainly tue unceaslng uownpour could not
have come at more unpleasant time. the Rine
Association meeting at Wimbledon Common is
now IN lull swing, and the camp Is pronounced
one vast lake of mud and water the autumn
maneuyres which have been carried on Tor the
las, two or three years have given way TO mucn
smaller series OF summer maneuYres, now eeing
carried out with much success at Aldershot.
near from competent authority that the result OF
two or three sham nRnts, which TOOK place during
The past week, showed a
VAST IMPROVEMENT
In the way In winch the trooDs were handed;
showed further. that the lessons OF the Franco
Prusslan war are not forgotten, and that our OIL
GERS are beginning TO Understand tnat their pro-
lesslon ls not mere pastlme. Yesterday the
down to witness what 1t mad been intended
should be one OF the most brilliant OF these ma
neuvres, but The fearful rain has prevented any
cnance Of carrying out tae evolutions, and tue
troops must remain In their quarters for the
present.
The question OF the money grant TO the Prince
TO delrdy the expense OF MS Visit 10 India IS stu
c4edtlng certain amount OF eommotion, and
there have been several public meetings Deld Dy
the wOrkingmen IN various towns 10 protest
against It. these meetings cannot be said TO have
amounted 20 mucn, as thoy were but sparsely 9t-
tended, ana no one Of any note took part IN the
proceedings Indeed / think that, with the ex-
cepIIon OF the protested economists and radicals,
the Engil9h people seem to cel that the amount
has been placed at as low ngure as was pos
siDlc--sO low that IN the minds those VINO know
what the outlay must necessarily be there Is not
the least doubt that next year Mr.. Disrael VIII
estimate. The point urged by the directors Is
that the Princes visit TO India Is not undertaken
for motives OF state policy bat merely as q pleas
ure trip, and Il TINS argument were brought Tor
ward Dy any one OF weight the discussion would
be pretty hot aud strong, as there Is undoubtedly
much TO De SAID on Dotn SIDES. In the debate last
night Mr.. John Bright spoke with more earnest
ness ana vigor than he has shown Tor some time,
ana II was noticeable that MS illusions TO the
frankness, genalty and remarkable courtesy OF
the Prince were received with enthusiastic
1eeling.
Last week those blessed angels,
MEssRs. MOODY AND sANKEY,
took farewell OF their London friends, with q
great deal Of huQglnR and howliug. They nave
asslduOusly set about reports that their mission
mas bcen fully successful and tnat the numUer OF
sinners 'awakened" through their instrumental
Ivy has been enormous. II So the result will
probably be seen IN the diminutton or the crIm-
mai calendar at ihe various assiZes throughput
the country. But this time VIII prove One
tnlng IS certain, that they have received an
enormous sum or money and tnat up TO the
present time no clear account mas been given as
TO now IT. was disposed Of
A LfON FROM AFRICA.
Yesterday our otder hvn the sultan OF Zanzl.
bar, TOOK ms departure. lie Is sald by all VINO
met him TO nave exhibited a considerable amount
or intelligence, anu has been very popular.
THE TURF
In another ten days the fashionable world VIII
be starting Tor GoodWood, and LONDON Will be q
desert.