New-York tribune., 1877-06-30
GEN. GRANT IN LONDON.
THE HoNORs OF ONE DAY.

THE HONORS OF ONE DAY.
GEN. GRANT sUrCE sFUL AS A sPEECrIMAKER-TM-
PR ssivE CEREMONY AT THE GUILDHALL-
GRAND DISPLAY AT ruE CRYSTAL PALACE.
lrROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
LONDON, June 16.-Gen Grant is, all the world
agrees, pretty good soldier, but am not sure that
e has not mistaken his vocation after all. Not sure
whether he was not born to make speeches occa-
sipns of ceremony, and neat little replies to toass
at great dinners and mos at all suitable opportuni
ties. 1t hapneued-I say it modestly-that was
good deal in his company yesterday
doubt whether anybody else has heard Gen. Grant
make three speeches III one day. The first was
somewhat elaborate address in the Library of the
Guildhal in respo s. to the still more elaborate adj
dress of the Chamberlain IN offering him the Free
dom of tue City of London. Ii was thoroughly well
done in and in matter, and shalt refer to 1t
by and by. The second was at lunch IN the Guild
hall, and was simply a gem. Ii is so cnmsy re-
ported IN this mornings papers that insert here the
true version. The Lord Mayor having proposed,
and the guests having drunk, Gen. Grants health,
the General replied IN these words:
Ny LORD MAYoi, LADIES AND Gen rLEuEN'
Habits formed IN early life and early education
pre- s upln us rs grow older. was brought up
soldicr-Iot to talki x. | n not aware th1t ever
fought two battles on the same day IN the SANE
place. and th t shoull be called upon to make TWO
speeches on rhe same day u1lcr the same r0oi IL
beyond my understanding What ! do Understand
is that | am iluch indebted 70 I'LL of Won for the
comp ment yon haye paId me- All ! can 90 Is TO TO
TANK the citizens of Great Britain here present IL
the name oi my country and tor myself
| never heard a more perfect speech of its kind
than that. There Is charm a felicity in the turn
OF one two of its phrases, that would do DIT TO
the best artist in wor ls-to Mr.. Kingake to Mr.
Matthew Arnold themselves.
Later in the day at the quiet and almost private
dinner at the Crystal Palace Mr. Thomas Hughes
asked the company in a few words full of grace and
feeling to drink the health of Con. Grant Mr.
Hughes took pains to say that the orcason was not
formal and that he did not mean TO impose upon his
guest the burden of a reply. Gen. Grant sat looking
M into Mr. nughes's face there IL moments
pause and then the General, screwing himself slowly
mn ont of his chair still he stood erect his feet
said
Mr. HrGHrs: | must none the less tell you what
pratiicatuou il gives me 10 hear my health proposed
in such hearty words by Tom Brown OF KugOy.
do not know what could be better than tDat.
Still later in the evening, during tho eXhlcltlon OF
fireworks, Gen. Grant sat silent while his own por-
trat-a capital likencss-was drawn in lines OF
changing flame az inst the dark background OF
Beckenham hills Not muscle moved; there was
NOT a sipu of pleasure at the splendid compliment
paid him; not movement of recognition for the
cheers with which the great crowd below hailed the
nor;rait. But when this had burnt out, and the
next pece-a sketch of the building which crowns
the nights above the Potomac-was blazing sught
smile parted the Generals lips as he remarked to
Lady Ripon who sat next him. "They have burnt
me i'm efgy aud now they are burning the CaDltoi!
In the way of civic honors, not much Is now ieit
for Cen Grant TO desire. Manchester, which gave
him an official welcome on his arrival, AMI London
which Yesterday made him citizen OF what Mr.
Pierrepont well called the greatest city on earth,
ara ro,r.sentatiye municipalities. Manchester is
the chief town of that great district oI England
whose loyal sympathy for us during the rebellion
forms the brightest chapter III the history ot Anglo
American relations at that time. London stood III
the other extreme her reception 10 Gen. praut Is
nrocl,m,tion that her friendships have once more
swung round to the point they unhapply swer'eu
from for brief space. don't want to dwell on the
contrast Ionly refer to it because 1t Is dramatic, ana
because the full meaning OF what took place yester-
d,v can hardly be appreciated without such refer
ence Norneed describe the ceremony 1t has been de-
crih.d often enougn The interest of II for us cell
,rs I'm fine demeanor Of the iustrious American for
whom the pageant was once more repeated. lie ell
,.rcd tho library of the Guildhall 10 receive the
same rift which kings and emperors have received
before him. There lay on table the charter oi tue
civ of Ioudop the very parchment, so the faith
ful b.lieye. which dates back 200 years and more
be ore the Conqueror; the charter OF freedom
confirmed but not granted by William of Normandy;
the charter which. as the Chamberlain reminded u.s.
has not vet lost it's significance or It's value altough
the liberty which il symbolizes has been eN-
tended to other British subjects. aud has become the
inheritance Of the great Anglo-Amerlcdn family
, ,cross the Atlantic. don't know how lar back the
ostumes and ceremonies may date. The Guiidhal
,s.If the fabric of the actual building, is modern'
INIT there WAS an air of chvalry about some Oh tne
| ,bservances If these worthy citizens VINO are hot
and nover we're. neither they their forbears III
the most distant antiquity III any degree cn'ai,oS'
Their symbol is the yardstick not the lance; all 'no
| more honor TO them that with 81 feeble weapon
,bsv kent such a heritage of liberties though so
many ages ruled by the sword. They were' indeed
n martial though not noble race ana 'here Is
nothinp strange in the platoons OF soldiers WHICH
meet Gen. Grant with military salute as nc ap
nroaebes the Gu.ldhal or the military uniforms !"
which some of the city officers have from time
immemorial clothed themselves. The eiahA
of swords, the rattle Of aecouternents as
the guard Of honor presents arms 'h0