New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-21
GEN. GRANT IN ENGLAND.
THE PIERREPONT RECEPTION.

lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TPe TRIBUNE.
LONDON, June 8.-Mr. PIerreponts efforts to Sc
cure a suitable recognition of Gen. Grant in En-
gish society have proved completely successful
Wherever the General goes etiquette makes certain
concessions in his favor IL the concessions are not
made he does not 20. | hear that, far as the
English themselves are concerned, few difficulties
have been raised. They are more anxious to remove
difficulties than to create them Lord Beaconsield
the story goes, was DESTROYS that Gen. Grant should
be present at the Foreign Office dinner on the cele-
bration of the Queens birthday last Saturday An
invitation was sent accordingly by Lord
Derby. but it happened that the ex-Pres-
dent was already engaged for that evening
to the Duke of Wellington, who had sent his
invitation by telegraph. But between the sending
of Lord Derby's note and the refusal of Gen. Grant
curious incident had occurred. The foreign embas-
sailors, who always the Foreign Secretary's
guests on such an occasion, had been communicated
with. They had been asked, in consideration of
Gen. Grants peculiar position to waive their claims
to precedence at the dinner, and they had one and
all refused; first of all, Musurus Pasba-with a
view to proving that the fame of the Turk for POI
likeness was much thing of the past his other
good qualities. They all stood upon their technical
rights as the personal representatives of their
respective sovereigns. From their point of view,
Gen. Grant nobody; and as nobody they were
determined he should be treated, if he appeared in
their company. 1t is hard to blame them. They
acted after their kind, and up to their customs.
They have at times to endure their own share OF hui
Mutations. A body of men coming mainly from civ
ilzed countries who obliged to accept the senior
ity of a Turk may naturally be reluctant to waive
their rights when etiquette, which has imposed such
a hardship, offers them by way of compensation a
Of
Yet remember a story which goes to prove that
even dplomatist may not always get his rights.
This was told me long ago, bya lady who had among
her guests at dinner Foreign Minister and the late
Marquis of Lansdowue. Uncertain which of the
two was entitled to the honor of taking her in to
dinner she asked the Marquis, who replied, Why
l. of conrse," and Offering his arm carried off the
prize. But in fact he bad no right TO the dstinc-
ton. lie was only Marquis, and the Foreign Min
lister was entitled to 90 out before any English
nobeman beneath the rank of a Duke | speak
with diffidence on these high matters, and Will
chcerfully submit To correction by anybody who has
made study of them. You might not guess what DIFF
ferent views arc taken Looking into book of high
authority on such matters, read not without awe.
that the Clergy, the Bar, tho Military, and other
classes have among themselves certain precedence
and relative rank but such precedence and rank
[alas 4 no position on the general social scale.
Yet it was only this morning | received letter
touching dinner offered to Gen. Grant. shall
ask, said the writer, only decent peopleournalists
no peers
That is all very well by way of pleasantly, but !
am quite in earnest when say that Mr.. Pierrepon s
resolution was n wise and necessary resolution.
You may think what you like Of the intrinsic value
Of the artificial rules to which English and Euro
pean society submits. They have, none the less, a
real Significance for social purposes, and Gen. Grant
would have lost prestige had Mr.. Pierrcpont abated
a jot OF the pretensiOns he urged in the Generals
behalf. There is a substance i'll forms. Even Amer
leans perceive it, and sensitive to it, when
brought in contact with them " was here writes
an American friend, when ex-Prcsidcnt Van Blu
rem came 20 England, and though was not an adj
mrer Of his | felt Inundated as an American by
the Sights to which he exposed, Sights arising
out of the refusal TO recognize in HIM any Official
position or any claim TO social precedence" MIR.
Pierrepont has successfully struggled against tho
disposition-if disposition there wcre-to iniliet
any similar rebuff ON the eminent American who is
his guest.
The receptfon given by Mr.. and Mrs. Pierrepont
on Tuesday evening in honor Of Gen. and Mrs.
Grant may fairly be called brilliant The company
tons of the house were such are seldom seen in
London-more often, fancy, in Ncw-York than
here. | noticed that Americans who are new to
London found nothing remarkable in the profusion
of flowers which excited the greatest admiration
among the English themselves There were flowers
eyerywhere: i'm the entrance-hall and all up the
stairway: flowers in the recepiOn-rOom, iowerS III
the large drawinR-rooms in the bOudoir. In the
break fast and 1luing-rO0ms - flowers wherever
guests were allowed to penetrate, and everywhere
fresh. costly, and beautiful. The company began
to assemble about half past 10. Mr.. Bright being
one of the first to appear. The house which our
Minister and his wife occupy is large mansion Ill
Cavendisl-square which they rent furnished IRON
SIR John Waldron 1t has been newly fitted up ana
lacks nothing in size or splendor 10 make
il a uroper residence for the representa-
tive of a great country. For tho purposes
of such reception it is well arranged AS you
reach the ton of the staircase, you turn sharply 10
the right into a small room, where your hostess
stands TO welcome you, and where you are presented
if Won do not already know them, to Gen. and
Mrs Grant. Gen. Badeau, again in service as aide
Accommodating is there in attendance upon ms
old commander. and Mr. .Pierrepont occupies the
left of the line next the door by which you pass out
.ft.r vour salutatons are over. through this door
Won enter ihc main drawiug-IOoms, two III number,
out of which You mag find your way into TWO other
rooms Oh the same floor, which presently prove use
fnl in r., ieying the pressure OF the constantly IN
creasing crowd Windows open on balcony IN
front from which the whole Of Cayendish-squaTe
may be seen, illuminated by countless carriage
lamps Supper is to be had below when You come
i'm. or whenever You like during your stay OF on
your way out; aud the supper-room, lei IL DC sald
in Justice 10 tie English, is hardly less thronged all
through the evening than the rooms mp stairs
Exccpt from the fact of the presence ofGcnera ana
NJ, Grant mud of fine tloyef, the reception differed