Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-06-13
From Our Regular Correspondent
Our Euro pean Letter.
LONDON, Eng, May 81, 1873.

LONDON, Eng, May III, %.
saw in the advertisements that num-
bers of beauteous girls from all nations
were to figure in the proc ession ut the
fisheries exhibition. I remembered the
costume of the sea-maidens Of Ostend, and
determined to witness these mermaids
figuring with Lord ChamberlaIns and
other such glorified funkeys after the
manner of the peer and the peris in
"Iolanthe." But was doomed to disap-
pointment. The fisher girls shone by
their absence. I suppose that the Lord
Chamberlain had ''interfered." OF course
there was a crowd. "This way" said
officials, when l presented my card; and,
after good deal ofpushing and jamming,
found myself in long sort of corridor.
At one end I discerned choir, at the
other dais with chairs and sofas, both
massive and uncomfortable looking. Along
the centre of the corridor was strip of
red carpet. 1t was guarded by beefeaters.
On each side there were half dozen rows
of chairs. These were all tenanted, and
people who had not followed the example
of the early worm and picked up chair,
stood behind on tables and other such
positions of vantage. Soon trumpets were
heard. "They are coming" every one
shouted, and the royalties appeared. fol-
lowed by gentlemen in gorgeous uniforms.
All that saw were august heads, some
in bonnets, others with nothing covering
them. SIS that the dear princessP" asked
some one near me. said that possibly it
was. "How sweet she looks" observed the
same voice. have no doubt that she did;
but to say of lady whose bonnet alone
can be perceived, that she looks sweet,
struck me as eclipsus the feat of Currier,
in reconstructing mammoth from bone
one of its toes. A little later some one
was heard speaking from the dais. Some
thought it was the prince of Wales open
ing the exhibition, others the archbishop
of Canterbury praying. Then the choir
sang psalm; the trumpets were blown;
then we were told that it was over, and
we struggled out as best we could. Such
are the pomps and vanities OF this world
The Channel tunnel controversy has been
enlivened by the appearance of Blanch-
ard, vice president of the Erie railway
company, before the committee. He tes-
titles that American opinion is favorable to
the project. He believes that American
trade and passengers now going to the
continent via Havre, would come through
England if the Channel tunnel existed. To
such extremities are the advocates of the
Channel tunnel reduced. English mill
tary opinion of the highest quality contin-
ues in unanimous opposition. General Sir
Lintorn Simmons by his evidence this
week produced strong impression on the
committee. The duke of Cambridge will
shortly appear on the side. The public is
convinced that there is no real danger OF a
report favoring the tunnel, but the oppo.
nents of the scheme say that the committee
was practically appointed by Lord Richard
Grosvenor, the chairman of the tunnel
company, and consequently needs watch
ing.
Her majesty has suffered to a greater
extent than was anticipated from tho
sprain. The queen has. it is true, recovered
sufficiently to take carriage exercise; but
she is still unable to walk, and her physi-
clans advise her not 10 attempt even to
stand upon the injured foot. There is,
however, no apprehension that her majes-
ty will suffer mLre than temporary incon-
venience from the accident, and her
perfect recovery is evidently only ques.
ton of time. Nevertheless, the accident
has caused some alterations in the ar.
Of the court.
AUGUST