laughed, and whose fair proportions whimsical Leech so often depicted in Punch.

"The second glance after entering the doors brings to the eye a beautiful vision of rich colors, and to the sense the perfumes of a thousand flowers. Flowers everywhere! From ground to roof, peeping in clusters of brilliant bloom amid cool frameworks of rich greens, they glow in the mellow light of the chandeliers like gems, until their fragrance seems a thing almost palpable. Amid the surging crowd of guests, some in gay military or diplomatic uniforms, others in floating billows of lace or warm shining seas of silk, one hears on all sides the comment that no such floral display has even been seen before in a private mansion in London.

"From the balcony of the topmost story depend groups of American flags in gay, saucy, bright, new hues of red, white and blue silk. They seem put there as gentle reminders of the great days gone by amid the Southern swamps, when Grant, under his well-worn standard, tattered, torn and faded, performed deeds of valor that all good men and true remember.

"In the elegant and flower-adorned boudoir at the head of the stairs, stood Mrs. Pierrepont and General Grant in the order named. Directly behind General Grant was stationed Colonel A. Badeau, who is actually United Stat s Consul General, but who during Grant's stay acts as his aide-de-camp in waiting, permission having been received from the proper authorities to allow him to perform this service near his old commander.

"At the moment of my approach I find the ex-Premier of England, Mr. Gladstone, being presented to the ex-President, and warmly pressing his hand and congratulating him, while the stately and even beautiful Mrs. Gladstone, dressed in a delicate costume of blue and white, with a cluster of fine diamonds setting off the long blue plume in her hair, is discoursing with Mrs. Grant.

Scarcely has the ex-Premier passed on, when the imposing head of John Bright, Quaker, reformer, liberal leader and outspoken friend of the Union in its dark days, is seen. Crowned with a wealth of snowy hair which surmounts the massive, cheery face, the head of this man of the people would be

notable in any gathering, and is doubly so here, as the grand old Quaker shakes hands with the General.

"Hither comes the usually solemn-faced Earl Derby, without the weight of the Eastern question on his shoulders; after him the Earl of Shaftesbury, of beneficent doings, and then the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, perhaps the richest peer in England; nay, half the peers and peeresses of the realm.

"Oh, but for time and space to tell the tale of the gorgeous pageantry which moves before the eyes, now shifting into brilliant groups, now breaking into spots of color, changing and mingling in charming perplexity, but all dazzling the sense not alone by gorgeous tints or subtle tones, but in the added thought that the men and women who give being to the throng are the essence of the wealth, the beauty and the might of Old England. It is perhaps the most brilliant social episode in the history of the American nation.

"Washington never enjoyed anything like it,' said one distinguished American, when the Marchioness of Westminster, smiling her sweetest, was talking to Grant, while half a dozen countesses were waiting for a chance to have a word with him.

Besides the gathering of the nobility, the reception has brought hundreds of Americans, drawn hither from all parts of Europe in the desire to be present at the fête. Beautiful American women are here in great number, adding to the eclat of the occasion.

"General Grant is attired in plain evening dress, which is conspicuous in its plainness amid the stars, garters and ribbons worn by many of lesser note; even the Japanese Minister is more gorgeous. As for the Chinese Embassy, no tea chest ever equaled their curious splendor. I hear many regrets that Grant did not wear the uniform, that the English people might see the imposing garb.

"Mrs. Grant wears a toilet of claret-colored stamped velvet and cream satin, high-necked and with long sleeves.

"Mrs. Pierrepont is clad in an elaborate costume of scarlet and black.

"Perhaps the most conspicuous person after General Grant

is the Lord Mayor of London, rigged out in the odd paraphernalia of his office, with his long cloak and massive gold chain. It is as good as a feast to see this rosy, good-natured potentate gossiping pleasantly with those presented to him, and not seeming a bit proud, though only to be lord for a twelvemonth-a fact one would imagine enough to stiffen him into the seventh heaven of arrogance.

"He easily makes his way through the crowd, which is so dense that other people have to be motionless; but is he not Lord Mayor-a king sitting where all is money-and High Cockalorum of Temple Bar, through which even the Queen may not pass without his high and mighty permission?

"Every one remarks how well the General looks. Surrounded by fine specimens of English manhood, through whose sturdy veins courses the bluest blood, the robust form and rosy face of Grant are conspicuous in their healthy appearance. Mr. Gladstone's complexion had the hue of illness when his face was near Grant's, and Mr. Bright's pallor was noticeable.

"He looks like a soldier,' said a viscountess by my side to a right honorable with a scarlet ribbon at his neck.

"So flowed the stream of conversation, while he to whom all this honor was paid stood with a bearing as composed and unfluttered as when in 'Ole Virginny' the drum tap beat to action and the boys went marching along."

At half-past twelve Mrs. Pierrepont and General Grant came down stairs and, standing in the lower hall, bade farewell to the parting guests, while. Mrs. Grant, Mr. Pierrepont and Colonel Badeau took up position in a separate room, the amiable Secretary of Legation, Mr. William J. Hoppin, hovering over one and all. The children of both nations left the Legation with a feeling that the tie between them had been strengthened in the generous hospitality of the American representative and the cordial response of England's best and greatest.

In a letter to George W. Childs, Esq., of Philadelphia, General Grant thus describes his impression of his reception in England:

"MY DEAR MR. CHILDS :

"LONDON, Eng., June 19, 1877.

"After an unusually stormy passage for any season of the year, and continuous sea-sickness generally among the passengers after the second day out, we reached Liverpool Monday afternoon, the 28th of May. Jesse and I proved to be among the few good sailors. Neither of us felt a moment's uneasiness during the voyage.

"I had proposed to leave Liverpool immediately on arrival, and proceed to London, where I knew our Minister had made arrangements for a formal reception, and had accepted for me a few invitations of courtesy, but what was my surprise to find nearly all the shipping in port of Liverpool decorated with flags of all nations, and from the mainmast of each the flag of the Union was most conspicuous.

"The docks were lined with as many of the population as could find standing room, and the streets to the hotel where it was understood my party would stop, were packed. The demonstration was, to all appearances, as hearty and as enthusiastic as in Philadelphia on our departure.

"The Mayor was present with his state carriage to convey us to the hotel, and after that to his beautiful country residence, some six miles out, where we were entertained at dinner with a small party of gentlemen, and remained over night. The following day a large party was given at the official residence of the Mayor in the city, at which there were some one hundred and fifty of the distinguished citizens and officials of the corporation present. Pressing invitations were sent from most of the cities of the kingdom to have me visit them. I accepted for a day at Manchester, and stopped a few moments at Leicester and one other place. The same hearty welcome was shown at each place, as you have no doubt seen.

"The press of the country has been exceedingly kind and courteous. So far, I have not been permitted to travel in a regular train, much less in a common car. The Midland road,

which penetrates a great portion of the island, including Wales and Scotland, have extended to me the courtesy of their road and a Pullman car to take me wherever I wish to go during the whole of my stay in England. We arrived in London on Monday evening, the 30th of May, when I found our Minister had accepted engagements for me up to the 27th of June, leaving but a few spare days in the interval.

"On Saturday last we dined with the Duke of Wellington, and last night the formal reception at Judge Pierrepont's was held. It was a great success, most brilliant in the numbers, rank and attire of the audience, and was graced by the presence of every American in the city who had called on the Minister or left a card for me. I doubt whether London has ever seen a private house so elaborately or tastefully decorated as was our American Minister's last night. I am deeply indebted to him for the pains he has taken to make my stay pleasant, and the attentions extended to our country. I appreciate the fact, and am proud of it, that the attentions I am receiving are more for our country than for me personally. I love to see our country honored and respected abroad, and I am proud to believe that it is by most all nations, and by some even loved. It has always been my desire to see all jealousy between England and the United States abated, and every sore healed. Together they are more powerful for the spread of commerce and civilization than all others combined, and can do more to remove causes of wars by creating moral interests that would be so much endangered by