LETTER XIII.

MR. LAWRENCE-ST. JAMES' PARK AND BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

Mr. Lawrence's Residence on Piccadilly-Introduction to him-His kind attentions-St. James' Park-Buckingham Palace-The Queen's Public Promenade - Her Majesty's Character-Prince Albert-The Royal Garden.

LONDON, AUGUST 2, 1851.

I CALLED yesterday on Hon. Abbot Lawrence, our Minister, (as a Yankee, I am proud to say our minister) at the Court of St. James. He resides in the most fashionable part of London, at the West End, on Piccadilly, which is to London what Beacon street is to Boston. It looks out, across the way, directly upon St. James' Park, a most lovely field of green-sward, shade-trees, flowering shrubs, arbors, statues, fountains, gravel-walks with innumerable people walking thereon; carriage roads, with coaches of the nobility and gentry; and miniature vehicles drawn, some by goats and some by dogs, carrying children out to ride; race courses with fleetest horses practicing against the stake days, and donkeys saddled and bridled to be let for riding by the hour to boys and girls; and beautiful small lakes or ponds on whose placid bosom graceful swans—some purest white, others jet black, — and other aquatic birds are sailing near the shores, watching for some generous boys to feed them with grain or

fragments of bread, cake, &c. In full view, at the head of this Park, are seen the stately edifices of Buckingham Palace, the town residence of England's prolific mother, Queen Victoria, and her Royal family. Mr. Lawrence lives in a style comporting with the elegance of his residence and the splendor of his location, though I saw nothing inconsistent with that true dignity and beauty which should ever characterize an honest Republicanism. He is very wealthy, and is able to sustain by his own private means the honors of his country at the Imperial Court, which, indeed, are very important here. The expense of maintaining such an establishment must be very great-I dare say he is none the richer for his salary. Most freely does he give his money, his time and his service to his country; and I am exceedingly pleased with his zealous devotion to American interests, and to the ready, frank and generous manner in which he endeavors to serve his countrymen whose business or pleasure have brought them to England. They are sure to find a friend in him. It is a blessed arrangement of our Government that appoints one Minister and the requisite number of Consuls abroad, not only to conduct the intercourse of Nations, but to befriend American citizens in strange countries. So much comes of Christian civilization.

Ringing the bell at the vestibule, a neatly clad page opened the door, which introduced me to a ready porter in the ante-room, who passed me on to a gentlemanly waiter at the foot of the stairs, the rich carpets of which were covered by white linen. Ascending a circuitous flight, we noticed the paintings upon the walls by the way. Arrived at the head, our outer garment, hat, &c. were received, and we conducted into an adjacent room, richly furnished,

to rest till our card could be sent in to Mr. Lawrence.

In

a few minutes the doors were opened, and we were ushered into a large front parlor, fronting upon the Park. The walls were hung with splendid pictures, some of national and others of family designs. Several American gentlemen were in the room, in the centre of which, at a round marble table, sat Mr. Lawrence. He is of good size, somewhat portly in person, of a very gentlemanly deportment, and with a grey eye expressive of much vivacity and kindness. He arose and saluted us. I presented him my letter of introduction from Hon. D. Bronson, also my commission from Gov. Hubbard. He was very happy to hear from his old friend Bronson, and was glad our State had thought of being represented on an occasion so important to the industrial interests of the world as the present. He would do every thing for me in his power but the season for conventions, meetings, committees, &c., had transpired at an earlier date, and much could not be done now but by observation and personal intercourse. He commended me to Mr. Dodge, the American Agent at the Crystal Palace.

Mr. Lawrence was so kind as to furnish us with passports to France, and his Secretary, Mr. Davis, who made them out, was very sorry there was nothing to pay for them. Mr. L. receives no fees for any such services, though all the other officers of Foreign Governments tax liberally for such papers. He also gave me tickets to attend the sessions of the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and to visit Windsor Castle, the Queen's residence out of the city. I shall call on Mr. Lawrence frequently, and feel that I have a friend in the American

minister, who so ably and so devotedly represents his glorious country before the highest court in the world.

From Piccadilly I entered the Park, the day was beautiful — and delighted myself in witnessing the attractions which art and nature combined can give to some of the chosen spots of this green earth. All around me was one wide, roaring, interminable city; here was a sweetly fragrant air and the richest rural beauties, reposing in quietness beneath the shade of venerable English Oaks and Yews and Chesnuts and Elms and Lindens. In due time we had sauntered to the Queen's Palace. Painted sentry boxes were occasionally outside the beautiful wire fence that surrounded it, and British soldiers, clad in red coats, white pants, and high fur caps, with bright guns, were marching guard from post to post, to protect Her Majesty from intrusion. The gate was opened and we entered the yard, whence the royal carriages pass out and in; we advanced through the central arch in the main part of the Palace, and viewed the open court of the quadrangle. No one can enter the Palace but by an order from the Lord Chamberlain. The Palace front has three tiers of windows, twenty three in a tier (including the central colonnade) and is of Romanesque architecture

of hewn stone, cut and carved according to scientific rules. A stone balustrade rises above the eaves, and in the centre three towers arise, on the highest of which is the British Crown, and on the other two the Lion and the Unicorn rearing towards it. On the ends are also elevations with huge statues of some of the old sovereigns. The building itself is quadrangular, and in describing the front, I have but described one of the four sides of it. The open space in the centre is where the young kings

and queens play and ride their ponies. This Palace was rebuilt in 1703 by the Duke of Buckingham — hence its name, Buckingham Palace. Before that the Royal residence was in Somerset Palace, which now stands on the bank of the Thames near the Waterloo Bridge. This, I think, is the handsomest building of the two. Old King George III., whose crown lost the thirteen American jewels, resided in Buckingham Palace, and in it I believe most of his numerous family of children were born (Victoria's are born at Windsor Castle.) It was also the residence of George IV. and the late sailor King William.

Victoria thinks that English law, rather than English bayonets, ought to protect her, and she is not very shy of going out and being.seen by her subjects, the people. I must see her before I leave England. In front of the palace is a wide road arched by trees, extending across the park. This is the Queen's Way, and she often rides out upon it, and is sometimes even seen with Albert and the children walking in it. Whenever so great a wonder takes place, it makes all the Londoners stare and look profoundly wise! to think that the head of a government

should not be so dreaded and hated, as to be shot if he or she dares appear amongst the people! The truth is, Victoria is a pretty likely, smart woman.

She is well edu

cated, and accomplished in court manners. In her character she is irreproachable, and sets the best examples, morally, to her subjects. This is much in her praise, and is worth a great deal to England, where the highest ambition is to follow the fashions of the Sovereign. I am told she is charitable and kind-hearted, and is a great patron of humane institutions. It is said, indeed, that she