ting. I was told that
he had crossed the Channel in a row-boat.
Sir John Lubbock invited me to breakfast with him a few days
afterward in St. James Square. There I met a large number
of scientific men, among them the President of the Geographical
Society, and the Presidents or Heads of several other of the
important British Societies. I was presented to all these
gentlemen. But I found I could not easily understand the
names, when they were presented. Englishmen usually, even
when they speak the language exactly as we do, have a peculiar
pronunciation of names, which makes it very hard for an American
ear to catch them. I could not very well say, "What name
did you say?" or ask the host to repeat himself. So I was
obliged to spend the hour in ignorance of the special dignity
of most of the illustrious persons whom I met.
Just behind my chair hung a full-length portrait of Admiral
Boscawen, a famous naval officer connected with our early
history. For him was named the town of Boscawen in New Hampshire,
where Daniel Webster practised law. The house where we were
had been his. I think he was in some way akin to the host.
I sailed for home on Wednesday. The Friday night before,
I dined with Moreton Frewen, Esq., an accomplished English
gentleman, well known on this side of the Atlantic. Mr. Frewen
had been very kind and hospitable to me, as he had been to
many Americans. He deserves the gratitude of both nations
for what he has done to promote good feeling between the two
countries by his courtesy to Americans of all parties and
ways of thinking. He has helped make the leading men of both
countries know each other. From that knowledge has commonly
followed a hearty liking for each other.
I mention this dinner, as I did the visit to Mr. Grenfell,
because of its connection with a very interesting transaction.
The guests at the dinner were Sir Julian Pauncefote, afterward
Lord Pauncefote, the British Ambassador to the United States,
who was then at home on a brief visit; Sir Seymour Blaine,
an old military officer who had won, as I was told, great
distinction in the East, and two Spanish noblemen.
The soldier told several very interesting stories of his
military life, and of what happened to him in his early days.
Of these I remember two. He said that when he was a young
officer, scarcely more than a boy, he was invited by the Duke
of Wellington, with other officers, to a great ball at Apsley
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