The Lord Mayor gave a great banquet on Thursday to
Mr. Phelps, the departing American Minister, a diplomatist who, although he had, as Mr. Lecky said, the misfortune to succeed Mr. Lowell, has attracted to himself a strong regard in all circles of English society. The assemblage was unusually brilliant, every Judge, for instance, being present except two, and all the leaders of the Bar; and Mr. Phelps, in replying to the Lord Mayor's toast, was equal to the occasion. In a speech which was justly defined by Lord Rosebery as "eloquent, dignified, and pathetic," he spoke of the permanent distinction which inustalways exist between the American Minister and any other Ambassador here. His first reception had made him believe that " the American Minister was not expected to be merely a diplomatic functionary, shrouded in reticence and retire- ment, jealously watching over doubtful relations, and carefully guarding against anticipated dangers ; but that he was to be the guest of his kinsmen—one of themselves—the messenger of the sympathy and good-will, the mutual and warm regard and esteem, that bind together two great nations of the same race, and make them one in all the fair humanities of life." There might be mistakes made, " the man who makes no mistakes usually makes nothing else ;" but "these things float for a moment on the surface and in the wind." For himself, the word " farewell " stuck somewhat in his throat ; but " he went away freighted with happy memories of England, its warm-hearted people, and their measureless kindness." Some- thing in the speech beyond the words, some ring of sincerity or feeling scarcely transferable to print, seems to have affected the audience to a quite unusual degree.
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