At the invitation of Mr. H. F. Gillig, of the American Exchange in Europe, a social and international gathering took place on Tuesday evening, in celebration of the Fourth of July, at the Westminster Palace Hotel, at which several hundreds of persons were present. The engagements included a concert and a ball, and amongst those present were the American Minister, the Secretary to the United States Legation, General E. A. Merritt, the Duke of Sutherland, and Viscount Folkestone, M.P. The event was commemorated at the Freemasons' Tavern by a soirée and ball, the attendance being large.
Source: The Illustrated London News, July 8, 1882, p.42