The National Register.
London, England, 1819-08-23 00:00:00

No. 1210.—VoL. XII.]

TILE KING AND R. ADAMS.

(From an American paper.)

We arc not aware that the following letter from
Mr. Adams, then our Ambassador in England, to
Mr. Jay, Secretary of State under the old confede-
ration, has ever been published. It is valuable
from the elevated character of the actors, and from
the interest of the scene described. Some of our
patriots, who think there is a natural repulsion: be•
twvcri independence and good breeding, may be
horrified at the courtier-like address of Mr. Adams,
and feel quite indignant that republicanism should
have cluserved la proper decorum befbre royalty. We
admire in Mr. Adams's conduct that good sense and
dexterity that has distinguished most of our foreign
Ministers in their intercourse with European Courts.
The style is simple, and we think more• republican
than the inflated bombast that characterises most of
our present product:km.3 It is what we seldom
tweet--the plain language of a sensible man:—

" Bath Hotel, Westminster, June 2. 1;115.
" DEMI Stn,—During my alternator with the !Marquis of
Carmarthen, he told me that it was customary for every foreign
Minister, at his first presentation to the King, to make his Ma-
jesty some compliments notiorninble to the spirit of his credentials;
and when Sir Clement k:ourel Dormer, the Master of the Cere-
monies, C 311114: to inform me that heshould accompany me to the
Secretary of State, and to Court, lie said that every ftweign
Miner whom lie had attended to the Queen. had always made an
harangue to her Majesty, and he untlersuiral. though he had not
been present. that they always harangued the King. On Tuesday
tenting the Baron de Lynden (Dutch Amliassailoo called upon
tie, and said he came nom the Baron de Nelkin (Swedish,En •
so) j, and had been convening upon. the situation I Mill in; and
they egret.* fnopitnon that it was indispensable that I should
a speech.and that it should be as complimentary as possible.
All this %vas parallel to the advice lately given by the Count de
Vergennes to Mr..lefferson. So that finding that it was acustoni
eetitilished at both these great Cowls. and that this Court and
the foreign 3lioitters expected st. i thought I could not avoid it,
aithough icy firstelatught and inclination had been to deliver my
ereder.tials silently and toile. At one, on Wednesday, the Ih of
.lone, the Master of Ceremonies culled at my house, and went
with me to the Secretary of Sinte's office, in Clevelnral-row, where
the Marquis of Carmarthen rixeived me, and introduced me to
-Mr. Frazier, his Under Secretary, who had been, as his
Lordship said, uMnterrupteilly in that offiee, through all die
eninees in Administration. for thirty years, having first been
appointed by the Earl of Holtleiness. After a short conversation
upon the su eject of is iporting my effects loan 11 olland and France.
free of duty. which Mr. Frazier himsclf introduced, lord Car-
marthen invited me to go with Ida, in his coach to Court. When
we arrived in tl:e antichawber, die (EU de Beef, of St. Jame-,.
the Master of theCennionies met me, and attended me while die
beinetury of State went to take the comniandstif the King. While
I stood to this place, when it seems all :Ministers stand upon
such oce.eione. always attended by the Master of Ceremonies. tl.e
room very full of Ministers of State,llisliops, and all other sorts
of courtiers, as well as the next rooms which is the King's bed.
chamber, you may well suppose that I was the focus of all eyes.
was relieved. however. from the embarrasnnent of it, by the
Swedish aid Dutch :Ministers. who came to me„ and entertained
me with a very agreeable conversation during the whole time.
Some other gentkineo. whom I had seen before, caine to make
their compliments too—until the Margit is of Cartiarthen returned,
and desired me to go with him to his Majesty. I went with Lis
I.ordrhip through the lase: .roam into the King's closet—the dour
was shut. and I was left with leis Majesty and the Secretary of
shoe alone. I made the three reveretwes; one at the door, another
t.bout halfway, and the third before the ertscrice.aeconling to the
teageestablishod at this and All the nottlieni Courts of Europe,
tied then addreated myself to his Majesty in the following words:
Sir.—The United States of America have appointed me
Minister I'lenipotentiary to your Majuity, and hmie directed me
to deliver to yourlejesty thus letter. 'bait contains the evidence
tai it. It is in obedience to their express cousin:m(l4,, that have
the honour to assure your Majesty of their unanimous dispusition
and desire to cultivate abe most friendly and liberal intercourse
between your .lajesty's objects and their citizens, and of their
best wishes for your Majesty's health and happiness. and tur
that of your Royal fonil/.
Phe appointment hf a Minister from the !Jr iced States ao
tour Majesty's Court will non an epoch in me history et*
ngland and Ameriat. I think rnyeelf more fortunate than all
niy fellow citizens. in having the distinguished honour to be the
first to stand in your Majesty's royal presence in a diplomatic
eharacter ; and I shall esteem myself the I to phst (it' men ill
can be instrumottalin nootimmentling my country noire and more
ts your :11asjesty'e royal betievaknee, end of restoring an entice
e-iteent, confidence, and affietlim. or, in better words, • the old
eood nature, seal the good old frumour,' between people. who
(bough separatedliy an ocean, and under d irretc nt Caivernments.
(tare Cie sai»c langurge. a similar teligien. a kindred blond.
beg yaw- :%Itijestee permission -to add. that although I have
•onietazies before been intno bid by my toteitry. it was never in
my a hole life in a:manner sn agreeable to myself."
'Dye King listened to every word I sok!, pith digritylt is true,
hut a ith an cpparent euntien Whctherit was the nature of the
;oters.ew, or whether it was my visible ee i•id ion, for I felt mole
thim I did or enuld express. that touched Liar. I cannot ray, but
L. was touch affected, and iirsweted me with more tremor dam I
mad spoken with und •aid—
•• Sir—The circumstances of th is audience are so extraoreinar).
language jou have now held is so extremely proper. and tht,
feelings you have diseovercd adaptsil to the onside',
Om; I mint say, that I not coly revtistd with pie..tere die as-