The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-17
F1om the Port Folio for august.

Reception 81 Tie frst .fReficda .1mtassd-
dor at dc Court of 81. iames,-in The fol-
loving letter addressed 10 the secretary Of
state, Mr. Adams gives an account of his
/ reception at the court of London. When
it is reeollceted that he was The first minis
ter 10 England, which had been sent TO re-
present ms us an independent nation, the
address and the reply will be- read with
deep interest The language employed by
the speakers, though simple and unstudled,
is worthy of those exalted personages, aud
the sentiments are precisely such rs ought
10 be cultivated by both nations.
LoNpoN, 1874.
Sir--At one, ON Wednesday, the first
of june, the master ofihe ceremonies call
cd at my house, and went with me 10 the
! Secretary of States Office, in Cleveland
row, where the Marquis of Carn,arlhen re-
ceivcd me, and introduced me To Mr. Fra
zier, his under secretary, who has been, rs
his lordship said, uninterruptedly in that
office, through all the changes in admlnisirh-
tim, for thirty years, having first been ap-
pointed by the Earl of Ilolderness After
short conversion upon the subject oil M
porting my effects from Holland and France
free of duty, which Mr.. Frazier himself
/ introduced, lord Carmarthen invited me
10 80 with him in his coach 10 court.
When we arrived in the anti-chamber the
master of the ceremonies met me, and al
tended me, while the Secretary OF State,
went In take the commands oi the King.
When stood in the place, where II seems
all ministers stand upon such occasions, al
ways attended by the masters OF The core-
monies, the room very full of ministers
of state, bishops, aud all other sorts oi couf-
tiers, as well as the next room, which Is the
kings bed chamber, you may wellsuppost
that Was the focus of all eyes. Was re
lleved, however, from the embarrassment
oft, by the Swedish and Dutch ministers,
who came 10 me, and entertained me with
very agreeable conversation during the
whole lime. Some other gentlemen,
whom | had seen before, came 10 make
their compliments too, until the Marquis
of Carmarthen retained, aud desired me IL
go with him To his majesty. ] went with
his lordship through the leyee-room into
! the kings closet--the door was shut and
| was lett with his majesty and the secreta-
] ry Of state alone. made three REFERENCES;
one at the door, the other about hall way,
and the third before the presence, accor-
ding In the usage established at those and
all other northern courts Of Europe, aud
then addressed myselfto his majesty ~ the
following words
'Sir,-The United States Of America
have appointed me Minister plcnipolcntla-
~ to your majesty, and have directed ire
10 deliver to You majesty this letter winch
contains the evidenced II. II is III obedi
eacc totheir express commands, that have
the honor 10 assure Your maj es,y oither IL
unanimous disposition and desire to cultivate
the most friendly and liberal Intercourse
between your malesty's subjects and Cit
Zers, and of their best wishes for your ma
lesty's health and happiness, and ior that
OF your royal family.
The appointment ola minister from the
! United States To your majesty 5 court VIII
from AN epoch in the history of England
and America. | think myself more iortu-
nate than all my fellow cltl2eus, IN having
the distinguished honor TO be the first 10
stand in yuhr malesty's royal presence IN
diplomatic character ; and shah esteem
myself the happicst of men il can be M
strumehtal in recommending my country
more and more TO yonr majesty's royal
beneyolenc", and OF restoring an entire es-
| teem, confidence, and affection or III other
words, the old good nature, and the good
old humor,' between people, who, though
| separated by an ocean, and under different
governments, have the same language, a 81
milar religion, a kindred blood. beg your
lnalesty's permission 10 add that although
| | have sometimes before been entrusted by
my country, ii was never in my whole
life in manner so agreeable to myself"
The king listened to every word said,
with dignity il is true, but with an apparent
emotion. Whether il was the nature Of
the interview, or whether it was my visible
agitation, for Gilmore thanl did or could
express, that touched him, ! cannot say :;
but he was much affected, and answered
me with more ;rcmor than had spoken
with, and said,
Slr-The circumstances of this audi
ence are so extraordinary, the language you
have now held is so extremely proper, and
the feeling you have discovered so Justly
adapted to the occasion, that must say
that not only receive with pleasure the
assurance Of the friendly disposition Of the
United States, but that | am glad the
choice has fallen upon you 10 be Their mi
mister. wish you, sir, TO believe aud that
1t may be understood in America, that ]
have done nothing Ia the lat, contest b
what thought myself indspensably bound
TO do by the duty which owed to my pco
ple.--l Will be very frank with you. was
the last to conform TO the separation; but
the separation having been made, and ha
wing become inevitable, | have always
said, as | say NOW, that | would be the first
to meet the friendship of the United States
as an Independent power. The moment
SET such sentiments and language as yours
prevail, and dis osition TO give this coun-
try the preference, that moment shall say,
lei the circumstances OF languagc, religon