Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-06-12
TRAITS OF CHARACTER.
ErmAN ALLFN IN rNGl.AND.

4 SOi Ethan Allen was man dcsti-
neil TO strike the world as snmethinr-
uncommon. and in a high degree in.
teresting. lie was partially educated
and but obsourcly brought up; vet no
man was ever more easy in the polish
ell ranks of life than he. Not that he
at all confirmed To their artificial rule.
and little etiquette but that he obser.
we'd the dictates at natural gnod sense
and good humor. Ills bearing was in
totNl deiiiucc Of fashion. and he Looked
aud acted az ii he ,hought il would be
4 condesccnsion thus To trammel him
self Ii IL well known that early in
'iIc. IN hts own country. he acquired
an influence over his fellow men, and
led theEi on 10 some of the most daring
achievements. lie seemed TO have
possessed all the elements of hero
! devoted patriotism. n rcsolutc and
daring mind, and an excellent iudc.
ment.
: His conduct, as partizan officer,
IS well known in this country. and was
OF great service To the cause of liberty
during our revolutionary struggle. lie
was taken prisoner and carried TO En-
gland; where his excellent sense, his
-hre"dness and wit. introduced him
INTO the court region. a friend of our
ear!Ier life, who vas well acquainted
with this part OF the history Of this
singular man, used TO take great de-
light in telling us some anecdotes of
Col. Alien while prisoner in Lon
don. We have before mentioned the
ilrmness with which he resisted the
attempts 10 bride him from the cause
OF his country, and the caustic satire
with which he replied TO n nobleman
who was commissioned by the ministry
Ia make him formal offers to Join the
British cause in America. The incl
dent il striking one and will bear .
repetition.
The commissioner, among the tempt
iuS largesscs, proposed that II he would
c'p0usc the cause al the king. he might
lave fee simple in half OF the State of
Vermont. am plain man." said
Col. Allen in reply. ''and have read
but few books, but have seen in print
somewhere. i circumstance that forci
bly, reminds me o.the proposal of your
LOrdship; II - 81 Il certain character
that took certain other character into
an exceeding high mountain, and show
ed him all the Kingdoms Of the earth,
and The glory thereof, and told him that
IL he would f4ll down and worship
him. these would all bc his; ami the
rascal, s" added he, didn't own foot
.of them.''
His interview with the king at Wind
sor II mentioned a. highly interesting.
His majesty asked the stout. hearted
muuntsIueer, IL they had any newspa
pers in America? "But very few. and
these bot little read. " vas tie answer.
" How then. - asked the king, "do
,he common people know Of these grie-
vances Of which they complain. and Of
which sc have Just been speaking -
" As Co that, - SAID he, can tell
your majesty. that amongst people
who have felt tho spirit OF liberty, the
news Of oppression i, carried by the
birds of tie AR and the bfccLes ~
heaven. " THAT ., too liguratiye an
answer from a matter Of fact man. to n
PLAN question, p" rrioined tie king. -
- w ELL 10 DC piatn' answered The
rebelIuus subject, " among oar people
the tale Of wrong - carried from man
TO man, and from neighborhood 90
nrfghJniaOud. With ihe speed Of cleo
irlclty NY cnuntrymcn ireb nothing
else; 'o1t OF TIE abundance Of the
heart the mouth spclkctl. VIII
add, with great respect to your msles
~. that such a people cannot be put
down with the sword. "
The aIus made a long pause. as u
strongly impressed wi,h the truth 81
his remarks. 81 length, changing the
subject. lee asked Col. Allen, II be
knew Do. Frsnklin and being ansv cr.
cd 10 the affirmative. iuquired eonccr.
nlng BE-, experiments Wiih electricity
and expressed curiosity 10 zpeuene,
an electric shock The British soye.
reign seemed 90 take pleasure IN thc
conversation, which De kept Up Tor