The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-16


mon people know of these grievances of which
they complain, and Of which we have been
speaking"
GAS to that ;" said he, ~ can tell your Ma
Ijestv, that among people who have felt the
I ried by the birds of the air and the breezes Of
heaven
"That is too fgurative an answer from a
matter-of-iact man, to plain question" re-
Joined the king.
DWELL, to be plain" answered the rebellious
subject, " among our people the tale of wrong
is carried from man to man, and from neigh
borhood to neighborhood, with the speed OF
electricity: my countrymen feel nothing else;
out of the abundance ofthe heart the mouth
speaketh.' will add, with great respect to
your Majesty, that such apeople cannot be put
down with the sword"
The king made long pause, as if impress
ed with the truth of his remark. At length,
changing the subject, he asked Col. Allen if
he knew DR.. Franklin and being answered
in the affirmative, inquired concerning his
Experiments with electricity, and expressed a
curiosity to experience an electric shock. The
British Sovereign seemed to take pleasure in
the conversation, which he kept up for more
than an hour, and at length made Col Allen
p omise 10 visit him with his countryman,
DR.. Franklin, at his palace in London. Some
weeks after that he was reminded of his prom
Use by the nobeman above mentioned, and an
hour fixed for the home made philosopher Of
America to explain the mysteries of new
discovery in the royal family. They attended
according y, and with an apparatus chiefly OF
his own invention, DR.. Franklin exhibited
many Of those simple and amusing expert
lnentsfor which he was so noted, and at which
the royal children, even of a larger growth,
were much delighted.
In this playful way, DR.. Franklin took oc
casion to convey instructions as to the prop
critics of this astonishing fluid. While the
royal habtation was thus in most unking'y
uproar, the Premier was announced as in
waiting The king seemed for moment dis
turhcd =" | forgot my appointment with the
minister" said he, "hut no matter, | will
eschew business for once, and let North see
how we are employed" Accordingly the
minister was ushered in with ceremony, and
it was soon concluded that he should have u
shock. Allen~whispered to the Dr. to remem-
Der how he had shocked us across the waters,
and to give him double charge; whether it
was designed Oh the hint of his friend or not,
wu2 .''t a,corteinod, hrt the charge was so
powerful on the nerves of his lordship, as to
make him give way in his knees, (which all,
especially the Princesses, were almost con-
vulsed with mrth.
Some Of COL Aliens happy retorts at the
clubs and fashionable parties are still remem-
bered and often repeated. On one occasion
he was challenged to a glass of wine by the
beautiful Duchess of Rutland, who seemed
to have been particularly pleased with his in
dependent manner.
efYou must qualify your glass with a toast, +"
observed the lady.
| The 'Varmounter' very unaf1ectedly OBJ
served that he was not used to that sort of GER
emory, and was afraid he mig ht give offence.
If, however, the lady would be so good as to
suggest subject, he would endeavor to give
a sentiment.
| 49," said she; "never mind the subject
any thing will do, so that it has no treason in
"Well," says he, 'sthis may do for truth if
not for toast" and fixing his eyes adoringly
en- the far famed court beauty, he proceeded :
Ifany thing could make double traitor
out of good patriot, it would be the wich-
craft of such eyes as your ladyship's."
The blunt sincerity with which this was
spoken, together with the exact fitness to the
occasion and the person. caused it to be long
hailed, in the beau monde,' as all excellent
good thing and although it had the effect of
heightening for a m,ment that beauty to
which it was offered as tribute; it is said the
| fair Duchess often afterward boosted of the
compliment as far before all the empty homage
she had received from the glittering coxcomb-
ry of the city
A lady once sneeringly asked Col. Allen, in
a large assembly; at what time fashionable Ia
dies IN America preferred taking the air. He
perceived her drift, and blunty answered:
! "Whene yer it was necessary to feed the
geese and tufkies."
"What," inquired the lady, edo the fine
women IN your country descend to so mental
|enployments ?"
Allen was always aroused at any attempt to
ldeprecilte the fair ones of his own country
and with great deal of warmth he replied:
"American ladies have the art of turning
even a;nusements to account. Many Of these
1 Ia DC fa