Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-02-11
ElIAN ALLEN IN ENGLAND.


up ycinn maa was ever more at case IN the
polisae5 ranks ofliio than he. Not that he at
all ctdormed To iheir artificial rules and title
eiiqufse but thai he observed the dictates of
naiunl good sense and good hunor. His
beaurg was in total defiance of fashion, and
he locked and acted as if he thought it would
be z nScscension thus TO trammel himself.
L iRaXn- that early in life, IN his own
coun@V, BE acquired an iniiucnce oyer llis fasA
low men, and led them on 10 some Of the most
daring achievements. He seemed TO have
possessed oil the cloments of hcro--a dcvo-
ted patriotism, rcsolu,e and daring mind and
an excellent Judgment.
His conduct as a partizan officer is well
known IN this country, I'D was of great ser
vice TO the cause Of liberty during our revou-
tionary struggle. lie was taken prisoner and
carried to England where his excellent sense
his shrcwdness and Wit, introduced him into
the couri region. A friend Of our earlier life
who was well acquainted with this part of the
history OF this singular man, used to take great
delight III telling US some anecdotes OF Col.
Allen while prisoner in London. We have
before mentioned the tirinncss with which he
resisted the attempts to bribe him from the
cause of his country, and the caustic satire
with which he replied to a nobeman who was
commissioned by the ministry to make him
lea. The incident is striking one, and will
bear repetition.
/ The commissioner, amongst the tempting
! largesses, proposed that if he would espouse
/ the cause Of the king, he might nave fee
simple in half of the State Of Vermont II am
plain man. said Col. Allen in reply "and
have read but few books, but | have seen in
pint somewhere, circumstance that forcibly
reminds me the proposal Of your lordship
il is OF a certain character that took certain
other character into an exceeding high noun
tain, and showed him al the kingdoms of the
earth and the glory thereof, and told him if he
would fall down and worship him these would
( all be his and Me raScaL' added he, "didnt
o'cn a .foot Of them ~
His interview with the King at Windsor is
mentioned as highly interesting. His Males
ty asked the stout-hcarted mountaineer, ifthey
had any newspapers in America. But very
/ few, and those are but little read was the an
swer, How then asked the King, do the
common people know of these grievances of
Just eSnhs s pesSaiEing . As to that, said he,
can tel your Majesty, that amongst "A people
who have felt the spirit Of liberty, the news of
oppression is carried by the birds of the air
and the breezes of heaven. That is too fig
urave an answer from matter OF fact man,
to a plain question: rejoined the king. well,
to be plain, answered the rcbelious subject,
'among our people the tale ofwrong is carried
from man to man and from neighborhood to
neighborhood, with the speed of electricity
my countrymen feel nothing else Out Of the
abundance Of the heart the mouth speaketh,
will add, with great respect to your majesty,
that such people cannot be put down with
the sword
The king made long pause as if strongly
n pf IL 4rl
length, changing the subject, he asked Col.
Allen if he knew DR.. Franklin and being an
sweled in the affirmative, inquired concerning
his'eXpcriments with electricity, and express
ed a curiosity to experience an electric shock.
The British sovereign seemed to take pleas
ure in the conversation, which nc kept up ioI
more than an hour, and at length made Col
Allen promise 10 visit him with his country
man, DR. Frln@iin at his palace in London
Some weeks after this, he was reminded OF
his promise by the nobleman above menilone.
and au boar was fixed for the honoured ph
4 losopher of America to explain the mysteries
l of a ncw discovery in science to the royal fam
r ily. They attended accordingly, and with al
l. apparatus chiefly Of his own invention, DIR
. Fransin exhibited many of those simple an
amusing experiments, for which he was so no
d ted, and at which the royal children, eve
2 those Of a larger growth, we're much delighted
10 In this playful way, DR.. Franklin took oc
u cason 90 convey instruction as to the proper
- ties OF this astonishing fluid. While the roy
r al household was thus IN a most unkngy uT
o roar, the Premier was announced as IN wal
,, Jag The King seemed for a moment dislnl
~ bod y forgot ,ny rrr'o,n',@''' '','t' re, l
= ister,' said he, bat no natter "l'l csche'
o business for once, and lot North see how W
n arc employed Accordingly the minister wa
% usherei in with little ceremony, and II wa
e soon concluded illt he would have a shoci
t. Allen whispered TO the Dr. to remember ho
81 be had shocked AS across the waters, and
e give him a double charge whotherr was d'
n signed on the hint of his friend or not, va
~ not asconaiucd, but the charge was 50 po"e
y fll on the nerves Of his lordshlp, as 10 MAX
20 him give way IN the knees, al which all, esp'
", rlallv the Processes. were almost conYulse
d. with mrih.
%, some Of Col Aliens happy reiorts at Il
iE clubs and fashionable parties are sun remen
as bered aud often repeated. On one occasio
le he WAS challenged 20 a glass Of wine by Il
81 beautiful Duchess Of Rutland, who seems
C. have been particularly pleased with his ind
ID pendcnt manner, and you must qualify yo'
PIP glass with toast observed the lady. II
90 Namonter' very uuaileclediy observed th
re he was not used 90 that son OF ceremony, or
" was afraid that be might give offence.
e however. tIie lady would bee so good as 90 su
p, gest "a SUBJECT, he would ondeayor 20 give
w sentiment on said she, never mind q
r. subject-auy tula9 VIII do, 30 that II has
treason in IT, Well says be, This may
Tor truth ID not ioi a toast and, fixing b
gh ewes adorng.y % the Tar famed couu beau'
~ he proceeded
~ III any thing could make a double trait
&c 80 81 d, nod r4frfuf u u.olIh 10 the VlfC