The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-04-27

your majesty royai preselceHi uiPioih"'ie
character and l shall esteem myself the hap
piest of men if I can be instrumental in rec
ommending my country more and more
to your majesty royal benevolence, and
of restoring an entire esteem, confidence, and
affection; or, in better 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, similar religion, kindred
blood. I beg your majesty's permission to
add, that although I have sometimes before
been instructed by my country, it was never
in my whole life in manner SO agreeable to
myself"
"The king listened to every word l saids
with dignity it is true, with apparent emotion
Whether it was my visible agitation, for l felt
more than I could express, that touched him,
cannot say /; but he was much affected, and
answered me with more tremor than L had
spoken with, and said:
"Sir: The circumstances of this audience
are so extraordinary the language you have
now held is SO extremely proper, and the feel
ings 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
to be their minister. wish you, sir, to believe,
and that it may be understood in America,
III T I i no LOTT ont
but what I thought myself indispensably
bound to do, by the duty which owed to my
people. I will be frank with you, l was
the last to conform to the separation; but the
separation having been made, and having be-
come inevitable, I have always said as L now
say, that would be the first to meet the
friendship of the United States as an independ-
ent power. The moment see such sentiments
and language as yours prevail, and DISPOSE
ton to give this country the preference, that
moment shall say-let the circumstances OF
language, religion, and blood have their
natural and full effect
81 dare not say that these were the kings
precise words and it is even possible that
may have, in some particulars, mistaken his
meaning, for although his pronunciation is
as distinct as / ever heard, he hesitated some
times between members of the same period.
He YVES, indeed much affected, and was not
less so, and therefore 1 cannot be certain that
was so attentive, heard SO clearly, and under
stood so perfectedly, as to be confident of all
his words, or sense; and think that all which
he said to me should, at present, be kept secret
in America, except his majesty or his secretary
of state should judge proper to report it. This
do say, that the foregoing is his majesty's
meaning, as then understood it, and his own,
words as nearly as I can recollect them.
THE king then asked me whether l came
last from France, and upon my answering in
the affirmative, he put on an air of familiarity
and smiling, or rather laughing, said, There
is an opinion among some people thatyou are
not the most attached of all your countryman
to the manners of France" l was surprised
at this, because thought it an indiscretion,
and descent from his dignity. was
little embarrassed, but determined not to deny
the truth on the one hand, nor lead him to
infer from it any attachment to England on
the other. I threw off as much gravity as l
could, and assumed an air of gaiety, and a
tone of decision, as far as was decent, and
said, "That opinion, sir, is not mistaken, l
must avow to your majesty, have no attach
ment but to my own country The king
replied as quick as lightning, can honest
man will never have any other"
"The king then said word or two to the
secretary of state, which being between them
l did not hear, and then turned round and
bowed to me, as is customary with all kings
and princes when they give the signal to retire.
l retreated, stepping backward, as is the
etiquette; and making my last reverence at
the door of the chamber, went away. The