Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-09-21
From Tie Aational hietligenees.
American Indepehdcneef


American Colenies was formally acknowledged
by George the Third The following extTactfron
Mr.. Watson's journal affords vivid picture of
that interesting event,
LoEBoS, Thnfsday, Deyembef4; 17e2.
"Ihe great; glorious day has arrived when our
unconditional independence will be solemny re-
cognized by George H. in the presence of God
and man: Such, at last, are the well-earned
fruits of sangtnary and eventil contest of eight
long, long Years, in which period ore hundred
I Thousand brave Americans have cemenfed oil She
altar Of their country, with their precious blood,
! prize which will bless unborn millions, and In iis
eventful effect produce new era over the entire
surface of this benighted world.
| cat an early hour in conformity 10 previous az
Engagements, had the honor 20 be conducted BY
| the Earl OfFerrers to the very entrance Of tho
House of Lords. At the small door he whispered
softly into my eaf sGet as near the foot of the
throne as possible; maintain your position feaf
not did so with all the assurance of trayel-
ed Yankee, and found myself exactly in front Of
the throne, elbow to elbow with the celebrated
Admiral Lord Howe, who had just returned from
a successful relief of Gibraltar.
1.-The ladies' of the nobility occdpied the lords
seat on the woolsack, 50 called as an emblem of
the power and wealth of old England, because IL
has been mainly derived from wool. The lords
were standing here and there p,omiccuousfy as ]
entered:
| "tt was dark foggy daJ-a proper English
hanging day. TO add to its gloomy effects, tho
old Saxon windows stand high up, with leader
bars to the diamond cut panes Of glass; ths
walls also hung with dark tapestry, representing
the defeat Of tie gfest Stauish Armada in 1888.
had the pleasufe Of recognizing the ceerated A.
merican painteysJ West and Copley, and some A.
Inerican ladies in the group-all rebels at heart
ntemi4ed with many American royalists, some
of whom were my near relatives, with long de-
jected faces, and rage and despair depicted in ey-
cry lireament of their features. After standing
for two hours in painful suspense, the approach Of
the King was announced BY tremendous roar of
cannon. He entefed the small door on the left Of
the throne, and Immediately seated himself in the
chair Of State, decorated in his royal robes, in
graceful, fefmal, and majestic posture, with his
right foot resting OH stool. lie was evidently
agitated, and drew slowly from his pocket scroll
containing the humilitating speech. was exact
ly in his front, six or eight feet distant, with my
left foot braced upon the last step of the throne to
sustain my position from the pressure in my rear;
and critically watched, with the eye of Lava.
ter, in that moment, every motion of his agitated
countenance. He began: MY Lords and gentle
men, and in direct reference to our Independence
said
"f lost no time in giving the necessary orders
to prohibit the further prosecution of offensive war
upon the continent of North America.
Adopting, as my inclination will always lead
me 10 do, with decision and effect whatever col
lect to be the sense of my parliament and my peo-
pie, have pointed all my views and measures in
Europe, as iENorth America, to All entire and cor
dial reconciliation with the colonies Finding il
indispensable to the attainment of this object did
not hesitate TO 60 the full length Of the power
vested In me, and therefore / now declare them.'
(Here he paused, and hesitated for d moment and
was in evident agitation the pill he had to swal-
low in the ne2t breath was repugnant tohis diges-
tive organs. In ITS he repeled our humble pc
tition with indignty, bat in 1882 he found him
by strong convulsive effort and proceeded thss:)
thus admitting their separation from the Crown of
their kingdom, have sacrificed every considera.
ton of my own to the wishes and opinions Of my
people. / make it my humble and ardent prayer
to Almighty God that Great Britain may not feel
the evils which might result from SO great dis
aemberment of the empife, and that America may
be free ffom caiamities which have formerly prov
ed in the mother country how essential monarchy
is 10 the enjoyment of constitutional liberty. Re-
ligiof, language, interests, and affection may, and
hope will, prove bond of permanent union be-
tween the two countries
''It is impossible to describe the sensations ofmy
rebeliiots mind at the moment when the King
hesitated 10 pronounce the words free and indie
pendent, and to notice with what bad grace he
had to swallow the dose; /; every artery was in full
play, and beat high in unison with my proud A
merican feelings. 1t was impossible not to revert
al arA A0ih
succession the miseries and wfetclfedness had
witnessed in the several sages Of the war prior to
my leaving America I; the widespread desolatiou
resulting from the obstinacy ofthis very man turn
ing deaf ear to our humble appeals to his justice
and mercy, as fa god but now PROSTATE in his
turn: In his speech he tells us in one breath that
he has sacrificed every personal consideration if
other words; not yet satiated with innocent blood
shed by his Indian allies; and in the next hypo-
critically invoking high Heaven to guard us against
calamites, &c.
1.-THE great drama is now closed. The ball was
opened at Lexington, where the British red-coats
were taught to dance down to CRarlestown to the
tune of Yankee Doodle On this occasion it fell
also to nv lot to march from Providence, Rhode
Island with company Of twenty-five well discip-
lined young men; all dressed in scarlet, on our
way to Lexington, with packs on our backs; but
thev had fled before we could reach the scene of
action.
"From the House of Lords proceeded toMr.
Copley's dwelling in Leicester square to dine and
through my ardent solicitations, he mounted the
Amer IN stripes on large painting in the galle-
nv the same day-=the first which ever waved in
triumph in England
e.In leaving the House of Lords jostled in sids
by side with West and Copley, enjoying the rich
political repast of the day, and noticing with ST.
lent qualification the anguish and despair of the
Tories
"In the House of Commons the ensuing dsy
there was not much bitter debate, but good deal
of acrimony. Commodore johnson attacked Lord
Howe's expedition to Gibraltar, because he had
not gained decisive victory over the combined
fleet of forty five sail Of the line with thrtyseyen
ships. Burke then rose, induging in a vein Of
satire and ridcule, severe attack on the Kings
speech the day previous on the subject of Ameri-
can independence, saying it was farrago of nom
ated Chancellor of the Exchequer, then rose and
handled Burke with dignfed severity, charging
him with bufoonery and levity.
.'Ifaving received from Alderman Wood a card
Of admission to the gallery of the House of Com
mons, as the House was rising, the Alderman
(who is a member) came into the gallery and in
vied me to descend with him to the floor of the
House. | met Mr.. Burke, with whom b,J
breakfasted, who introduced me as a MESSENGER of
peace to Pitt, Conway, Fox, Sheridan and two or
three other members grouped on the floor. ne.
yer felt more elevated in my life. In describing
this scene to a friend in France, in moment Of
exuItaiion; subjoned:
"'Figure TO yourself, my dear friend, Young
American traveller of twenty -four, in the full g,n
dy dress of Partisan, hailed in the public paners