Litchfield enquirer., 1853-10-13
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

The late Elkanah Watson. for many years resident of Albany. was present as a spectator in the House of Lords when the Independence of the American Colonies was formally acknowledged by George the Third. The following ex- tracts from Mir. Watson's journal affords vivid picture of that interesting even. ::
 LONDON, Dec. 4. l7s2.
 The great, glorious day has arrived when our unconditional independence will be solemnly recognized by George III. in the presence of God and man. Such ct last, are the well earned fruits of a sanguinary and eventful contest of eight long years, in which period one hundred thousand brave Americans have cemenA- ed on the altar of their country. with their precious blood. prize which will bless unborn millions. and in it's eventful effects produce , new era over the entire surface of this beDighted world.
 At an early hour, in conformity to pre- vious arrangement, l had the honor to be conducted by the Earl of Ferrers Co the very entrance of the House of Lords.--- At the small door he whispered softly into my ear "Gst as near the foot of the throne as possible; maintain your position; fear not" l did SO with all the assurance of travelled Yankee, and found myself exactly in front of tue throne, elbow to elbow with the celebra- ted Admiral Lord Howe. who had just returned from a successful relief of Gi. bralter.
 The ladies of the nobility occupied tho lord 6 seat on the woolsack. so called, ai an emblem of the power and greatness of old England, because 1t has been main ly defived from wool. The lords were standing here and there promiscnously as entered.
 |. was a dark. foggy day--a' propsr English hanging day. To add 10 its gloorpy effects. the old Saxon windows stand nigh up. with leaden bars to con- tain the diamond cut panes of glass; the waIls also hung with dark tapestry. rep reseitine the defeat of the great Spanish Armads in t5ss. had the pleasure of recognizing the celebrated American painters, West al d Copley, and some American ladies in the group-all rebcls at sheasG- intermixed with many Ameri, can royalists, some of whom were my near rela.ives. with long dejec.ed faces, and despair depicted in every lineamen' of their features. After standing for two l,ours in painful suspense. the approaci of the King was announced by 2 trsnen dous roar of cannon. He entered th' small door on the left of the throne. ans immediately seated himself in the chai of State, decorated in his royal robes. | . graceful. formal. and majestic posture vitl, his right foos resting ona stool. IL was evidently agitafed. and drew slow ly from kis pocket . scroll coniaining !h' humiliating speech. I was exactly in hi' front. six or eight fee. distant, sith mJ left foot braced npon tue last step oi ths throne to suslain my position from tbs pFessnre in the rear and critically wasch' cd wilh the eye of . Lavasef, in that mo meni. every D1osion ol his sgilaied conn. ieuance. He began: " My Lords and gentlemen" md in direct ,e!erenee tc our indeEendence, said:
 I ioss 10 time in giving the necessar y ordeis to prohibit the further PTose> cuii0n of offensive war upon the contl' nent 0f North America. ss . Adopting, as my inclination wDI al- ways lead me to. with decision aud elleel, whalsvGr [ cOIlect 10 be the sense ol mJ parliament apd my people. have point Cd ali ny views and measures b Enrope s..~~s s4s-- ------ - -