The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-06-06
fFrom the Home journal. ]

4 IAN cxti1ict relating to Benz amin Frank
, flin-(from the Personal Recolections o
the late Elkanah Watson, distinguish
ed American Patriot ard philanthro
pist, who was in Londen at the conclu
sion of the American Rcvolution)---
which has been copied extensively BY
the periodical press both at home ane
abroad. The general, desire to know
more of this great national work, induced
us to apply to Hon. oWinslow c. Wat
son, the son of the popular author, for
permission to copy further portions of it.
in. advance of its publication /; .and. we
have now the qualification of giving to
our readers. passage of peculiar inter
est. The period to which it, refers is
seyenty-two years ago, when Mr.. Vat
son. was the bearer of dispatches from
the commissioners who adjusted the f.
nal articles Of peace, ,EEDs, -
/ Soon after my arrival in England,
having received at the Insurance efice
one hundred guineas, on the event of
Lord Howe's relieving Gibaralter, and
dining the same day with Copeley, the
distinguished painter, who is a Bosto-
nian by birth, I determined to devote
the sum to a portrait of myself. The
painting was finished in most admiral bic
STYLE. except the back ground, in which
C0peley Designed to represent a. ship
bearing to America the intelligence of
the Acknowledgements of Independence,
with sun just rising upon, the stripes
of the Union, streaming from her gaff.
All was ycomplete, save the flag, which
lCopeleys did not esteem prudent to hoist
under present circumstances, as his gal
leFy is q, constant, resort of the royal
family and the. nobility. s,r osr. -
H. I.dined with the, artist on the sglori
Gus fifth of December. 1882, after. list
ening with Eint.to- the speech of the
King, formally receiving and recognis-
ing the United States 70 America asone
of the nationssef=the earth.sr Previous
to dining, and Immediately after oursre-
turn from the House Of Lords, he invi-
ted me into his studio, and there, with
a bold hand--a master touch-and an
American heart, he attached to the ship
the stars and STRIPES. This was, i'm
Fagine, the first Amcricani flag hoisted
IA, oil E'nglancl--on caavas.ts5ass aao.
o AT an early hour, on the fifth Of, De-
cember, 1882, in conformity with pre-
'vious arrangements, / was conducted by
the Earl of rFerrers to the entrance of
the House of Lords. AT the door he
whispered, q" Get as near the throne as
you enh fearznotbing.n Idid so, and
found myself exactly in front of it, ell
bow to elbow with the celebrated Ad-
miral Lord Howe. The lords were pro-
miscuously standing as I entered. 1t
was a dark and foggy day, and the win
dows being elevated, and constructed in
the antiquated style, with tleaden bars
to contain the diamond-cut panes of
glass, augmented the gloom The walls
were hung with dark tapestry, repre-
senting the defeat of the Spanish Arma-
da. l had the pleasure of recognizing
in the crowd of spectators, Copeley, and
West the painter, with some American
ladies' I also noticed some detected
American royalists in the group. After
waiting nearly two hours, the approach
of the king was announced bya tremen-
duous roarof artillery. He entered by |
a small door on the left Of the throne,
and Immediately seated himself upon |
the chair of state, in graceful attitude, |
with his right foot resting upon stool. !
He was clothed in royal robes. Appa-
rently aggitated, he drew from his pock- !
ct the scroll containing his speech The |
Commons were summoned. and after |
the hustle of their entrance had subsi- 1
dcd he proceeded to read his speech. ,
was near the king, and watched,
with intense interest, every tone of his
voice and every emotion of his counte- I
nance. 1t was moment of thrilling
and dignifed exultation After some
general and usual remarks, he continu-
ID, 81 lost no time in giving the neces-
sary orders to prohibit the further pros
ecution of offensive war upon the conti-
lent Of North America. Adopting, as
ny inclination viii always lead. me to
10, with decision and effect, Whatever 1
,ollect to be the sense of my parliament
md my people, 1 have pointed all my
,iews and measures in Europe, as in
North America, to an entire and cordial,
with tho Colonies. Find |
ng it indispensable to the attainment of /
object, I did not hisitate to go to
he full length Of the powers vested in
ne, and offer to declare them. Here
lie paused, and was in evident agitation
i.her embarrassed in reading his ad-
Iress by the darkness of the room, or
fected by q very natural ensotio's. In
moment he resumed: " And offer to
Ieclare them FREE AND INDEPENpENr
STATES. In thus admitting their sepa-s !
alton from the crown of these Kingdoms,
. have sacrificed every consideration of +
ny own to the wishes and opinions of
ny people. I make it my humble and
rdent prayer to Almighty God, that