New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-22

With evident agitation, he drew from hts pocket
| the scroll containing his speech. The Commons
were summoned, and after order was restored, the
| King proceeded to read. Il was near him, says
Mr.. Watson. "and watched with intense interest
every tone of his voice, and every emotion OF his
| coun,enance. After some general and usual re-
marks. be continued: Il lost time in giving the
necessary orders to prohibit the further prosecution
of offensive war upon the continent Of North
America Adopting, as my inclination VIII always
lead me TO do. with decision and effect whatever
collect to be the sense of my Parliament and my
people, have pointed all my views and measures,
| in Europe as in North America, to an entire snd
cordial reconciliation with the colonies. Finding
il INDISPENSABLE to the attainment OF this object,
did not hesitate to 60 to the full length OF the pow
| ers vested in me, and offer to declare them
| Here he paused, and was in evident agitationI
either embarrassed in reading his speech, by the
darkness of the room, or affected by very natural
| emotion. In a moment he resumed: - and offer
to declare them free and Independent States. In
thus admitting their separation from the crown OF
these Kingdoms, have sacrificed every consdera-
ton of my own to the wishes and opinions of my
i
TO Almighty God, that Great Britain may not feel
the evils which might result from so great dis
| memberment Of the Empire, and that America
may be free from the calamites which have for
merly proved, in the mother country, how essen
tia monarchy is to the enjoyment OF constitutional
liberty. Religion, language, interests and affec-
ton may and 1 hope will, yet prove bond of
permanent union between the two countries
at is remarked" our narrator continues, " thai
George I'LL is celebrated for reading his speeches
in distinct, free, and impressive manner. On
this occasion he was evidently embarrassed; he
hesitated, choked, and executed the painful duties
of the OCCASION with an i'll grace that does not be-
long to him. cannot adequately portray my sen.
satons in the progress of this address; every ar
terry beat high, and sweled with my proud Ameri-
can blood 1t was impossible not to revert to the
opposite shores of the Atlantic, and to review, in
my minds eye, the misery and woe l had myself
witnessed in several stages of the contest, and
the widespread desolstion, resulting from the
stubbornnesS of this very King, now 80 prostrate,
but who had turned deaf ear to our humble and
importunate petitions for relief. Yet / believe
that George Ill acted under what he felt to be the
high and solemn claims of constitutional duty"
After an extensive tour on the Continent of Eu-
rope. which he has described in a series Of inter-
estiug "reminiscences, Mr. Watson returns to this
country in the Autumn of 17S4. Ho was 80
changed by time and travel that he was compelled
to announce his name to his old patron Mr.. Brown,
and even his own father did not recognize him.
On the Sd of December he takes passage in sloop
for New-York with Rufus King, Elbridge Gerry,
and Judge Sullivan, on their way to Congress.
New.YOrk then contained about 400 houses and
20, 900 inhabitants. Philadelphia had about 1000
dwellings, chiefly built of brick, and popula-
ton of $4,000.
On the 23d of January, 1885, Mr.. Watson visited
Mount Vernon. He was the bearer Of letters from
General Green, and Col. Fitzgerald, former aid
of Washington, and also Of books from Granville
Sharp. No pilgrim approached Mecca with
deeper enthusiasm. He tremblod with awe, as he
came into the presence OF the great man. He
found Washington at table with his wife, and his
private family and put at ease by his free and
anable conversation. There was a peculiarly in
his smile which seemed to illuminate his eye. His
whole cOuntenaDce beamed with intelligence
while it inspired confidence and respect 81
found him." says his adnIirer, kind and benig
nant in the domestic circle, revered and beloved
BY all around him; agreeably social, without os-
tentaton; delighting in aneceote and adventures
without assumption; his domestic arrangements
harmonious and systematic. His servants seemed
to watch his eye and to anticipate his every wish;
hence look was equivalent to command. His
servant Billy, the faithful companion of his military
career, was always at his side. Smiling content
animated and beamed on every countenance in his
presence. The first evening spent under the
wing of his hospitality, we sat fell hour at table
by ourselves, without the least interruption, after
the family had retired. was extremely oppressed
By severe cold and excessive coughing. con-
tracted by the exposure Of harsh Winter journey
He pressed me to use some remedies, but declined
doing so. Az usual after retiring my coughing
increased. When some time had elapsed, the door
Of my room was gently opened, and on drawing my
bed-curtains, to my utter astonishment, l beheld
Washington himself standing at ny bedside, with
bowl Of hot tea in his hand. I was mortified and
distressed beyond expression
The exertons Of Mr.. Watson in the cause of
internal Improvements and the elevation of agricul-
ture, during the subsequent portion of Ais career,
have given special interest to his nare, and are
described in detail in the present volume. His
sngularly active and varied life was brought to o
close December 5, 1542, when he was in the eighty
fifth year Of his age. The biography now published
is of An unambitious character but will possess a