The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-13
Anecdotes of Col. Ethan Allen.

ted and ObScurCly brought up: vet no man
was more at ease in the polished ranks than
he. Not that he at all contormcd to their ar
tificial rules of etiquette: but he had obscrv-
ed the dictates of natural good sense and
good humor. His bearing was in to-
tai defiance of fashion, and he looked and
acted as if he thought it would be condc-
sccnsion thus to trammel hilnsclf 1t is well
known that in early lifc. in his own country.
he acquired an influence over his fellow men.
and led them on to the mos daring achieve
mcnts of a hero devoted patriotism, rcso-
lutte and daring mind, and an excellent judy
mcnt
His conduct as partiza" officer, Is vel!
known i'll this country, and was Of great ser
vice to the cause of liberty during our rcvo-
lntionary struggle. He was taken prisoner
and carried to England, where his excellent
sense, his shrcwdnesS and wit, introduced him
into the court region. \ friend of our earlier
life who was we'll acquainted with this part
Of the history Of this singular man. used to
take great delight i'll tcllin. us some ancc-
dotes of Col. Allen while prisoner i'll Lon
don. We have before mentioned the iirnncSS
with which he resisted the attempts to bribc
nl;cd 10 a unh!cunn. vim va. commissioned
,v the ministry to make him formal offers to
ir;n the British cause in America The Incl
dent was a stirring one. aid Will hear 4 rrrc-
tition.
The commissioners. amongst the tempting
larrc~~cS. nroDoscd that # he worl1 ,..nou<r
the cause o; the King. he might have a fec
>i,nplr il! half the State Of Vermont. IL am
p,a:n man.. said COL Alien in rcplv land
have read bu, few books hut h, 'yc sccnin
print somewhere. 4 circumstance that forc;bly
reminds NE Of ,hc ,ro,,,>3l ri vo,,r Lord shin.
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.vcrrd n, ,,I,.Iliors >nL;.c, -. .,,nnna o,,r
nr,,,Ir .ho tale of ,,r,, :. c.~;,1 .r,,r, ,,.,,,
with III. .,n.I -. -,
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With great rr>n,c. 70 >our m,ic>,y. th'.. >;,ri,
a people c:!nno, he Dit AouD wi,iltfr svor, '
The King made :. long pause. a> il >,ron.r-
~ impressed with IL. trG,h n, his r,r,a ], s
At length. CHANGING the subject. be- asked
- Col. Allen if he knew Nr. Frauhl;u: and be-.
inr answered in affirmative. incurred con
crrniHg his experiments n electricity. and e.
pressed 4 curiosity to cx,cricrcr an electric
Shock. The British SOVEREIGN seemed to Yak,
great pleasure in the conversation. which y,
> kent up for more than m hour and at lrno,I
: made Co.. Allen premise to ,i>it him with his
rpuuirNman DIR. Franklin. at his palace il
London. Some weeks after he wa, reminded
of his Promise by the roI,lrman above ,nrr.
: toned. and an hour fixed for IN, horc-hrc(
philosopher Of America. to explain the myStc
ricS Of new Gj;;>coy,r,. ~ ~. ,,;;n,o. ,n ~,
royal family. They attended accor,lurly
and with m establishment. ch;rt,, NJ NJ %,.,
invention. DR.. Franklin exhibited MANY o.
p those simple and amusing experiments 10,
which he was So noted. and =. which ,hc ROY
al children. even those of larger growth
were very much dclirbtrd
; IN his plav.ill way. DIR. franklin t,oL occ,
| sion to convey instruction, rs to the nr,nnr
i ties of this astonishing fluid While the Hov
al habtation was thus in mos, unkinrly IN
roar. the Premier was announced as in WHIT
: ing The king seemed for moment disturb
t cd. {" | forgot my appointment with the min
= lister" said he, but no matter. will cSchcv
b,.;rc.. f,r ,,,,oa 49,, ''.">.>' Will '>''''"
are employed. ACCORDINGLY the minister wa
ushcrcd in with little ceremony. and # W.,
: soon concluded that he should have shock
: Allen whispered to the doctor to rcmenbr
how he had Morke,l us across the waters an,
to give him a double charge. Whrtbrr i w.,
$ designed on the hint of hi, friend or nn, w.,
c not asccrtained: but the charge WAS 50 rnw
o crtul on the nerves Of his lordship. as to max,
! him give way in the knees, at which all rx
pccially the princesscs, were almost conyulsc,
with mirth
e Some of Col. Aliens happy rctorts at tb,
e clubs and fashionable parties are still rrn,cm
i bcred and often repeated. On one occas;o,
+, he was challenged to glass of wine by tn,
Il beautiful Duchess Of Ei,tse,d who S..mx -. =,
5 have been particularly pleased with his indie
t pendent manner. You must onalify you
+ glass with toast" The "V,rmon~,nr ;n",