The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-09
Original MS. Copy OF ''The Staf-Spangled
BanneI," by the Author.

From the National Inteligencer.
1t Will be gratifying to the public to know
that there is an accessible copy OF Francis s.
Keys national soul-stirrDg poem, in his own
hand-wuting-a copy prepared, too, many years
after its competition, and evidently in the exact
language intenued by the author, as 1t was pre-
sented by him to the late esteemed James Maher,
tor more than thirty years tie gardener of.the
Executive Mansion, well known for his extra.
ordinary enthusiasm on the subject of American
victories over the British.
The copy referred TO has for some days been
on exhibition in the window of Messrs. Philip
& Solomons, and the identity of the handwriting
is certified by Judge Dunlop, Nicholas Callan,
ESQ, Hon. Peter Force, and Joseph II. Bradley,
ESQ.,, all OF whom were intimately acquaI nted
with Mr. Key, and perfectly familiar with his
style of penmanshlp. In fact, his style was so
peculiar and so Uniform that it would be almost
impossible for any one who had ever noticed it
with ordinary care to be mistaken.
The peculiar circumstances in which the
author was placed at the moment of the inspira-
ton that resulted in the immortal song. and
during which 1T was partially written, add per
unenCy TO the language and force to the
thoughts so musiCally expressed.
The american CyclOppdiap contains the fol-
lowing parapraph:-"Francis Scott Key, an
American lawye and song-writeT, born in Ere
derrick county, Maryland, August l, l770, died
in Baltimore, January II, 1S4S. He was edu-
Gated at st. Johns College, Annapolis, and COM
menced the practice OF law at Frederick City.
subsequently he removed TO Washington,
where he was tor many years District Attorney
of the District Of Columbia. AS a song-writer
he is chiefly known by his "Star-Spangled Ban.
ner," a popular national lyric, suggested and
partially written while the author was detained
in the British feet during the bombardment of
Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, of which he was
an interested Witness"
According to the best information within our
reach, he was picked up in a small boat while
going TO the British feet to obtain the release of
friend, and having been detained over night as
prisoner, was an unwilling spectator OF the
bombarGment; and by the light of rockets and
bursting shell, he and his companion, to whom
it would seem he addressed himself In the poem,
could catch occasional glimpses OF the loved flag
still flying dehantly over the fort that protected
Baltimore. Hence his language, 'the clouds OF
the fght.n
He also heard the vaunting boast of a British
officer, that the tort would be reduced in brief
period after the attack; and this circumstance
explains the use of the pronoun in the singular
number in the line, This blood has washed out
his foul footsteps polluton.n
The change OF "Onn to "o'er" in the line " =
> now shines on the stream,n is positively
objectionable, as it does not present the glori.
flying picture intended by the author viz. the
reflection of the flag from the surface of the
water.
Looking down upon the blood-stained deck of
the vessel alter the bOmbardment, ne was in
spired to the use of the eXultant language
"IEis blood has washed out,n etc.
We give below a verbatim copy, italicising the
words that have been changed by various COM
pliers, and referring by numerals to some OF the
changes that are most common:-