The New York herald., 1875-11-28
"W WASHINGTON."
Tupper's New American
Drama.
The Tribute Of the English
Poet to America
The History OF the Revolutionary
War Condensed.

The following letter from Colonel John ". Forney to
the Philadelphia Press will be read with interest," as the
Grst description Of Mr Tupper's new drama, founded
ON the character and Of George Washington in
the Revolution
LONDON Nov. 4, 1875.
Last evening several English and American gentle
men met the well known Martin Farquhar Tupper at
The residence OF the American Minister, General
Schenck Cumberland place, for the purpose of hearing
him read his play called Washington" drama
in FIVE acts, which he introduces as follows:-
Having all my life through had an honest admiration
Of George Washington un very early book, "The
kind) rejoice in the chance OF making monograph
Of his noble life and my well known international
do ancestrally from much older times win be good
excuse II such be needed for producing this play on
The centenary Of American independence
Mr.. Tupper was born in London in 1910, and from
1888 down TO the present time has contributed many
volumes to English literature. His 'Proverbal
Philosophy" published in 1874, Is familiar both
idcs OF the Atlantic Il was novel experience to
aear an English gentleman reading a drama in which
The whole argument and much OF the history OF the
Revolutionary War is illustrated and condensed and II
vas specially gratifying TO notice the effect upon his
swn countrymen as he carried through the varied
Of the play ! am not quite sure that his
"washingtonn could be successfully produced in
America although the English present insisted that II
would be tavoraby greeted in London. After some
necessary alterations l have no doubt that If
represented in America during the seminal
year, II would be handsomely rewarded. He
introduces Washington, Franklin, Patrick Henry
John Adams, Benedict Arnold, Marquis de Lafayette
Major Andre, Bishop (washington's negro body SER
vanp, Martha Washington and Mary Arnold the sis
Ter of the traitor. few passages will give you
touch of the quality OF the play. He opens with
Arnolds violent patriotism, If TO show that ex-
IRENE men always to be distrusted, and he follows
with several excellent pictures Of Franklin and Wash
lngton The former has just returned from England
and reports his reception by the British Council in
London quote what Franklin said =
said we hated priestcraN and would
OF State religion and its hierarchy;
We would have none of foreign laws judges
Or taskmaser officials grinding
BY tyrannous taxation everywhere;
I told them we denounced, renounced all these.
And claimed, though loyal stir sclfgovernmenk
Yet all fell through; utter chaos of failure
Seemed to crash round me like shattered world
And then felt much as that self strong man,
Horace, you remember, who de6ed,
AS you with me- defy, the thunderbolt
Even Of tyrannc Jove himself Alone,
In the calm majesty Of selfrespect
] then threw down your gage Of Independ ence,
And, full free conduct granted. came away
Pledged. like yourselves rebel for the right.
And Washington's answer
rhus, England we break away from thee:
Ny fathers home for full four hundred years,
Dr. ever we came here century back,
Must be renounced forever.
Be itso
in this struggle win the glorious prize
Dur peoples freedom 10 the end Of time,
4 nation thas shall overflow the globe,
Making this hemisphere the fountain head,
70 what Lisgah view 70 one who stands
Ehe s Fs:he, n % Of bis csn5try 70 az az ages, ages,
Dow svif and terrible the penatosi
ny sns s shss Ss ss
while for MYSELF t5s tIs.or'. hdsSa. doom.
For the strife TO conquer libertyl
is there o middle track too late, TOO late;
s.,sy The ;s9, , d5ssa Re the s e f ;s ss
In their just cause Of freedom be the pass
Wiped dead-the present bloody effort
hs d Saa Ssas
Are these all and safe ON freedoms sidsf
Can abjure my country aud my king,
Mother Yet are there seen some socalled mothers
The cAlloqs and hard-hesrted sort in whom
Counted her children @ dsys8 from hearth anthOms,
Y shs neglect. g teach !. and .ssS Train . her sons
Makes them her seffs ana dradges keeps them down,
JhOug9 they ere grown taasdgsd for liberty
To taunt with ingrattude, or claim
s. S 1RRs Rsr GsS England
ESiled Tor conscieneo-saie in evil days;
And we are still fallen On days as evil;
Tyrannicaly taxed, ssraitened kept down,
Treated like childreD-worsc, like Savesl o soult
Pray hard for better times May some grand change
a aPy Sns sa ~ y an
Leaning upon America her son,
Returned TO love and bless her, thanking Heaven,
Whose overruling wisdom ordereth all thngA
Making mans wrath work the good will Of God.
That these twin giant pc ,ples linked together
Shall hold both hemspheres in fee between them,
Making the world their one imperial realmi
A street in Baltimore, Scene 9, Act 3 is curious
revealing what Mr.. Tupper insists is the history OF
the origin Of the American Gag.
-put En-