Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-03
THE FIRST FOURTH.
HOW THE DECLARATION WAS RE-
celvEp IN LONDON.

/
Newspapers OF That Date Declared
| That the Leaders Of the Revolution
| Were Thieves - Called Hancock .
Smuggler and Adams . PettifOggsR.
Turning to the files OF the London
newspapers for the summer OF l7I8-
fles that are not the least valuable Of
the stores Of the British museum-we
find that the Declaration Of Independ-
ence was not altogether unexpected,
says the Louisville Courier-J Journal A
heated discussion Of the rights and
wrongs of the colonies was carried on
for some months prior TO August, when
the first news Of the Declaration reach
ed London.
On Aug. II the news was received
that independence had been declared
by the united colonies. All the news
papers OF that date published an iden-
tically worded paragraph which read.
advice Is received that the congress
resolved upon independence the 4th Of
July and, IL is said. have declared war
against Great Britain In FORM"
The next day. Aug. 13, The Gazetteer
published this information:
| by private letter received from the
Mercury packet We are informed when
congress resolved on independence
there were present several foreigners
Of different nations. among whom
were some persons Of distinction from
the courts Of Versailles and Madrid.
"a correspondence. we are assured,
has been carried on between the dele
gates OF the American congress and
our natural enemies. the French and
Spaniards. and that IL was In conse-
auence OF the latter promising 10 give
the former every assistance In their
power that the Americans declared for
independence.
"As soon as the colonies declared
themselves independent states two for
eign vessels which were at Phlladel-
phla slipped their cables and sailed
with the intelligence to the above
courts.
"By private letter from Philadelphia
we have advice that the congress had
made n great naval promotion-viz,
two admirals, two commodores and
several captains"
The Morning Chronicle and London
Advertiser Of Aug. IA. lII6. announced
that:
| COPIES OF the declaration OF war by
the provincials are now In town and
are said 10 be couched In the strongest
| terms-that. having now drawn the
sword In defense Of all that Is dear TO
them. they are determined never 10
sheathe II till n full compensation Is
made for the cruel expressions they
have sustained.
1T Is said the American provinces
have not only declared themselves In
| dependent, but that they have sent me
MORALS thereof aud OF their proceed
ings to most OF the courts OF Europe
The British Chronicle Of Aug. 10
printed the Declaration OF lndepend-
ence In full. and the other papers strug.
gied along. printing the document IN
iustallments. The British were OF
course ignorant OF what was transpir-
Ing In America, and In lieu OF news
they turned their attention 10 person
aIities. The Morning Post OF Aug. -
laid before Its readers this screed
ARNOLD. the commander in chief OF
the rebels In Canada, once Kept the IN
telligcnce Office In the archway leading
from St Pauls churchyard to Doctors
/ Commons and. having In an intrigue
with a certain citizens wife expended
more than his finances would admit.
was tempted to try his fortune on the
highway. This step obliged him to de-
camp and to take up his residence
among the saints, race OF men among
whom such conduct can hardly be held
dIsgraceful. as they derive their origin
principally from pickpockets and re-
prieved felons. Accordingly, as no bet
ter man could be found In this land OF
heroes, he was opposed TO Carleton.
Plunder being the object OF the con-
gress In the expedition TO Canada. they
chose, with great propriety, thief and
a robber for their leader. Hancock. the
president Of the congress. Is ruined
and therefore discontented smugGler
Adams, a pettifogger. was, for want or
common honesty. refused place un-
der government. Lee, because not ap-
pointed to regiment out OF his turn.
Joined these desperadoes. Have We
not reason to believe that Washington
and Putnam, the Judas and Theudas
of America, will share their fate? The
hand Of heaven must be against un-
natural rebels who. In hopes OF repair
ing their own ruined fortunes, bring
famine. na, lness and the sword upon
deluded multitude"
III any one was to be spared personal
yilification, 1t would be natural to sup
pose that Franklin would be the man.
On the contrary. he was singled out by
The Morning Chronicle Of Aug. 70 for
the subject Of a special article. from
which we are surprised to learn that:
] "Dr. Franklin, when In England, got
himself appointed postmastss OF half
America, his son governor OF New Jer-
sey and his friend stamp master OF
!, Pennsylvania. Being returned to
/ Philadelphia, he obtained seat In the
congress. while his son remained gov
, ernor Of New Jersey and stickler for
the measures of administration, where
] by he Is become 20 dangerous and de-
testable to the people that they have
taken him into custody and sent him
. prisoner to Connecticut. BY this ma
. neuver Of DIR. Franklin, II the Ameri-
; cans prevail then he is the patriot that
, saved them; II the crown prevails.
!. then his son. the governor, Is to be re-
, warded for his services and for the
persecution that he suffers. So that,
let who will triumph. the doctor and
his family will be on the right side
The First Glorious Fourth.
Il A..s 49, ahn0u