Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-06-30
THE FIRST FOURTH.
HOW THE DECLARATION WAS GE-
cEivED IN LONDON.

That the Leaders OIL the Revolution
Were Thieves Called Hancock 81
smuggIer and Adams "a Pcttifosger.
Turning to the files Of the London
newspapers for the summer of II7G-
files 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. u the news was received
that independence had been declared
by the united colonies. All the news
papers of that date published an iden-
tlcally worded paragraph which read,
"Advice is received that the congress
resolved upon independence the 4th of
July and, it is said, have declared war
against Great Britain in form."
The next day, Aug. 10, 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 it was in conse-
quence of the latter promising to 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 Philadel-
phia slipped their cables and sailed
with the intelligence to the above
courts.
by private letter from Philadelphia
made a great naval promotion-viz,
two admirals, two commodores and
several captains"
The Morning Chronicle and London
Advertiser of Aug ii, 17T6. announced
that
COPIES of the declaration of war by
the provincials are now in town and
are said to be couched in the strongest
terms-that, having now drawn the
sword in defense of oil that is dear to
them, they are determined never to
Oh f,,I is
made for the cruel expressions they
have sustained.
ct is said the American provinces
have not only declared themselves in
dependent, but that they have sent me-
MORALS thereof and of their proceed
ings to most of the courts of Europe"
The British Chronicle of Aug. 10
printed the Declaration of Independ-
ence in full, and the other papers strug-
gled along, printing the document in
installments. The British were of
course ignorant of what was transpir-
ing in America, and in lieu of news
they turned their attention to person
alities. The Morning Post of Aug. 20
laid before its readers this screed:
arnold, the commander in chief of
the rebels in Canada, once kept the in
telligence office in the archway leading
from ST. Paufs 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, a race of men among
whom such conduct can hardly be held
disgraceful, as they derive their origin
principally from pickpockets and re-
proved felons. Accordingly, as no bet
ter man could be found in this land of
heroes. he was opposed to Carleton.
Plumber being the object of the con-
gress in the expedition to Canada, they
chose, with great propriety, thief and
robber for their leader. Hancock, the
president of the congress, is a ruined
and therefore a discontinued smuggler.
Adams, pettifogger, was, for want of
common honesty, refused a place I'M
der government. Lee, because not APP
pointed to a regiment out of his turn,
Joined these desperadoes. Have we
not reason to believe that Washington
! and Putnam, the Judas and Theudas
, of America, viii share their fate? The
hand Of heaven must be against I'M
natural rebels who, in hopes Of repair
| ing their own ruined fortunes, bring
i famine, ma lness and the sword upon
deluded multitude"
If any one was to be spared personal
| vilidcation, it 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. 26 for
the subject of special article, from
which we are surprised to learn that:
"Dr. Franklin, when in England, got
/ himself appointed postmaster of half
America. his son governor of New Jer-
! sey and his friend stamp master or
! Pennsylvania. Being returned TO
| Philadelphia, he obtained seat in the
| congress. while his son remained gov