The true northerner., 1900-07-04
THE FIRST FOURTH.
HOW THE DECLARATION WAS RE-
CElvED IN LONDON.


Turning To the files of the London
newspapers for the summon OF 1I76-
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-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,
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 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
we have advice that the congress had
made great naval promotion-viz,
two admirals, two commodores and
several captains"
The Morning Chronicle and London
Advertiser Of Aug. IA, 1T76, 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 oil that is dear TO
them, they are determined never To-
sheathe it til a full compensation is
made for the cruel expressions they
have sustained.
"It 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 10 most Of the courts Of Europe"
The British Chronicle Of Aug. 1G
printed the Declaration Of lndepend-
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. %
laid before It's readers this screed:
Arnold. the commander in chief Of
the rebels i'm Canada, once kept the in
telligence Office I'm the archway leading
from St. PauPs churchyard 10 Doctors
Commons and, having In an intrigue
with certain citizens wife expended
more than his finances would admit,
was tempted 10 try his fortune on the
highway. This step obliged him 10 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 10 Carleton.
Plunder being the object of the con-
gress in the expedition TO Canada, they
chose, with great propriety, a thief and
a robber for their leader. Hancock. the
president OF the congress, is ruined
and therefore a disconteuted smuggler.
Adams, "a pettifogger, was, for want of
common honesty, refused place un-
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
anu i 0AAfiAlis AAAt uNitAN anu L HtuNdS
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, nat lness and the sword upon
a deluded multitude"
If any one was 10 be spared personal
vilihcation, IL 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 a 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 OF
Pennsylvania. Being returned TO
Philadelphia, he obtained n 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 so dangerous and de-
testable to the people that they have
taken him into custody and sent him
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