Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-18
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
HOW ENGLAND RECEIVED CORN
WALLIS SURRENDER

N ALLlS
 It was a bitter pill to the English pride when the announcements began to creep into the English papers that affairs were not going well with the country's arms in their conflict to retain possession of their colony across the sea.
 The report of the surrender of Corn wallis did not reach England until near ly two weeks after it's occurrence. On Sunay evening, October 25, some eager watchers for the latest intelligence hang ing about the neighborhood of the Ad- miralty office might have noticed on officer wearing the uniform of the British navy hastily entering that place. It was Capt. Melcombe, commander of his Maj esty's sloop, the Rattlesnake, who was bearing messages from Admiral Graves.
 The news lie bore was carefully con cealed and it was not Uatil late in the afternoon of the following day that the people of England were to hear of the terrible disaster. Even Lord North was not apprised of the surrender until Mon- day morning, when he reached his of fee in Downing street.
 The first to announce to him the news of the direful disaster was Lord George Germain, bis warm supporter in all meas ures to subdue the rebellious Americans. in company with Dords Walsingham and Stormont he drove to Downing street and told the dismal tale.
 And how did he take it?' some one l inquired afterwards of his Lordship. AS he would have taken ball in his breast" replied Sir George, flor he opened his arms. exclaining wildly, as he paced up and down the apartment "Oh God It is all oyern n' words which he repeated many times under emotions of deepest agitation and distress
 A message was at once sent to Kew, i where the King was at that time, to ac- quaint him with the melancholy termina- l ion of Lord Ctrnwallis expedition. The London Chronicle of Tuesday, November i 27, prefaced its account of the surrender of Cornwallis by saying: we are sorry l to communicate to our readers the fol- lowing athentic particulars of the dis astros catastrophe of the gallant Lord | Cornwallis and his army. Yesterday the captain of the Rattlesnake arrived with the disagTeeable news of Cornwallis' sur render in Virginia and underwent an ex- animation relative to the above import ant affair previous to the council held on that occasion
 The same paper contained a fierce attack on Sir Henry Clinton, in which the editor declared that everyone must see that the melancholy capture of the gallant Cornwallis and the brave troops under his command had risen from an unaccountable neglect in suffering Wash ington quietly to march by him down to Trenton without making the least attempt to attack him or do any one thing to precent his march. Never, sure, was . nation so ill served by it's commanders.
 On the same day the King went ir his usual state to the House of Peers and opened both houses of ParNamen with his usual speech from the throne and referred with sadness to the 1nis fortune to his arms in Virginia. Wher the King retired there was an exeitins scene in both houses of Parliament ant 8 discussion followed as to the method l of continuing the war that lasted unti } 10 o'cloe kthat night.
 , To the criticism against the ministry Lord North replied by affirming that tn
 war win America had been unfcrtunat . but not unjust. The speech of the Prin
 Minister aroused tde indignation of MT
 Burke, who declared that if there coul
 be a greater misfortune than those whic
 the country had suffered in the disgrace
 ful contest, the government was now car l. rying on, it was hearing men rise up il 2 the great assembly of, the nation to win q dicate such measures.
 Notwithstanding the moFtifd pride C
 
 . tion of Lord Germain that he would neve vote for the cessation of the war, : there was to be a recognition of Am o erican independence, the end of the con | flict was near at hand. For a few week
 Parliament was the scene of most eXcit
 ing debates, and the public press by re r. ports which from time to time were put $ lished, kept up the excitement. 8 In the London Chronicles of 'Januar e 3, 17S2, was printed a proclamation b the King for general fast to be obsery
 ed throughout the country February r to confess the national sins and to in 2 plire the Divine blessing upon the pros
 ecution of the war in America. c Popular opinion in England, however n was opposed to the cintinuing of the wa T. ahd after many delays treaty of peac 2. in which there was full recognition (
 the independence of the United State Il was signed at Paris on January 20 17S l. the news of which reached this countr
 in the 23rd of the following March I'll ,. formal declaration of 3. cessation of hos 1T tilities was made h the army on Apr 7 1s, exactly eight years after the battl Is of Lexington.
 s Tomorrox-our Good Friend Baron [