in Paris. His long and familiar intercourse with the most refined people in his own country and in Europe, had given him an ease of manner that was heightened by a natural grace. His venerable locks, hanging in masses over his shoulders, and his dignified presence, while it excited reverence, were united to such kindly fascinating manners, as to make all within his circle feel at home. He asked Watson if he was aware that he was a musician, and then conducted him to the opposite side of the apartment to show him the harmonica, a musical instrument he had invented, composed of round glasses arranged in such a manner as when played upon to give forth sounds of remarkable sweetness. He performed some Scotch airs for the amusement of his guest, with considerable skill.

Among the topics of the conversation of the evening, was the great and absorbing subject of the union of the French and American forces against Cornwallis. From their latest information, matters appeared in a very critical condition, and it was found that the British fleet might succeed in landing an army in Virginia, and defeat and ruin the plans of Washington. Even Franklin's philosophy and self-possession seemed sorely tried as alternations of hope and fear successively affected his mind; yet he was convinced that the genius of Washington would triumph over all obstacles. Watson left deeply depressed by fears of the result to his suffering country. A messenger from Franklin the next morning aroused him by a thundering rap at his door. He handed him a circular, which filled him with unspeakable thankfulness, for it contained the glorious tidings of the surrender of Cornwallis. In company with many French and American gentlemen, he called upon Franklin, to congratulate him upon this great event. He found him in an ecstasy of joy: "There is," observed Franklin, "no parallel in history of two entire armies being captured from the same enemy in any The whole population of Paris was wild with delight. And not only Paris, but all the cities of France were illuminated by their rejoicing citizens.

one war."

Mr. Watson's mercantile enterprise was for a time highly prosperous, and his purse was freely opened to the aid of friends at home, and to the relief of his countrymen imprisoned in England, several of whom, through him, effected their escape.

As negotiations were now in progress in Paris for terminating the war, Watson determined, if possible, to visit England, the land of his forefathers. Packets having been started between Dover and Calais, to facilitate negotiations, he thought he would be enabled to cross by their means. Doctor Franklin suggested, in the most friendly manner, that it would be attended with danger for him, a known rebel, to visit an enemy's country. He however gave in to Watson's persuasions, prepared a passport for him, and letters to several distinguished political and scientific characters.

Landing on British soil, Watson felt under some apprehension; yet he could not but exult at the thought of how finely his countrymen had avenged themselves for their wrongs, by many glorious victories, and by crippling England's commerce even to her very shores.

The first person he called upon, ir London, was the Duke of Manchester, whose elegant person and dignified manners marked the high-bred nobleman. From his lips, Watson first learned that the British government

had concluded to acknowledge the independence of the Colonies. A letter from Franklin introduced Watson to the celebrated philosopher and divine, Dr. Price. This gentleman was a zealous advocate of civil liberty. He was highly esteemed in the United States for his very able writings in behalf of the American cause. These were published early in the war, and had a wonderful influence in England. A friend, in presence of Watson, delicately complimented him on his great reputation as a man of learning, and on the immense benefit he had been to our country by his publications. His reply showed the wise man : "However I may be esteemed among men, I have lived long enough to learn that I know nothing."

Watson concluded to remain in England until December, at which time the king was to acknowledge the independence of the United States on the opening of parliament. In the meantime he occupied himself in traveling through some of the most interesting parts of the country. When in Birmingham, he was amused at this sentence in the prayer of the clergyman: "O Lord! turn the hearts of our rebellious subjects in America." He says, however, that during his progress through England, he was astonished at finding that the people in some localities appeared generally to sympathize with the Americans in their struggle for liberty, and advocated their cause with most cogent and strenuous arguments. He spent one evening with a party of English gentlemen, and so strong was the interest manifested, that it made him feel as if he were back among his rebel friends in America. In other localities, on the other hand, the people were inveterately hostile.

On one occasion, passing by an English farm-house, he was induced to enter by the lively sounds of a violin. He found a collection of country folks, lads and lassies, in the midst of a dancing frolic, Aside from their dialect, it almost seemed to him as if he were among his own country people, yet he says that one Yankee had more mother-wit than half of them combined. The common people showed great ignorance in regard to America and Americans. Many of them thought we were a nation of Indians, negroes, and mixed blood. He overheard this conversation while in a stage-coach near London, between two genteelly-dressed ladies. One said to the other: "I have seen a wonderful sight-a little girl born in a place called Boston, in North America, and what is very astonishing, but I pledge you my word it is true, she speaks English as well as any child in England, and beside she is perfectly white.” "Is it possible!" exclaimed the other, in tones of genuine surprise.

Watson had returned to London on the eventful 5th of December, 1782, the day on which the king was to announce to parliament the independence of America. Early in the morning the Earl of Ferrers led him into the House of Lords, and at the entrance whispered to him-"Get as near the throne as you can-fear nothing." He elbowed his way in until he was exactly in front of it. The lords were standing around in groups, among whom, and close by him, was the celebrated Admiral Lord Howe. The distinguished American painters, Copley and West, were there, accompanied by some American ladies. A few dejected American tories, too, were to be seen in the crowd. The day was foggy and lowering, and this, with the dark tapestry of the walls, gave a gloomy air to all within. After a

delay of two hours, loud discharges of artillery told them the king was approaching. Attired in royal robes, and with all the insignia of monarchy, he came in a small side door, and gracefully placed himself in the chair of state. The House of Commons having been notified, soon entered. When all was still, the king, much agitated, took his speech, written on a scroll, from his pocket, and commenced reading it. Being only a few yards distant, Watson watched with interest every tone of his voice and every emotion of his countenance. As the king proceeded, Watson felt every nerve quiver and thrill with lofty patriotic emotion. Having uttered a few introductory sentences, he went on to say:

"I left no time in giving the necessary orders to prohibit the further prosecution of offensive war upon the continent of North America. Adopting, as my inclination will always lead me to do, with decision and effect, whatever I collect to be the sense of my parliament and my people, I have pointed all my views and measures, in Europe, as in North America, to an entire and cordial reconciliation with the colonies. Finding it indispensable to the attainment of this object, I did not hesitate to go to the full length of the powers vested in me, and offer to declare them-" Here he paused, and was in evident agitation; either embarrassed in reading his speech, by the darkness of the room, or affected by a very NATURAL EMOIn a moment he resumed :-" And offer to declare them FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES. In thus admitting their separation from the crown of these kingdoms, I have sacrificed every consideration of my own to the wishes and opinions of my people. I make it my humble and ardent prayer to Almighty God, that Great Britain may not feel the evils which might result from so great a dismemberment of the empire, and that America may be free from the calamities which have formerly proved, in the mother country, how essential monarchy is to the enjoyment of constitutional liberty. Religion, language, interests, and affection may, and I hope will, yet prove a bond of permanent union between the two countries."

TION.

"It is remarked, that George III is celebrated for reading his speeches in a distinct, free, and impressive manner. On this occasion he was evidently embarrassed; he hesitated, choked, and executed the painful duties required of him, with an ill grace that did not belong to him. I cannot adequately portray my sensations, in the progress of this address; every artery beat high, and swelled with my PROUD AMERICAN BLOOD. In leaving the house, I jostled Copley and West, who, I thought, were enjoying the rich political repast of the day, and noticing the anguish and despair depicted on the long visages of our American tories."

A few days before Copley had painted a splendid portrait of Watson. In the background was a view of a ship conveying to America the glad tidings of the recognition of her independence, with the star-spangled banner, illuminated by the light of a rising sun, streaming proudly from aloft. It was all finished excepting the flag. As his gallery was continually visited, by the royal family and the nobility, the artist deferred painting it until a more proper season. After listing to the king's speech, Watson accompanied Copley to his house to dine. Soon as they had entered, he took him into his studio, "and then," says Watson, "with a bold hand, a master's touch, and I believe an American heart, he attached to the ship the

stars and stripes. This I believe was the first American flag ever hoisted in old England."

On his return to France, Watson showed Franklin an English paper with a full account of his death and burial. The Doctor was exceedingly amused and told Watson that it was the third time that he had been buried alive by the London newspapers. Watson saw Franklin for the last time, in 1786. He was then eighty years of age. "On my first entering the room," Mr. Watson says, "he observed that all his old friends were dead, and he found himself alone, in the midst of a new generation, and added the remark, alike characteristic of the man and the philosopher, 'he was in their way, and it was time he was off the stage.' Yet he delighted a circle of young people (for he was a most instructive companion to youth in his old age), the whole evening, with pleasant anecdote and interesting stories. His voice was very sonorous and clear, but at the same time hollow and peculiar."

In August 1784, Watson embarked in the ship George Washington on his return to America, having been absent five years. The master, Captain Smith, Watson had known in his boyhood. He was an intelligent, sensible man, yet from an anecdote Watson relates it seems not devoid of that singular superstition so common to seamen.

He noticed that the cook was accustomed to carry the egg shells to deck, and scrupulously break them into little bits before he cast them overboard. Watson made up his mind to ascertain the meaning of this singular superstition, so one time watching his opportunity, he caught up the bowl with the shells, and emptied them into the sea unbroken. The cook started after and brought along the captain who in a towering passion, fell to abusing Watson for his temerity. He swore that he had been to sea forty years, and never had known egg shells thrown whole into the sea, but that old bitch, Mother Carey, got into them and raised a gale of wind. To reason with him Watson knew was idle, and to ridicule such folly dangerous. A night or so after, he was summoned to the deck by unusual voices and the pitching of the vessel, where he found a tremendous hurricane coming on; vivid flashes of lightning shot across the sky; the ocean began to swell in angry waves, and the wind to whistle through the rigging with wild, appalling sounds. The captain, as he caught a glimpse of him, exclaimed, "There! did'nt I tell you so!" Thanks to a tight ship and a skillful commander, the ship rode out the gale, though the event doubtless tended to confirm the opinion of the skipper and his crew in the peril of throwing overboard unbroken egg shells.

On the 3d of October, the cry of "Land" rang through the ship, and in a few hours she was plowing among the beautiful islands of Narraganset Bay. Viewing the landscape with a comparatively foreign eye, the sky was to him more clear and blue, the stars more bright and numerous, the fields of corn more broad and the forests more expanded, than in the Old World he had left behind. At ten o'clock at night, Watson was put ashore and entered the spacious yard of a respectable farm-house. As he knocked at the door, the old, familiar invitation, "Walk in," pleasantly greeted his his ear. A momentary flash, as he obeyed the invitation, revealed the figure of an old man with distended cheeks, blowing up a light with a coal. The flame lit the candle, then, turning to look at his guest, he exclaimed,

"Sit down, sit down, my friend-where from ?"

London," was the reply; "and I wish a horse to proceed to Prov idence."

"It is too late," he responded; "to-night you are welcome to a bed with us."

Watson accepted this kind offer, and joined the hospitable farmer in a pipe by his fireside. The latter, in the meantime, poured forth a continual stream of questions, in which his good wife, who had retired to a bed in the corner, soon united. The old lady regretted, as hospitable old ladies. are ever apt to on such occasions, that she could not get him a warm supper; but baked apples, cool milk, rye and Indian bread were furnished in ample quantities, and their delicious taste reminded him of old times. He retired for the night in the best room, a spacious apartment with everything "neat as wax." As his form pressed upon a most comfortable bed, he could but mentally ejaculate, "These are the blessings of an independent American farmer!"

In the gray of the morning, the whole of the family were up and stirring around discharging their respective duties. Watson arose, also, and threw aside the paper curtains. The sight of a beautiful, well-cultivated farm, a barn-yard with noble cows, which the boys and women were busy milking, excited most pleasurable feelings. Soon entering the yard, Watson grasped his generous host by the hand, and began to tell him how much he was gratified by his surroundings.

"O yes; I have a fine farm, well stocked, and owe nothing-but these horrible taxes are devouring a poor farmer."

"Pray, sir," inquired Watson, "how much taxes do you pay in a year?” "About thirty dollars; and before the war they did not exceed three dollars."

"Is it possible so small a burden can give so much uneasiness. You are now, for thirty dollars annually, in the enjoyment of the blessings of liberty and independence. You know not how to prize the great privilege. Can you so soon have forgotten the common language during the Revolution, ‘I will sacrifice half my property to secure the rest.' I wish, it had been possible for every farmer in the nation to have passed over the ground I have traversed the last five years in Europe, and witnessed the suffering and oppression I have seen among the farmers there, governed at the point of the bayonet, and even in England, overwhelmed by taxes, tithes, and rents. They would kiss the soil of America, and call it blessed, and raise their hearts in pious gratitude to the Giver of all good."

This lesson did the farmer much good, and eased his mind. Watson wished he could have uttered it in the presence of every discontented citizen of the republic. The same cry is heard too often in our day, from multitudes who possess everything to make them happy; but who, instead, appear to study how the most effectually to make themselves miserable.

We have somewhat departed from our text in presenting these few incidents of Watson in his home land. We will take another and a last step in the same direction, by giving his account of a visit he made to Mt. Vernon, the home of Washington.

"I had feasted my imagination for several days on the near prospect of a