THE

Declaration of Independence,

OR NOTES ON LORD MAHON'S HISTORY OF

THE AMERICAN DECLARATION

OF INDEPENDENCE.

AUTHOR OF

BY PETER FORCE, ESQ.

"

THE AMERICAN ARCHIVES, OR DOCUMENTARY HISTORY

OF THE UNITED STATES," ETC. ETC.

LONDON:

G. WILLIS, GREAT PIAZZA, COVENT GARDEN.

1855.

THE

66

INDEPENDENCE.

HE English Government, it is said, engaged the services of SCOTT, the novelist, to write the Life of Napoleon. When it was thought that their "own story" of the American War " would bear telling, "and ought to be told," SOUTHEY, the poet, was applied to to tell it. His other engagements compelled him to decline" the proposal made to him, so much to his "honour, by the British Government, to undertake a "History of the American War;" but he suggested the work to LORD MAHON as a fine subject, and which, treated as he would treat it, "would vindicate the "honour of this country, (England,) at the same time "that it would render full justice to the opposite "cause."

The letter of MR. SOUTHEY, making this suggestion to LORD MAHON, is dated August 13, 1832. Twentytwo years later the "story" was told by his Lordship. It is not attempted here to examine how far his vindication "vindicates the honour of England," but to show that he has not "rendered full justice to the op"posite cause;" and that in any effort he may have

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