do we have to go all through this again? I thought we were buddies. If this attempt at reconciliation doesn't work, read the third and fourth verses of our national anthem. (yes there are 4) If you can't find it in a book resurrect "American National anthem" in this forum and read my contribution. I know you'r trying to be funny, and don't really mean it, but, find another reason to reclaim "your American Colonies" The subject of our last Presidenial election is not very funny to a lot of us. Now getting back to the tongue in cheek.
What are you going to do about The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations? (Our official name, there're only three communities on Rhode Island proper, Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth) King Charles II gave us complete autonomy, There was no appointmment of a Royal Governor, we elected ours. The King referred to this as a "Lively Experiment" and only requested that we pay lip service o his sovereignty. WE MADE THIS STICK BY FORCE OF ARMS when the British Revenue ship "Gaspee" chased Abraham Whipple's vessell "Hannah" into Naragansett Bay. (Rhode Island Territorial waters). "Hannah" knew the bay alot better than the Caspe's crew did, and, Hannah had a much shallower daught. So, they lured "Gaspee" over a sand bar at "flood tide" in the middle of a lunar cycle, where it stuck hard aground. Abraham Whipple was also sheriff of Kent Country. That night, He led his "deputies" in several rowboats, over to the "Gaspee" and called out this undying quote, "I am the sheriff of Kent County, GOD DAMN YOU. I've come to arrest you, GOD DAMN YOU. SO SURRENDER, GOD DAMN YOU". And, they did. Realizing that they had sailed into an independent country's territory. By extreme accident, one of "Gaspee's" Officers was killed when a Royal Marine's musket inadvertently fired. His body was taken ashore and buried with full military honors, (both British and Rhode Islander) iin "Trinity" Churchyard on Spring St. in Newport. The story doesn't end here. In HMS Rose's log (the original HMS Rose) entered during our war of independence, Capt Wallace noted that he's sent a note to Abraham Whipple saying that as Whipple had seized and destroyed (,they burned it to the waterline) HM Revenue vessel, "Gaspee", "For this act of piracy I shall hang you from a yardarsm". Capt. Whipple (who, by then, had become the first Officer in the fledgeling American Navy) replied, "My Dear Capt. Wallace, always catch your pirates before you hang them" Wallace, being a very fair person, also entered this in the log. HMS Rose, flagship of the fleet who's orders were to "de-populate" the City of Newport with as little violence as possible. (After all they were mostly English and Portugese Jews, who upon petition from their quaker neighbors had been granted the same rights as Englishmen) This Capt Wallace almost succeeded in doing, for instance, he'd send a foraging party into Newpoprt for some chickens, nobody'd sell them any, Rose and the others pulled up broadside to Newport, ran out their guns and sent the foraging party into town again. They came back with chickens, but, a few more families left town and took a boat for the "Plantations". The only time any of the fleet actually fired a shot was also over "Chickens", or maybe it was sheep, whatever. The'd sent a foraging party into Bristol (which is not on the island) got no sheep, fired a shot or two into the town, they knocked the bell out of a steeple and the topmast off a packet. (this is preserved in song) and one old gent died of a heart attack.
And then, there's this problem. You mention our national , "Declaration of Independence" which the Rhode Island delegation also signed. But, We had already officially declared our independence on May, 4th, two months previously. We still celebrate Rhode Island Independence day. It's an official; State Holliday, and he Proclaimation is read every year, from the steps of "Colony House" (used to be our capitol) in Newport, by the Commander of the Newport Artillery Regiment, (in 1776 uniform) Anyway, what I'm getting at is, we could prob ably take you on ourse;lves and save the rest of the colonies (including Utah) the trouble.
But Seriously folks, Give our love to Good Queen Bess, and tell her she's always in our thoughts. And, by the way, I'll bet YOU can't distinguish the accents of Devonshire and parts of Western Massachusets.
Jody Gibson