The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-04-24 00:00:00

LORD FAIRFAX.

Charles Snowden F3irfax, & deacendant of Lord
Fairfax, died in Baltimore on the sth inst. He was
tormetly Speaker of the California House of Repre-
sentatives. Referring to the deceased, the editor of
" Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage,"
dating from 65, Ludgate-hill, London, has sent the
Following interesting letter to The 7 low for pubhca-
tion :

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Tile death of Charles Snowden Fairfax, recently announced
as ha' lug occurred at Btltimore on the sth of this month,
deserves more than a paasinr notice. Ile was tenth Lord
Fairies in the Peerage of Scotland, and was a lineal de-
scendant of the celebrated Parliamentarian Generals Ferdi-
nand,' alld Thomas Fairfax. The latter it may be remembered,
r.durtied to Royalism and helped to establish Charles 11. on
the throne. The Mil Lord Fairfax married Catherine Cold-
pepper, who brought him as a dowry immense estates it.
gmland and America, the latter situated between the
Potomac and the Rappahannock. Their son Thomas the sixth
lord) having visited his American property, was so en-
chanted with it that he resolved to live and die there, and
having transferred his English property to his brother,
afterwards the seventh lord, built himself two residences,
which he entitled respectively Greenway Court and Beivotr,
resided principally at the former, where he kept open house
with true baronial hovitality, and died a bachelor at a green
old age. His brother, who succeeded him. died without
issue. In 1500 the House of Lords deeided that the Rev.
Bryan Fairfax, a kinsman of the late lord's, was entitled to
the barony, and the late Lord Fairfax was his great grand-
son. An anecdote of the late lord, which I can vouch as
being authentic, is so pleasing to our common humanity,
and shows so prominently Phe innate goodness of the late
lord, who, deeming himself wounded unto the death by an
assassin, yet for the sake of his wife and child spared him,
that I trust you will allow me to extract it from iny
"Peerage" . .

"Is the Spring of 1859 Lord Fairfax was walking home, ac-
companied by the Chief Justice .f California and two other
friends, when he was met by a reporter of the Court named
Henry Lee. Lee, having thought Led Fairfax had in some
way tried to injure him, accused him of so doing, a charge
which his lordship denied. Tothis denial Lee rejoined in an
insolent and offensive manner, substantially giving the lie,
evidently desiring that Lord Fail fax should strike him; he
effected his object, Ms lordship striking him on the
face. Lee, in return, struck at him with a light cane,
within which was concealed a long dagger. Lord Fairfax
caught the cane in his left hand; Lee sprang back,
drew the dagger quickly from the cane, and inflicted
two terrible wounds, one through the left breast, awl the
other lir the side Lord Fairfax had drawn a Derringer'
pistol, sod presented it, cocked, in time to prevent Lee
making a third thrust. In a moment Lee threw up his arms
and cried out 'Don't kill me, lam unarmed I' All this oc-
curred in an incredibly short space of time, before any one had
time to interfere, or even realise that a deadly assault had
been made). Standing perfec•ly still, Lord Fairfax (a splendid
,thot:, who had him covered at not more than six feet
distant, and could have killed him beyond any possible
doubt, thus replied, 'You miserable coward, you have
murdered me—you have assassinated me—and I have your
worthless life in my hands; but for the sake of t'our wife and
child I shall spare you.' Cries, at this, were raised from the
crowd of Shoot him, Fairfax!' Kill him !' Don't spate
him !' and the like. Standing erect, looking Lee full in the
face, and holding the pistol as before, Lord Fairfax answered,
'No, I won't Mil him!' and then, addressing Lee, said,
'Recollect, I have your life in my hands, and I spare it; not
on your worthless account, for yrcti are an assassin and a
coward, but because of your wife and child."