Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-17

m0ry vi WASHINGTON troin the Cnai &c VI Whue'
lily. As every thing relating to the character
Of Washington cannot fall especially at this time,
to interest your readers. and as his example has
been held up for imitation, the enclosed will
shew by what principles he was governed.
A..
ALEXANDRIA, October Is. 1881.
Reu:: and Dear Sir-Although you have not
heard from me again, as promised, have not
been unmindtul Of the subject Of your first let
ter. Owing to sickness in one branch of the
Washington family, and the absence from home
of another, it has not been in my power to OBJ.
tain precisely such documents as hoped to pro-
cure. Indeed, the private papers Of Gen. Wash
npton are in the hands of the Rev. Jared Sparks,
who is using them to enable HIM to draw up
life of the General. Such Information as il has
been in nv power to obtain relative to his Chris.
tian principles, &c. will now give, and il more
should hereafter come into nv hands, it shall be
forwarded without delay. That he was profess
I'd Christian, is affirmed by every branch Of the
family; and the universal impression, both among
his relatives and others, is, that he was com
municant; but find no one who ever commun-
cd with him. His nephew, Major L.. Lewis,
SAYS that he well remembers leaving the General
and his vile in Church when the Lords Supper
was to be administered, and that then, none re-
NAMED in the Church here but communicates.
That he was friend and supporter Of Religion.
will appear from the enclosed extract from the
records of the v.stry Of Christ's Church. Fairfax
parish. which thought you would prefer to have,
rather than copy, on account OF ITS being
properly attested by the Rector
Major Lewis says, that such was the interest
which his uncle took in the erection of public
Church, near Mount Vernon, that he personally
surveyed the whole parish, that it might be con-
venientlv located. His own name was put on
his pew door. In this parish, there was no mi
mister during the latter part of his life. which,
tgethcr with the nature OF his sickness, accounts
for no clergyman being with him at the time of
his last illness.
There is sufficient reason to believe. that he
was regular in his devotional habits. Rev. K. c.
M'Guire saws. that once holding an argument
with Major George Lewis (who, If | mistake not,
commanded the body guard on the subject of
Christianity, he inquired from hin what
were the views of Gen. w. ON the sdbject.-
..O!" he answered, General w. was Chris
tian." aud in proof said, that he used to pray
and mentioned having heard him at prayer in his
room when he went to carry dispatches to him.
Mr.-acted, when youth, as the Generals
private Secretary. Observing that ne retired
usually at certain hour for considerable time,f
his juvenile curiosity prompted him to ascertain
for what purpose and he stated that he saw his
uncle IN ,,s knees at small stand, with the BIZ
BILE before him. This anecdote is well known.
General W., in his will, makes the following
demise:-
To the Reverend, now Baron Lord Fairfax,
give large Bible in three volumes, with notes.
presented to me by the IT. Rev. Thomas Wilson,
bishop of Sodor and Man."
With affectionate regard. your friend and
brother, WIN. JACKSON.
Rev:J. minor, ID. ID.
The within statement, | am happy to say, is
correct. LAWRENCE LEWIS.
The document here referred to, is an en-.
gasement, by those who signed it, that their pews
should be taxed five pounds each, annually, and
forever, for the support of the clergyman that
might .officate in the Church. provided there
we're no tax laid by law. The name Of WASH
ington heads the list.
I We can voucb for the truth Of this statement,
having heard it more than once from an anthem |
tic source The gentleman alluded to (who was |
nephew of General W., and with whom we |
had the pleasure to be well acquainted,) was
struck with the fact, that Gen. w. retired to
his room at regular hour every evening, and |
that his light continued to burn for precisely the
space Of an hour 1t was the punctuality and |
regularity Of the action which attracted the at
tention Of Mr.. -, and led to the pleasing |
4 evelonment now made nuhic r Ed Re-