Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-05
NUMBER 146.
A Return Of Most Interesting Relics to viz.
gInfa.

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dence of L. w. Washington, Esq, of this county,
and having understood that Mr.. w. was in posses
sion OF many most Interesting relics of the Father
OF his Country, we went Alone Thereby TO be enabled
more fully to enjoy the sight of and, at the same
time, to handle these precious remains of other
days; and TO make note Of all we were thus en-
abled to look upon.
4 We were first shown a sword, and found on the
parchment label thereto attached, Presented TO
! General Washington by Frederick the Great cf
Prussia" with the complimentary address, From
the Oldest General in Europe to the greatest Gen
eral In the World" This sword was worn by
General w. as his dress sword when delivering bls
4 messages to Congress. 1t was chosen by his ol,-
est nephew and executor, Col. William Augustine
| Washington, lin accordance with the will OF Gen.
W. leaving him the first choice of his swords vic
Gen. WIS vii, and by him bequeathed in 1910 to
his son, Col Geo. @. Washington, of Maryland,
and BY him to his only son, L. w. Washington, in
1854.
This sword is of exquisite fnish--beinga strairl
rapier with the highest polished steel hiit, and now
In most beautiful state of preservation; in fact,
Il has the appearance of being perfectly new, 1t
having been always kept with particular care We
were struck forcibly with the difference between
the present Of a distinguished King, to remarka-
BILE General, and the voted presents by our Con-
gross and Legislatures to the distinguished militia
/ ry men OF the present day. The compliment Of
Il
the latter in the size, and amount of gold append
ed to the same
We next had the pleasure to grasp the sword,
appended to which we found the following inscri,.
tion on parchment:
worn by General Washington on funeral occ,-
sions during the Revolutionary war, and chosen
| lin accordance with his willy by his nephew Judge
Bushrod Washington, of Mount Vernon, and fy
him bequeathed in 1926 to his nephew, Colonel
| George O. Washington, and by him in S54 to his
only son, L. w. Washington"
Then we examined pistol (one Of a pair) pre-
sented by Lafayette to General Washington, nnd
| used by him during the Revolutionary war, from
| whom it descended to his nephew, Judge Bushrcd
Washington, and by him bequeathed in 1926 to
| his nephew, Colonel George g. Washington, and
| by him to his son, L. w. Washington, in 1854.
| After laying aside this interesting memento If
our country's friend, gallant defender and personal
friend Of Washington, we took in hand the d, SIX
knife used by our country's father during our
struggle for independence, which made and mend
cd many pen which was the instrument used to
| convey the reflections of our chief when even Lis
trmness was shaken by the difficulties and forebt-
dngs which overshadowed our glorious undertaking
for freedoms cause and great nations futur,,
prosperity. This knife has engraved on the ivory
handle, !" Gen. George Washington, I17e,,n We
line on the sworu-Derr, as wurh py uen. w, anu
found it to measure forty inches-showing that fer
a man devoid of corpulence, there was a manly
frame. Next we had the pleasure to inspect a
case Of and peculiar interest. IL consted ofa
mahogany box containing surveyors compass,
made by David Rittenhouse, of Philadelphia, the
friend of Benjamin Franklin Also, two levels,
one used during the Revolutionary War as gun
ners level, the other for adjusting the surveyors
case, scales. protnctors, &C., complete.
| A shagreen case containing all the protracting
instruments, in very Gne order and two surveyors
chains, together with the wooden pins used with
the same 1t is certain that these interesting relics
have been preserved with great care by those who
have possessed them, and we feclassured that they
are now in hands where they are fully appreciated
and will be well taken Of till the next genera
ton shall claim their keeping. These instruments
were used by Gen. Washington in 1749, when be
was II years OF age. They were carefully pre-
served by the General and at his death, In 1899,
they descended 10 his Oldest nephew and executor,
Col Vim. Augustine Washington, Of Haywood,
| Westmoreland county, Va, at whose death, IN
| 1925, they descended to his son, Col George {.
| Washington, of Maryland, by whom they were
presented, February 10, 1854, TO his son, Lewis
w. Washington, Of "Bell Air" Jefferson county,
Virginia
These relics have been in Maryland since 1910,
and are again restored 10 Virginia where their first
polish was worn of l06 years since. They GER
tanly must bo looked upon as the most interesting
mementos connected with the early history Of
i w nhnngiDU. EhCu year duu6 MI atuhoudi
est to these relics and In time they certainly must
be looked upon as the rarest curiosites connected
with the early history Of our country, and particu-
larly with respect 10 him who was so justly styled
I" the Father ofhis Country"
Mr.. Washington also kindly showed us many
letters from the Generals brothers, nephews,
nieces, and distant relatives. Mr.. w having nearly
all the private correspondence Of the Genera,
therefore has in his possession much that is intei-
esting, as connected with the Washington family,
and also the confidential correspondence Of the
distinguished men Of the days OF the Revolution
with General Washington, on subjects Of peculiar
Interest," -C1arlcstogn Free Press.
SOUNDING THE NIAGARA BELOW rnE SUSPENSION
BRIDeE.---on Thursday last we witnessed an
attempt by the accomplished Engineer Roebling,
the architect Of the Railroad Suspension Bridge
below Nagara Falls, TO measure the depth Of tia
water under the platform of the carriage way. This
Is 225 feet above the stream. Those who have
stood upon the bridge, and watched the current
below, win remember how rapidly, and with what
seemingly irresistible force the vast volume OF
water rushes thunderingly along, TO the narrow
gorge beyond. Yet It's surface at this point is
broken.
Mr.. Roebling attached a strong wire $50 feet
long, to plummet-shaped piece Of smooth
wrought iron, prepared for the purpose, and which
weighed AZ pounds, and suspended il from the
with II simultaneously the ,ntre slack Of the wire
Tho sounding iron struck point downwards-thero
was white streak Of lightning-lke zig gag foam
upon the water-the wire almost instantly jerked
against the rail Of the bridge, and stood out tau,
at an angle Of say 10 degrees. Running il down
with the eye, there was discovered amid the COM
mencing breakers below, the great iron plummet
dancing and skipping about on the top Of the water
like aplayfu trout Soon the wire broke and partially
sank. The AZ pound attachment at the end Ind
jerked loose and with Poole and numerous other
worthless, was "goner."
The wire was Of the very best quality and Of
the size and strength seemingly Of that used IN
winding the great cables of the Bridge. Mr.. Roeb-
ling will again try to sound the river, and Is cons.
dent that he will succeed. There is vague rtmor
down there that an Englsh navy officer, two years
since, spent three days upon the old bridge hcsy.
ing the lead into the mighty waters, and that he
actually brought up soundings from depth Of 30
feet. he used hemp line. From the vastly iuI.
patient manner in which we saw the wstcr-god cast
off the restraints Of a thin wire, we are satisfied
that that ead-line and those soundings are myths.