The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-10
SKETCHES FROM THE VIRGINIA EALLEY,
By LORD FAIRFA4, or (" GREENW4Y
COURT"
Mn1wooD, cLAnKr IVA, ! Aug. 20, 1858.

WILDWOOD, CLARKE, Val Aug 20, leoe.
Elaor Of she South -
Not far from the spot whence send you these hasty
lines lived man who exerted marked influence upon
the destiny Of George Washington, and thus upon the
fate Of North America. / refer 20 GFeenway Court,
the former residence Of Thomas Lord Fairfax Baron OF
Cameron, IL is old house with a long verandah,
dormer windows and low chimneys, Upon the roof are
perched two belfries which contained bells be-
eye, but for what purpose cannot now be easily dscoy
cred Perhaps they used 10 assemble the numerous
retaner Of his lorsp TO their meals OF for other pur
poses but the most probable suggestion is the Lord
Fairfax placed them there TO aid in giving the alarm
when 'sKill Buck" "Kill Crane ior other barbarous
neghbors led his Deawares or Tuscaroras in foray
against the border Not far from the main dwelling is
small stone cabin in which Fairfax made out title deeds
TO all the surrounding country, and where he always
slept, scntineed by his great deer and fox hounds.
He was born about the beginning of the eighteenth
century, and early distinguished himself as wit and
fine gentleman call man about town.
There is good evidence that the young gentleman
'fast He entered the royal regiment OF the Blues,
but sold out and applied himself to the more congenia
occupation of holding the fans of conntesses and playing
tric-trac and spade. He became intimate with Addi-
son, Dick Steele, and other literary who had then
commenced the revolution Ia English essay writing.
There is welaccrcdited tradition that young Fairfax
wrote one two numbers of the Spectator" 1t
then regarded proof of great natural good humor
and condcscension II gentleman Of noble lineage de-
scended to the task Of composing anythinghat was left
to the fraternity OF Grub seeto the Johnsons Drydens
Aeisons and Fiedings But for young lord to write
well was then considered feather in his cap, and
Fairfax to have written we'll At least his essays
are not distingushable from Addisons and Steee's,
which is small measure OF praise. The inventory of
books at aGrecnway Court, of which possess copy,
would to indicate somewhat cultivated taste for
letters.
Fairfax grew tired Of the frivolous pursuits of
fashion, however, and sought for WIFE, lie fell deeply
in love with young lady who received his addresses
avoidably and the day appointed for their marriage
The young provided himself with the most splendid
wardrobe and equpage and wedding accoutrements,
went to bring home madame, his countess, and found
that she had hastily married ducal coronet which pre-
scented itself just at the crisis So much for the bride
groom's experience Of the fair The issue of his
matrimonial enterprise to have implanted in the
bosom of the young lord profound misanthropy and
disgust for the human species the aier por
ton After his London episode man did not delight him,
% woman either He cast about for the means OF
exng himself from the noble circle in which he had
lately shonc and he found them. From his mother
daughter Of Lord Cupepper, he inherited wild
lands in North America lying between two streams call
ed Potomac and Rappahannock, from mouth to source.
He determined to 60 and them and this determine
tion was quickly carried out Leaving the brilliant
couhtesses, wits and gaants, and all the splendos of
the English court he to Virginia. never to leave it
amy
At s1Belvoir," the seat of Sir VIM. Fairfax, on the
Potomac he made the acquaintance of youth named
George Washington, relative of Lady Fairfax. The
nobeman took great fancy to the youth, told him
hundred Stories and learning that surveying his IA
vorte pursuit. asked him ii he would like to lay out
his lands beyond the Blue Ridge. The result of these
conversations, hunts walks and talks with the Earl
the expedition of young Washington, accompanied
by VIM. Fairfax, son OF the owner of "Belvoir, be-
yond the Alleghanies The young passed the Ridge
at Ashbys Gap in March, 17f8-fordod the Shenandoah,
and slept at my Lord Fairfax that is to say at
Greenway Court. This may be from Washington's
journal He was but sixteen yet all his entries
ments occurrences, and projects accurate in
after life The young surveyor went as far the South
Banchof the Potomac surveying asduously all the lands
Lona r,s.4n 1n,, Jo.,
and 80 returned This expedition gave to Washington that
experience and knowledge which afterwards
him the post of Lieutenant at Fort Loudon
Winchester and his services in the French war there
after proved his fitness for the generaship of the Amer
can forces in ITS. Humanity speaking, Lord Fairfax
the secret influence which shaped the whole of
Washington
The proprietor Of these immense tracts Of land deter
mined afterwards to visit the valley. He carried
his intention, built the house called Grecnway and
removed to leave the region again for any
length of time, and to die in it. He organized species
of rude feua court this spot in the Wilderness
sembled around him class Of companions or rather de-
pendents rude the bear and panther of the forest
and here far from the court surrounded by wild beasts
and savages he sereney passed the remainder Of his life
He had great onness for hounds and dogs of every
cription. They slept upon his foorsnot seldom upon
him whenever he moved His table profusely spread
every day in the year. and all who choose might paake
of the rude hospitality Stories OF the border hunting
adventures dangerous encounters with savages panth
ers, would enliven time. The who had anbled fop
pshy upon his hg-heeed shoes in the finest saloons Of
Londonwo had exchanged satire with the smiling Mr..
Addison and bowed above the eweed hands of the most
beautiful Duchesses--found life congenia in the
wilderness society which interested him far than
that Of lords and ladies' His gold lace had yielded to drab
and his cooked hat made way for otter skin cap
the delicate hand which had dainty shufed the
cards at spadlle tawny and hard by sunshine
and cold, it grasped rifle knife He greatly enjoy
ed rough practical jokes in hunting. If my lord could
play trick upon his fellow huntsman he was more de-
lighted than If he had played the act at tric-tnc.
But his former tastes had not entirely left him. In his
library mixed with guns, fishing rods deer aners and
fox tails, many volumes of which would present
list it necessary. Among them the works of
Fielding the " Spectator with its associate collection
of essays Peerage the History Of Barbados Common
Prayer books and volumes of Divinity with many Of the
classics in the original II he grew weary of his rude
companions, the nobleman, gradually growing old,
might thus retire to his study, open his Spectator
and live as in early c hear the musical voice OF Add
the eoquence Of Bongbroke and read, perhaps,
in essays from his pen, his youthful satire upon
former foibes and fashions which had dis
appeared and personages who had lain for years in their
graves.
He had retained an English chariot also am inform
ed byan old gentleman whose father visited Greenway
Court late in tho century. The visitor went to call
my lord and met with splendid COACH drawn by four
six horses pursuing the route Within sat Lord
Fairfax, clad richly and wrapt in red velvet, like
Rchelieu Mazarin Ho very courteous, but some
what reserved said the worthy gentleman 1t is proba-
De that this meeting took place Lord Fairxs return
from the banks of the Potomac where he chose to appear
10 guise betng his rank and position In the valley,
However he was plain hunter. He filled ably the post
Of lieutenant Of Frederick county which then almost
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