The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-02
The Baltimore Southern Relief
Fair interesting Autograph
/ Letters Of General Washington
and Mrs. Washington. IS

Mrs. J. W. Minor, Of London county,
Virginia, has kindly contributed TO the
Southern Relief Fair two undoubtedly aa-
thcntic autograph letters, the first Of which
is from General Washington, and is espec-
tally interesting at this time, as an evidence
of his opinion of the probable value Of the
Continental Currency. How erroneous
those views turned out to be we all know.
The taxation to which he looked forward
to restore the money to a proper degree of
credit never effected anything, and Cont
mental paper decreased in value SO rapidly.
in subsequent years, that it is scarcely an
extravaganza to say that toward the close
of the Revolutionary war it took hat full
it to pay for dinner. But here is letter
to Bryan Fairfax:
VALLEY FORCE, April 2lst, 1878.
"DEAR S1R-I have been favored with
your letter of the 18th ult. / think with
you that a sterling debt cannot, with any
degree Of propriety, be discharged in CURT
money at 1919 p. Ct, because Bills will
cost the purchaser 200, and have lately
sold at gao. In this proportion most com
modities have risen. But as you do not
raise many things for Sale; as Rents and
CURT money debts are discharged without
regard to this great difference, and the de-
probation Of the Paper money from the
quantity emitted; and as it would be
|equa sly herd upon you to pay at this adj
yanced exchange, as upon Mr.. Custiss to
receive at the old rate, / should think the
best wayfor both of you w'd be to let the
debt stand till some more favorable oppor-
tunity offers to discharge it, as / have no
idea that matters will long remain in the
situation they are at present. Taxation
must think reduce the present price Of
everything, and restore the money to o
proper degree Of credit With very sin
cere est'm and regard, am,
i "D'r sir, Utmost obed. and
affect. servt, Go. WASHINGTON.
The notelet given below, and written by
Mrs. Washington from Mount Vernon, is
without date. If any of our readers mag
inc that the stately DANES Of the Revolu-
tionary period we're any less Indifferent in
reference to dress than the women Of the
present day, Mrs. Washington rather formal
yet pleasant epistle of thanks to Mrs. Fair
fax will undeceive them. Our theory Of
| the origin Of the letter is this: Mrs. Wash.
ington has seen lute-string dress, worn
| by her friend Mrs. Peters, which she adj
mired very much. She has described this
dress to Mrs. Fairfax, and commissions the
latter to procure for her samples as nearly
similar, from which she may choose the
pattern that most closely resembles the
dress worn by Mrs. Peters. The commits
sion is executed, the samples are forwarded
to Mount Vernon, and hence the letter. II
is as follows ::
Mrs. Washington returns compliments
and many thanks to Mrs. Fairfax for polite
attention in procuring the patterns Of lutte.
string. Mrs. w. does not recollect which
of them resembles most Mrs. Peters dress
she will, therefore defer getting either unit
Mrs. p. comes to Mount Vernon. She il
expected the last Of the ensuing week.
Mrs. Washington and Miss Cnstis unite il
compliments to the ladies at Mount Eagle
@ MoUSr VERNON.