Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-05-05

The LATE CHARLES >. fAlRFAx.-l IO.-
lowing letter appears in the London Times,
"SIR-The death of Charles Snowden Fair
lax, recently announced as having occurred at
Baltimore on the 9TH of this month, deserves
more than passing notice. He was tenth
Lord Fairfax in the Peerage OF Scotland, and
was lineal descendant ofthe celebrated Parlia-
mentarian Generals Ferdnando and Thomas
Fairfax. The latter, it may be remembered,
returned to royalism and helped to establish
Charles H. On the throne. The fifth Lord
Fairfax married Catherine. Coldpepper, who
brought him, as 4 dowry, immense estates IN
England and America, the latter situated be-
tween the Potomac and the Rappahannoek.
Their son Thomas THE sixth lord) having visl
ted his American property, was so enchanted
with it that he resolved to live aud die there,
and having transferred his English property to
his brother, afterward the seventh lord, built
himself two residences. which he entitled, re-
spectively, Greenwsy Court and Belvoir, resi-
ded principally at the former, where he kept
open house with true baronial hospitality, and
died bachelor at green old age. His brother,
who succeeded him, died without issue. 10
1900 the House of Lords decided that the Rev.
Bryan Fairfax, kinsman OF the late lords,
was entitled to the barony, and the late Lord
Fairfax was his great grandson. An aneciote
authentic, isso pleasing to our common humani-
". and shows so prominently the innate good
ness of the late lord, who, teeming himself
wounded unto the death by an assassin, yet Tor
the sake of his wife and child spared him, that
| trust you will allow me to extract 1t IRON my
"Peerag,."
''In the spring Of 1859 Lord Fairfax was
walking home, accompanied by the Chief JUS
tice of California and two other friends, when
he was met by reporter Of the Court, named
Henry Lee. Lee, having thought Lord Fair
tax had in some way tried to injure him, &C
cused him OF 80 doing, charge which mis- lord
ship denied To this denial Lee rcjoined in an
insolent and offensive manner, substantially
giving the lie, evidently desiring that Lord
Fairfax should strike him he effected his OBJ
iect, his lordship striking him on the face
Lee, in return struck at him with light cane,
within which was concealed a long dagger,
Lord Fairfax caught the cane IN his lett hand;
Lee sprang back, drew the dagger quickly from
the cane, and inflicted two terrible wounds, one
through the left breast and the other 10 the
side. Lord Fairfax had drawn a Derringer
pistol, and presented it, cooked, in time to rre-
vent Lee making third thrust. In moment
Lee threw up his arms and cried out, Don't
kill me, am unarmed.' (A!l this occurred in
an incredibly short space OF time, before any
one had time to interfere, or even realize that
deadly assault had been maie) Sanding
perfectly still, Lord Fairfax Ia splendid shot,
who had him covered, at not more than six
feet distant, and could have killed him beyond
any possible doubt, thus replied, You misera,
bic coward. you have murdered me-you have
assassinated me-and have your worthless
life 10 my hands but for the sake of your wife
and child shall spare you. Cries, at this,
were raised from the crowd of Shoot him,
Fsirfaxl' Kill him ~ Don't spare him > and
the like. Standing erect, looking Lee full il
the face, and holding the pistol as before. Lord
Fairfax answered, No, won't kill him = and
then, addressing Lee, said, 'Recollect, have
your lite in my hands, and spare it; not ON
your worthless account, for you are an assassin
and a coward, but because Of your wife and
child"
am, sir, your obedient servant,
TIE EDITOR OF "DEBRETT's PEERAGE,
BARoNETAGE AND KNTGHTAGE
Office, No. G5 Ludgate Hill, f. G."