The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03
A Love story Of seorg. wa.hanstoa.
IRON III. 81. Paul Press.

y
ciated, in the person Of the sixth Lord Fairfax,
with the early life Of George Washington, to ex-
anime collection Of letters, with dates ranging
| from 1886 TO 1893. There had been publication |
| ir England Bentley, London, ls4s) of Fairfax |
| correspondence, being the contents of an old |
osken chest, sold as rubbish of Leeds Castle, In
1922; and upon examination Of his virginia urea.
sure trove. Mr. Nell was gratifed to find that the
letters we're an interesting supplement to the Sc
ries which bad been edited and published 10 EGG
| land. As the dates progressed, tie correspond
ence became more and more American, or rather
Virginisn until their chief interest relates to the
young surveyor of the Fairfax estate In the Shen
/ andoah Valley.
Joel Munseil, of Albany, assumed the publica
ton of the letters, es edited and annotated by Mr..
| Nei. They constitute very attractive volume
| of 232 octave pages.
| We have no space for the many references to
| business local politics. the western campaign I'M
| der Braddock, which we find scattered through
| this publication in connection with Washington,
| end which have become familiar to the readers OF
| Sparks and Irving; but Mr.. Nell brings 10 iignt
| pleasant episode-nothing less than love let
ter from the young Virginian, and the editors IN
dustry helps US to the appreciation oil its iuil sig
| niicance.
The Fairfsxes had wealth, a title, distinguished
| ancestry accessories no where held IN greater
| estimation than in the Old Dominion. George
| William Fairfax married Cary, and at his resi-
| denee young Washington met younger sister.
| Miss Mary Cary. Bishop Meade, In his History OF
Old Churches in Virginia, says that Washington
| asked permission of old Mr.. Cary to address his
daughter before he ventured to speak TO herself.
| The reply of the old gentleman was, If that is
| your business here sir wish you to leave the
| house, for my daughter has been accustomed TO
| ride in her coach.n The bishop speaks of a
rejection by the young lady; but there is evidence
that the somewhat nsolent rebuff of q wealthy
colonial aristocrat was the real obstacle to sue
cessful suit. In 1857, when Washington, with the
rank of colonel, was absent upon the expedition
against the French post of Duquesne, since Pitts
burg we find him addressing letter to Miss Mary
| Cary, which Edward Everett has incorporated
| in his article in Appleton's Cyclopedi9 on WASH
addressed to Martha Custis, whom be afterward
married. Mr. Neill has established that the letter
was written TO the lady, whom he calls g the first
love of Washington" Mary Cary. 1t thus com
| menced:
"Dear Madam-Do we still misunderstood the
| true meaning OF each others letters think 1t
must appear so, though | would feign hope the
contrary, as / can speak palmer without =, but
III say no more, and leave you TO guess the rest"
Then followed the general news Of the cam
psign, given with much detail, and including the
particulars of disastrous repulse of Maj. Grant
on the 18th Of September, l76S. The letter then
resumes its personal interest
al should think our time more agreeably (slc)
spent, believe me, in playing part in e sto with
the company you mention, and Dlyset d0u6ty
happy IN being the JuJd 10 such Marcia as you
must maker
We place sentence in italics which might pass
unpoticed by the reader except for the research
Of Mr.. Nell. At this point the editor sppends
"Addison's tragedy OF Cato must have been full
Of interest to the young military oihcer, In love
with fair maiden, and yet debarred from being
her husband because her father looked upon him
as without fortune and without fame"
Many passages in the play are exceedingly APP
posite to one in his situation, but only few IAN
be given:
ACT 1. SCENE 9TH.
Juba-O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns
And gentle wishes follow me to battle.
Ma'cia-My prayers and wishes always shah
The friends of Rome the glorious of virtue,
, And men approved of the gods and Cato.
Jubd-Ihou virtuous maid: I'll hasten to my
troop,
,, And in the shock of charging hosts remember
WHAT glorious deeds should grace the man who
hopes
For Marcias love.
ACT ". SCENE lsT.
Marcia-Juba to all the bravery Of a hero
! | ADDS softest love, and more than female sweet
! Juba might make the proudest Of our sex,
! ANY of womsnkind but Marcia happy.
. IGcid-And why not Marcia
F: Mdrcid-While Cato liUes, has daughter has NJ
4 | right
To lore o. hate 5ut as his choice directs.
: ACT ". SCENE sd.
!. Mdrcia-why do think on what he wasl He
He's dead, and never knew how much Iloyed him
-J,,ba-where an II Do Iive' or am I indeed
I What Marcia thinks all is Eysium round me-.
: Marcia-Ye dear remains of the most loved o
) men
i Nor modesty, nor virtue here forbid
= A last embrace while thus
y JuGd-See, Marcia l.See The happy Juba lives
: be lives to catch
: That dear embrace and 20 return il too
!. With mutual warmth and esgerness OF love.
d The letter of Washington proceeds:
It "Your agreeable letter contained these words
" my sisters and Nancy Gist, who neither OF then
d expect to be here soon after our return from
70 town, desire you to accept their best compli
= Pray, are these ladies upon a matrimonial
If scbeme Is Miss Fairfax to be Transformed
N into that charming Domestick-a Martin aut
= Miss Cary to Fare? What does Miss Gis
ls turn to-A Cooke that can't be; we have hin
i. One thing more, and then have done. 70
1t ask if am not tired OF the length OF your letter
l. No. madam, am not, and cannot be while tn
Of Lines are an Inch asunder to bring you 10 hast
to the end of the Paper, you may be tired {
mine by this. Adieu, dear Madam, you will po
siby hear something of me or from me before "
n shall meet | must beg the favor OF you to max
"a my compliments to Col. Cary and the Ladies wit
- you and believe me that am most unalterably
~ ~ "Y'r most obedt. and oblig'd
o. $50. WASHINGTON"
Mr.. Neil has his foot otes in explanation of th
il | personal badinsge in these paragraphs. but It
a | hard " worth while to repeat them. His sequel
he | the narrative is so much better than any pars
ne phrase of our that we cheerfully give him tn
nd reins to guide to the conclusion Of this little
on | OF heart history:
of tradition relates that in the year 1853, viii
he | Washington was travelling to Williamsburg, aft
ne crossing the Pamunkee river ferry, he was invite
ed by gentleman of New Kent county TO tarry wi
lte him during the night, and was then introduced
bis the prepossessng and dignihed young wido'
Martha Gusts.
to- "Repelled by the father of her whom he hi
He loved from early youth, and yet longing for OF
H. in whom be could confde, the widow made de'
in impression upon him, ana ailer pllei acquall
m. ance he was accepted as her future husband.
,rk / 1.-The prediction made in his letter to MI
"a. Cary, You will hear something of me, or fro
,ad | me, was fulfilled. On the 25th OF November 9
re-. yourg officer planted the British Gag the rui
icb | of Fort Duquesne, which the French had evac
ION | ated and burned at his approach. Returning
iy | Virginia, be FASTENED to the House OF Burgess
rev of which be had been elected member while wi
ne the army and early in January, 1853, he was nj
On | lied AT the White Honae 10 Mrs. Malta Custis,