The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-16

SPLENDID TIME NEXT MONDAY.
Ny only purpose Is to show you that what have
detained in the sketch OF the Concord fight pre-
pared for HaTper's Magazine, which you have so
kindly noticed, are facts not to be controyerted.
FREDERIC HUDSON.
VIEWS OF GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
As the question whether ,acord or Lexington
can claim the honor OF hav' fred the first snot
in the cause OF American / 'pendence is one OF
peculiar interest just now. 70 writer sought to
obtain the views OF man Is pre-eminently
qualified to judge OF the me, IS OF each claim,
being one OF the profoundest or American scholars
and thinkers and one who has made the history
of his native country especial study-George
william Curtis. Mr.. Curtis has been selected to
deliver che centennial grafton in Concord on Mon.
day next, and would undoubtedly devote
particular attention to the solution OF this
vexing question-vexing because it has
kindled spirit OF rivalry and jealousy which
the American patriot can only deplore. At least
this is the light in which the great savant looks at
1t. At the same time his opinion is one calculated
20 restore peace and concord TO Concord and Lex
ington by distributing the glory between both
claimants This view he does not express merely
for the purpose OF ending the disagreeable
strife, put because IL is absolutely founded his
torcal facts. IA Beecher. he answers, when
asked whether Concord or Lexington deserves
the wreath II national glory, mo and yes" and
makes both cities happy at the same time.
AIR Curtis is q student OF the great wars which
have rent this Continent, ana 1t is gratifying to
be able to state on his authority that the present
rivalry between the two birtnplaces OF American
liberty win not, In hts opinion. result in fra.r-
cidal bloodsned. At the same time he holds out
no deusive hope that the controversy Will ever
be satisfactorily settled so to merge future
celebrations OF the great event into one. Concord
and discord are both to flourish In the future I'M
less the two cities clasp hands across the har.
monizing and aIl-emoraclng opinion OF George
William Curtis.
MI. Curtis does most OF his writing ut his pretty
residence In Bard avenue, New Brighton. The
house stands in q beautifully cultivated garden,
and its interior is replete with ali evidences OF
scholarly taste aud literary culture. The study is
to the right OF the entrance and there Mr.. Curtis
sat, surrounded by his books and pictures. and
welding that instrument which in his hand Is
certainly mighter than many q sword-the pen.
The room is literally walled with books, and the
familiar faces OF Charles sumner, Ralph Waldo
Emerson and other distinguished trends
OF Mr.. Curtis, looked down from the
mantelpiece, on which number OF
photographs were arranged. Mr.. Curtis man.
ner IL that OF the polished, County gentleman OF
the old school, and when requested to embody
his views in brief letter to the HERALD, he i'm.
msdiatey wrote the following. in which he dis
poses or the question in his terse style:-
Nh. CURTIS LETTER TO THE HERALD.
WEST new BRIGHTON,
STATEN ISLAND, n. X, April is, 1878.
To rnE EDITOR or THE HERALD
You wish me to say whether think that Con.
cord or Lexington can claim the nrss shot in tho
war OF the Revolution.
AT Lexington the militia, sixty or seventy in
number, were drawn up In line, and refusing to
disperse OF the British summons we're red upon
By the British, at least COO strong. Then the
Americans we're ordered to retire. and as they
uid 80 few returned the British Gre. at Concord
the Americans resolved to cross the Old North
Bridge, which was held by the British. anc were
advancing for that purpose when the British fred.
Then the Americans were ordered to return the
nre, which they did, and the British retreated.
The afalr at concord was deliberate, Intentional,
organized resistance. at Lexington il was a mas.
sacre, at Concord battle, aud the Americans
we're as wise in retiring at Lexington a. they
we're ia advancing at Concord. Respectfully,
yours GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
LEXINGTON TEcayTcALLY RIGHT.
The explanations incident to tie writing or this
letter led to some pregnant remarks BY Mr. Curtis.
"Ia general my understanding or the iacts." no
observed, "agrees with that OF Mr.. Frederic
Hudson. whose article nave read with great
pleasure, and who has undoubtedly furnished US
By ar the best account OF the great events Of the
day we have had. II ! differ with him, it Is only In
a matter or detail, namely. in the CONVICTION that
the Americans did IRE some struggling snots at
the British at Lexington. Hence, although the
battle actually took place at Concord, and the en-
counter at Lexington was but very Insignificant
aifar as compared TO tnat, the latter place
must DO award ed tie palm IN the technical issue
as TO when fred the irst shot. or course, IL was
merely preliminary skirralsb, prelude TO the
battle or Concord In which the nrss viotory was