The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-12
wAsHsNGToN-.PATER pATRI!E.
HIS EARLY IovEs-RoMANTIC EPISODES
uAND-WRITISG AND SIGNATURES ATDlF-
FERENT PERIODS OF HIS LIFE.

Editors of the Dispatch:
The following article, which appears IN
the I1iJune, OF Minneapolis, Minnesota, in
its issue OF the 9Th instant, under the sig
nature OF Dellicn, may be regarded rs 4
satisfactory authorization OF the letter OF
Washington copied into your paper OF the
I'd instant from the columns Of the New
York Herald of the 30th ultimo, and OF
the genuincneSS Of which you expressed
doubt.
It may be recalled by yourselves and
readers that in the account given in the DIS
patch OF February %, 1876, OF the Vice
Roval or Colonial Court-ball held ut the
Theatre. in this city, on the previous night,
it was stated that among the appointments
of one Of the ladies participating therein
were two oye-letters OF Washington written
to Lady Sarah Fairfax in 175S. The sigma
turc to these letters was in tie form COM
monlv used by Washington in later years:
Go. Washington. They were printed in
the Richmond Enquirer within two or three
davs following the event above. The
definite date OF the marriage OF Washington
was January 6, 1859.
Specimens OF the handwriting and sigma
lures OF Washington at different periods OF
his life may be found in American HiStorlcd!
and Literary CurioSitieS, j. Jay smith
First and Second Serics-folio, 1S4I, 1860,
and in Sparks's writings OF Washington,
rs follows:
l. Copy of legal document, 1744.
.. Arithmetcal proposition, 1145.
3. Certificate OF survey, November 8, 1I49.
Signed G. Washington, S. Z. {.
/. Signature: G. Washington, 100.
;. Letter and signature: Il. Washington,
1857.
6. Visiting card: Colonel Washington,
circd 175S.
:. Visiting card: General Washington.
8. Signature G. Washington, ll19.
9. Signature: G. Washington, Mount Yer
non, December 10, 1899, (only four days be-
fore his death.)
AMERICAN HISTORICAL AND LITERARY Curl
osITIES-FIRST SERIES.
4 number OF examples Of No. 5 are pre-
served in our State Land Registry office
(where are also letters written at different
periods), and one specimen may be seen
framed in our State Library. (All OF these
valuable memorial, should be transferred
thither.)
Several of these forms also appear in the
second series Of the work above cited, as
well rs a letter OF Martha Tor "Lady Wash
incton," as she was sometimes designated)
Washington, who. in the surname, initiates
the form OF signature Of her illustrious con-
sort. Here is given also the frank OF
Washn.ton-April IS, 17S9-as President
U. S."
SPARKS gives on engraved page following
introduction, p. xvi, vol. H., the following
examples: :,
"March 18th, TIA 4-5, Geo. Washington" !"
Nov. 11th, l749, &. Washington, as in
No. 8 above, and the signature
Go. Washington-with but little variation
OF the following dates, &c:
"Fort Loudon. 10th Sept, 175l.'
"New York, 29th April, 1776."
mt. Vernon, Deer 10th, 1892
No. 8 and the aforementioned may be from
the same letter, and one OF them improp-
erly reproduced.
Sparks prints all of the letters Of Wash
ington without subscription but in volume
xii. he gives the signature to various ad-
dresses therein appearing as George Wash
ington.
Very truly yours, L. a.. Is.
RICHMOND, April 10, 1877.