The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-07
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

VIRGINIA HISTORICAL bOSAEsf.
VALUABLE DONATIONS-ARCH1EOL
Observation-Disclosures TABLETS OF
THE ABORIGTNEs-A NEW CHAPTER IN
THE HISTORY OF TEXAs-JAMES SMITH,
ITS FIRST GOVERNOR, THE FATHER OF
THE TEXAS REvoLUTIoN"-HosEs Aus
TIN-ELECTIQN OF MEMBERS.
A meeting OF the Executive Committee.
OF the Virginia Historical Society was held
on Friday evening. Present: Judge 3. r.
Wexford lin the chair, MeSsrs. Barksdale
recording secretary, Brock corresponding
secretary, Henry, Cabell, and Barney.
The following donations were reported
of bound volumes and pamphlets: From
DR.. w. H. Egle, Harrisburg, Pa, the
author, History OF Pennsylvania-a careful
work embodying valuable matter from It's
predecessors, local and general, with crltl-
cal additions to the present time; from the
New England Historic-Genealogic Society,
The Register-April; from the Southern
Historical Society, PaperS-April; from
DR.. J. NJ. Toner, Washington, D. G.. the
author, twelve various addresses, &C.;
from Rev. +. A. Dalrymple, D. d., Old
Kent, Md, by Colonel George A. Hanson,
M. A.: from the American News Company.
N. Y, The american bookseller for April
from the editor, Ii. II. Morgan, Esq, st.
Louis, Mo-, The Western for April; from
Hon. Edward Young, Ph. D., Chief OF Bu-
reau of Statistics, Washington, d. c., the
author, Labor in Europe and Amerca-a
highly valuable work, involving extended
critical and painstaking research; from
the Western Reserve and Northern Ohio
Historical Society, c. {. Baldwin, sec
retary. Cleveland, Tracts 1 to &c
1S7O-'7T7; OF newspapers-from A. A. Lit
tie, Esq, regular issues OF the FrcderichS-
Jaug Neors; from j. X. Walter, Esq,
Wilmington, Del, copy OF Every Erening
for April 13, 1877; fromD. b. Brown, Esq,
editor. &C., the Illllsyile FuginiGn for
April 5 and II, 1871; and from Thomas
Warner, Esq, Cohocton, n. Y, 4 copper
medal COMMUNICATING the tiitieth anniyer-
sary OF the marriage OF his parents, Feb
ruary II, 1896. Among the correspondence
OF the secretary, read by him, were interest
ing letters from the Rev. L. A. DaIrymple,
ID. D., Baltimore, Md, who writes regard
ing the memorials of our aboriginal predc-
ccssors as follows: "When / was in King
William county last weeka friend presented
me with some wampum beads and shells
found in an Indian grave on the Mattaponl.
A landslide had exposed the skeleton OF
some old sachem, which was Symmetrcaly
arranged. At each side were long rows OF
these beads and shells, apparently once
Joined together, and forming no doubt true
belts OF wampum. When touched the
skin (:) strings which kept them together
crtlmbled away, and the order of the beads
OF course was entirely broken up"
But most curious of all, the account goes
on to add that several plates OF copper, as if
parts OF a cuirass, or some piece OF armor,
were also found in the grave! The most
important OF these plates, it is said, had va
rious figures upon it, such as Il man on
horseback, birds, &c, and that part was
deposited with the Historical Society in
Richmond! Nothing of tins character
now appears among the collections OF the
Society; but whilst it was in state OF
abcyance during our late unhappy civil
war its treasures were subjected to VI
cSsitudcs from removals, &c, which were
attended with damage and extensive loss
The other plates were carried away by
the neighborS. II such relics are in exist
cncc they might prove OF valuable import
in archaeological investigations. Dr.. Dal-
rymplc or the Virginia Historical Society
would be gratitcd in being credibly in
formed regarding them.
Colonel John G.. James, Superintendent
Of the Texas Military Institute, Austin,
Texas, is now preparing biography Of
Henry Smith, first Governor Of Texas
[lS35-'G1, who was the son OF Rev. james
Smith, who married Magdalene Woods IN
Wythc county, Va, and emigrated from
thence to Kentucky in 1919. Magdalene
Woods had in childhood been taken, with Il
companion, by the Indians. and held in cap
tivitv by them for two years. Further ln-
formation is desired regarding the ancestors
OF Governor Smith. Those able to furnish it
may communicate either with Colonel james
or with the corresponding secretary OF the
Virginia Historical Society. Perchance the
Rev. DR.. Brown, OF the Central PreSbWe-
riar, can and will aid Colonel James.) Col
oncl James states, regarding the birthplace
OF Governor Smith, 'that by a singular CO.
incidence it was the same county which
gave birth to Stephen +. Austin, sThe
Father of Texas My Investigations so far
go to prove that Smith, if any one, is enti-
tied to the appetation Of 'Ihe Father Of
the Team Rer0luti0n,' and yet with sim
gular historic injustice Smiths name is
almost unknown, even In his adopted State.
| to the present generation. His career was
most eventful and one which will form a
most interesting cnaptcr, Wncn 1ully Will
ten, in the history OF this great State"
Moses, the father Of stephen Austin, is be-
| lievcd to have been native Of Hanover
county, Va. lie was resident OF Rich
mond about 17S5-'90; held the position Of
major OF volunteer troop, and was the con-
tractor to cover the roof Of our State Capt.
tol with lead.
Mr. Brock stated that the Rev. Z. n. SeIl,
of Minneapolis, Minn., had placed in his
hands notwithstanding and valuable
sketches OF our early Colonial Governors,
the first OF which-Sr George IeardEey-
had already been published in the columns
of the Dispatch. Nos. =, 3, 4, and 5-Sir
Francis Wyatt, Francis West, DR.. John
Pott, and Sir John Harvey-will appear is
soon as the press Of local mattcr in the paper
may lessen.
The following members were elected :
Honorary-Ilon. Tennis &. Bergen, Brock
lyn, n. Y. Corrcsponding-Dr. William
H. Egle, Harrisburg, Pa; Rev. Stephen d.
Peet, Ashtabua, Ohio; DR.. j. NJ. Toner,
| Washington, d. c.
Adjourned.
RICHMOND MACHINERY AT WORK OUT
| WEsT.-The mammoth drums recently con-