The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-02
lErom the New York Herald. March 3oth.l
AwASHaNGTON ROMANCE. 9
n letter from General Washington
Acknowledging the Power Of Love.


England some years ago for the sum of ELS,
OF the Fairfax family OF Virginia. The let
ter is addressed to Sarah Fairfax, at Belvoir.
This lady was Miss Cary, to whom Wash
ington at one time offered his hand, but was
refused for his friend and conrade, George
William Fairfax. Irving asserts that 1t was
sister Of Mrs. Fairfax, Miss Mary Cary.
afterward Mrs. Edward Amber. We have
! the authority Of Mrs. Constance G. .Harri-
son, descendant OF Lord Fairfax, who says
| in paper called GA Little Centennial
Lady," published in Scri6ner's Monthly OF
July last, that Sally Cary Mrs. FairfaX) was
the lady for whom Washington had ten
derness. Mrs. Harrison says: ......>
1t is fair to say that papers which have
never been given to the public set this ques-
ton beyond doubt. Mrs. George William
Fairfax, the object Of George Washington's
early aud passionate love, lived to an ad-
vanced age in Bath, England, widowed,
childless, and. utterly. infirm. Upon her
death, at the age OF eighty-one, letters, still
in possession Of the Fairfax family, were
found among her effects, showing that
Washington had never forgotten the lnflu-
ence OF his youthful disappointment.
It ls hardly probable that Washington
means to express his love for Mrs. Gusts,
to whom he alludes here, for her husband
wes then living-in fact, did not die until
twcnty-odd years after the date OF this let
ter. For the matter OF that, Mrs. FairiaX'S
husband did not die until 1857. The fol-
| lowing letter is, without doubt, one Of those
letters which Mrs. Harrison declares will
" set this question beyond 4 doubt" 1t
will be found very interesting, as it shows
Washington in quite new light. Even as
a lover he has all the stateiness of the Gen.
cral and the Father Of his Country:
CAMP AT Fort CUMBERLAND,
! 18th September, 1853.
Dear Madam.-Yesterday / was honored
with your short but very agreeable favor OF
the first inst.-how ioyfully catch at the
happy occasion of renewing correspond
ence which feared was disrellshcd on your
part. leave to time that never failing eX-
positor of all things-and to monitor
equally faithful in my own breast to testify.
In silence [ now express my Joy. Silence,
which, in some caSeS-I wish the present
speaks more intelligently than the sweetest
eloquence.
Ii you allow that any honour can be de-
rived from my opposition to our present
system OF management you destroy the
merit of it entirely in me by attributing my
anxiety to the animating prospect OF pos
sessing Mrs. CllStis-when-1 need not
name it-guesS yourself-Should not my
own Honor and .country's welfare be the en-
citement? IT'S true, profess myself avo-
tarv of Love-I acknowledge that lady is
in the case-and further | confess that the
lady is known to you.-Yes, madam, as well
as she is to one who is too sensible OF her
charms to deny the Power whose Influence
he feels and must ever submit to. 1feel the
| force OF her amiable beauties in the recol-
| lection Of thousand tender passages that
could wish to obliterate, till ] am bid to re-
yiye them,-but experience, alas sadly re-
minds Inc how impossible this is,-and
evinces an opinion which have long en-
tertained, that there is aDestinv, which has
the sovereign control OF our actions-not to
be resisted by the strongest efforts of HUI
man Nature. '-.
You have drawn me dear madam, or
rather have drawn myself, into On honest
confession of simple Fact-miSconstrue
not my meaning-doubt it not, nor expose
1.-THE world has no business to know the
object of my Love-declared in this manner
| to-you-when 1 want to conceal 1t. One
thing above all things in this world wish
to know, and only one person OF your
acquaintance can solve me that or guess my
meaning-but adleu to this till happier
times, il l ever shall see them. The hours
at present are melancholy dull, neither the
rugged tolls OF war, nor the gentlcr conflict
of A. As is in my choice. l dare be-
l.cve, you are as happy rs you say. wish
I was happy also. Mirth, good humor, ease
OF mind and-what else? Cannot fail to
render you so and con>ummate your wishes.
II one agreeable lady could almost wish
herself fine gentleman for the sake of an
other; apprehend, that many fine gentle
men will wish themselves finer e'er Mrs.
SpotswoOd is possest. She has already be-
come regning toast in this camp; and
many there are in it, who intend Qortune
| favoring) to make honourable scars speak
the fulness OF their merit and be messen-
ger OF their Love to Her.
/ cannot easily forgive the unreasonable
haste Of my last express, If he deprived
NE thereby Of single word you intended
to add,-the time of the present messenger
is, as the last might have been, entirely at
YOUR disposal. ! can't expect to hear from
nv friends more than this once before the
fate OF the expedition will some how or
other be determined. therefore beg to
know when you set out for Hampton and
when YOU expect to return to Belyolr
asain-and should be glad also to hear OF
your speedy departure as [ shall thereby
hope for your return before get down; !;
the disappointment Of seeing your family
would give me much concern.-From any
thing | can yet see Ills hardly possible. to
say when we shall finish. I don't think
there is q probability OF it till the middle Of
November. Your letter to Captn Glst
forwarded by a safe hand the moment it
came to me. His answer shall be carefully
! transmitted.
Colonel Mercer, to whom / delivered your
message and compliments, joins me very
heartily in wishing you and the ladies OF
Belvoir the perfect enjoyment Of every hap
pineSs this world affords. be assured that
am, DIR madam, with the most unfeigned
regarf, yr most obedient and most oblig'd
H'ble serv't, G. WASHINGTON.
N. 3. Many accidents happening Ito use
a vulgar saying between the'cup and the
lip, I choose to make the exchange OF car.
pets myself, since find you will not do me
the honour to accept mine.
The above reads as if it might be genuine;
but we never saw Ms. letter Of Washing
toms which was not signed "Go: Wash
ington."
Washington married Mrs. Gusts in 1859;
40 the Herald blunders inexcusably in it's
dates.
THE DEATH OF BILL ARP.-Bill Arp, late
OF Georgia, the man who furnished the wit
ticlsms and odd sayings which Charles ID.
Smith prepared and published some years
AGO. was accidentally killed near this place
T1ecat,1r. Texas \ last Monday, March 9th.