San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-05-18
Letters of Washington and JET.
fersOn.

Pnllauelpnlu IW"eS WiioeS' nave seen
and read letter written by Gen. Wash.
ington more than one hundred years
ago. The letter is addressed to Mr..
Thomas Peters, of Baltimore, and is
now in the possession Of the widow Of
Thomas Peters, who was grandson Of
the gentleman to whom the letter was
addressed. The family live in George.
town. The letter is in a state of perfect
preservation. There is no envelope, but
beside the address on the back, Stree"
is written in one corner. Igive the let
ter verbatim:
MOUNT VERNON, Goth January, 1851
SIR: 1t Is now more than six weeks since
begged to be informed in decided terms II
you would furnish me with 30 Bushl's
Barly; that might know whether to depend
upon that quantity from you, or to resort to
Philadelphia for it, where it had been offer.
ed to mel informed you too that unless
the latter was seasonably embraced, I might
in case Of failure in you be disappointed
altogether (when arrangements should not
only have been made, but the ground had in
full preparatory. am left in uncertainty.
A wish to be relieved from it, must be my
apology for giving you the trouble Of an.
other letter on this subject.
am sir, yr most obed servt,
Go. WASHINGTON.
This letter was written two years be-
fore Washington became President. His
term did not begin until the 3Oth Of
April, 1889, and lasted until March 4,
1898. Although he could write rather
cross letter to Mr.. Thomas Peters about
80 bushels of barley, yet after he was
elected President, the first gentleman he
asked to seat in his Cabinet was this
same Mr.. Thomas Peters.
And while reading old letters I have
been much struck by one written by
Thomas Jefferson to friend who in
vited him, while he was Secretary of
State, to engage in financial enter
prise. 1t is well, perhaps, to republish
this letter just now as a contrast to the
praCulceS VI IHe pIcSent uay'
PHILADELPHIA, March IS, 1793.-DEAR
SIR: received your kind favor of the Goth
ult., and thank you for its contents as sim
cerely as if could engage in what they pro-
pose. When first entered on the stage OF
public life (now "a years ago), came to
resolution never to engage, while in public
office, in any kind Of enterprise for the i'm
proyement of my fortune, nor to wear any
other character than that of farmer. have
never departed from it in single instance,
and have in multiplied instances fOundmy-
self happy in being able to decide and to act
as a public servant, clear Of all interest, in
the multiform questions that have arisen
wherein have seen others embarrassed and
biased by having got themselves III more
interested situation. Thus l have thought
myself richer in contentment than should
have been with any increase OF fortune.
Certainly, should have been much wealth.
Ter had l remained in that private condition
which renders it lawful, and even laudable,
to use proper efforts to better it. However,
nv public career is now closing, and l will
90 through on the principle on which have
hitherto acted. But feel myself under OBJ
legations to repeat my thanks for this mark
of your attention and friendship.
What rebuke this letter contains to
the statesmen of the present day. And
yet, when looking at the long years OF
poverty through which the descendants
of Mr.. Jefferson have struggled, we can
not blame those who try to leave patrl-
mony to their children.
Last summer, Shadwell, Jetferson'S
old home, which has been occupied by
his grand and great-grandchildren, was
sold because the heirs were too poor to
keep it any longer in the family. Miss
Sarah Randolph,a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
has taught school there ever since the
war. She is a highly educated lady, and
has compiled most interesting volume
entitled, "The Domestic Life of Thomas
Jefferson" The publishers of the work
reaped great profit, while Miss Ran
dolph received only 5000. Mrs. Mel
chleham, a granddaughter, was Tor
months in Washington during Gen.
Grants Administration begging for EN-
ployment for her daughter, to prevent
actual starvation. A kind lady, who
knew the family and their sufferings'
went, in company with Miss Melchle.
ham, to Gen. Grant, and asked him IL
the descendants of Thomas Jefferson
were to be allowed to starve in the Ma
tional Capital while there were offices
given to those who had no claims upon
the gratitude of the Nation. Gen. Grant
wrote letter to Delano, Secretary oil
T.. The laI;oS uant to the