American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-05-11
Letters of Washington and JEFF
fersen.

The Washington CORRESPONDENT of the
Philadelphia Times writes: have 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. Tho Letter Is in a state of perfect
preservation. There is no envelope, but
beside the address on the back, Gree
is written in one corner. Igive the let
ter verbatim:
| MOUNT VERNON, Goth January, 1851
SIR: 1t is now more than six weeks since I
begged to be informed in decided terms IL
| 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 1t, where 1t had been offer
| ed to mel informed you too that unless
the latter was seasonably embraced, 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 i'm uncertainty.
A wish to be relieved from it, must be my
apology for giving you the trouble of an
| other letter on this subject.
1 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 30th of
April, 1889, and lasted until March 4,
1913. Although he could write a rather
cross letter to Mr.. Thomas Peters about
so 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 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 contrast to the
practices of the present day:
| PHILADELPHIA, March IS, 1793.-DEAR
SIR: received your kind favor of the Goth
ult., and thank you for its contents sin
cerely as if 1 could engage in what they pro-
pose. When / first entered on the stage of
public life (now "a years ago), 1 came to a
resolution never to engage, while in public
Office, in any kind of enterprise for the i'm
provement 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 found my
self happy in being able to decide and to act
as public servant, clear of all interest, in
the mutiform questions that have arisen
wherein have seen others embarrassed and
biased by having got themselves in more
| interested situation. Thus / have thought
myself richer in contentment than should
! have been with any increase of fortune.
| Certainly, should have been much wealth.
| Ter had remained in that private condition
which renders it lawful, and even laudable,
to use proper efforts to better it. However,
my public career is now closing, and L will
go through on the principle on which L 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 patri-
mony to their children.
Last summer, Shadwell, Jefferson'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 great-granddaughter,
has taught school there ever since the
war. She is highly educated lady, and
has compiled a most interesting volume
entitled, 'sThe Domestic Life of Thomas
jefferson. The publishers of the work
reaped great profit, while Miss Ran
dolph received only 5000. Mrs. Mel
chleham, granddaughter, was for
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 if
the descendants of Thomas Jefferson
were to be allowed to starve in the Ma
SdPitol IucIC WcIc OluCcS
given to those who had no claims upon
the gratitude of the Nation. Gen. Grant
1 wrote a letter to Delano, Secretary of
the Interior. The ladies went to the
Department, presented the letter, and
Miss Melchleham was in few days as
signed to duty. She still holds the
| Office, and recently a friend bequeathed
small sum of money to their use.
With this they have bought small,
cheap house, where they live. They
have pictures and relics which belonged
to their illustrious ancestor, and are bet
ter off with their $500 a year than they
have been for long series of years.
MajOlica. $685.