The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-01
SOME OLD LETTERS.
Changes in Washington Society,"
Thomas .BcHrrSOn'S he
scendanGs.

scendanIs.
Special Correspondence Of the n Y Times.l
WAsHINGroN, April I6.
l have seen and read letter written
by General Washington more than one
hundred years ago. The letter is ad-
dressed to Mr. Thomas Peters, of Balti
more, and is now in the possession OF the
widow of Thomas Peters. who was IA
grandson OF the grantleman TO whom the
letter was addressed. The family live in
Georgetown. The letter is in a
state of perfect preservation. There is
no envelope, but beside the address
on the back, Free" is written in
one corner. | give the letter verbatum;
MOUNT VERNON, Goth January, 1897.
SIR: 1t is now more than six weeks
since begged to be informed in decided
terms if you would furnish me with so
bushls of barley; that might know wheth-
er to depend upon that quantity from you,
or to resort to Philadelphia for it, where it
had been offered to mel informed YOU
too that unless the latter was seasonably
embraced, l might in case of failure in
you be disappointed altogether when ar
rangements should not only have been
made, but the ground had in full prepa.
ration | am left in uncertainty. A
wish to be relieved from it, must be my
apology for giving you the trouble of
another letter on this subject. / am sir,
yr most obed serv't,
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 t.
1898. Although he could write a rather
cross letter to Mr. Thomas Peters about
fifty bushels Of barley, yet, after he was
elected President the first gentleman he
asked to a seat in his Cabinet was this
same Mr.. Thomas Peters.
ONE OF JEFFERsoN's LETTERS.
And while reading old letters | have
been much struck by one written by
Thomas Jefferson to a friend who inyit-
ed him, while he was Secretary of State,
to engage in financial enterprise. 1t is
well, perhaps, to republsh this letter lust
now as a contrast to the practices of the
present day:
HlLADELitIA, Nafcn 10, 1875.
DEAR SrR--I received your kind ia
vor of the 26th ult., and thank you for
its contents as sincerely as if | could en-.
gage in what they propose. When first
entered on the stage at public life (now
twenty four years ago, | came to res
olutlon never to engage, while in public
office, IN any kind of enterprise for the
improvement of my fortune, nor to wear
any other character than that of the
farmer. | have never departed from il
IN single instance, and have in mul-
tplled Instances found myself happy in
being able to decide and to act as a pub
lie servant, clear Of all interest, in the
multItorm 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 l should have been with any in
crease of fortune. Certainly, / should
have been much wealthier had l re-
manned in that private condition which
renders it lawful, and even Iaudahle, to
use proper efforts to hotter It, However,
my public career Is now closing, and |
Will go through on the principle on which
l have hitherto acted. But / feel my
self under obligations to repeat my
thanks for the mark of your attention
and friendship.
What re5uke this letter contains to
the statesmen Of the present day. And
yet when looking at the long years of
poverty which the descendants of Mr..
Jefferson have struggled, we cannot well
blame those who try to leave a patrimony
to their children.
JEFFERsoN's DESCENDANTS.
Last summer, Shadwell, Jefferson's
old home, which has been occupied by
his grand and great grandchildren, was
sold because the hairs were too poor to
keep it any longer in the family. Miss
Sarah Randolph, a great granddaughter
has taught school there since the war
She is highly educated lady, and has
complied a most interesting volume emit
tied, " The Domestic Life of Thomas
Jefferson" The publishers of the work
reaped great profit, while Miss Randolph
received only two hundred dollars. Mrs.
Melchleham, a granddaughter, was for
months in Washington during General
Grants ADMINISTRATION begging employ
Iuent foF her daughter, to prevent actual
starvation. A kind lady, who knew the
family and their sufferings, went in
company with Miss Meichleham to Gem
eral Grant and asked him if the descend
ants of Thomas jefferson were To be al
lowed to starve in the National Capital
while there were offices given to those
who had no claims upon the gratitude of
the nation. General Grant wrote a lot
ter to Delano, Secretary of the Interior.
The ladies went to tEe Department, pre-.
sented the letter, and Miss Meichleham
was, In few days, assigned to duty.
She still holds the office. and recently
friend bequeathed a small sum of money
to their use. With this they have
bought a small, cheap house. where they
live. They have pictures and relics
which belonged to their illustrious an
cestor, and are better Oft with their nine
hundred dollars o year than they have
been for long series of years.
And while those who were among the
most honored Of the realm are suffering
privations their places are filled by a
class totally destitute of pobleness of
purpose or pride in doing right
Sleeps Time.