The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-22
virginia historical society.


A PROPOSITION FOB BALL FOR THE SOCIETY,
! TO ACCOMMODATE ALSO THE SOUTHERN HIS
| TORIcAL SOCIETY AND THE RICHMOND ART
/ AssOCIATI0N-THE ANCESTRY OF GENERAL
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND VALUABLE
! DONATIONS SELECTION OF MEMBERS.
A meeting of the Executive Committee
Of the Virginia Historical Society was held
| Thursday evening the Goth instant. Pres
ent: Messrs. Henry (yice-presldentl, An
derson, Palmer, Barney, Cabell, OFT. Kelley,
and Brock corresponding secretary.
| Mr.. Henry was called to the chair, and
Mr. Brock requested to act as recording
secretary.
A communication from P. V. Daniel, Jr.,
ESQ.,, proposing to publish under the aus
pices of the Society new and enlarged
edition OF his "Vindication OF Edmund
Randolph" was read by the corresponding
secretary. Messrs. Kelley, Palmer, and
Barney were appointed committee to con-
fer with Mr.. Daniel as to his proposition.
Mr.. OFT submitted plan and proposition
for the erection Of fire-proof hall for the
Society, accommodations to be provided in
the same building for the Southern Histori-
cal Society and the Richmond Art Associa-
tion. He insisted that the amount, in addi-
tion to that already pledged, sufficient to the
cost Of the building and its adequate equip
nleut. could readily be obtained by applies
ton from wealthy natives OF the State resi-
dent in various sections Of the Union and
In the commercial marts of Great Britain
and France. The proposition was referred
TO n committee, composed of Messrs. OFT,
Cabei, and Brock, for consideration and
report.
Mr. Brock read some interesting extracts
from 4 letter received by him from Colonel
Joseph L. Chester. London. Eng, who
has been for some years engaged in
investigating the ancestry OF General
Washington. He bas satisfactorily de-
monstrated the descent deduced by Sir
Isaac Heard, and adopted by Sparks
and the succeeding biographers OF Wash
ington, to be entirely unfounded. He is
satisfied that he has obtained documentary
clue towards the clearing up OF the mystic
ry, but towards an undoubted Identification
OF the evidence in his possession he desires
q description Of the arms used by either OF
the brothers, John or Lawrence Washing
ton, the immigrants, or OF John the son OF
the aforementioned; an original document
bearing the signature OF John Washington
the immigrant (who died in 1GT6), or a cor
rect tracing OF the same. Though the orig
lnal VIII cannot now be found among the
records OF Westmoreland county, it is hoped
fhat they may contain some other document
with the desired sisnntr-o- Perchunce
such may be in private hands. y notlhca-
tion of such fact to Mr.. Brock will be most
thankfully regarded.
A large number Of valuable donations OF
books, maps, and newspapers from indi-
viduals and institutions were reported.
Also, the following interesting relic from
Robert Skipwith, Esq, OF Goochland
county An altar-cloth which belonged TO
the old Episcopal church of Licking Hole,
Goochland county, which was situated on
the old Richmond and Charlottesville stage
road, about six miles from Goochland
courthouse. The church has disappeared,
and nothing now marks the spot but few
patriarcbal oaks. The cloth, which is OF
fine linen damask, was, after the demolition
OF the church. placed in the hands OF the
wife OF the donor. Mrs. Jane Rolfe Skip
with. daughter OF Colonel William Boiling,
OF Boiling Island. She died III February,
1867.
The figures woven into the cloth tell the
tale OF the siege OF Jericho by Joshua.
Joshua is mounted and represented in the
armor OF the middle ages. His command,
in Latin text, distinctly apnears: "SiSte
Sol in Gibeon ct Lama in Vale 1jal0n."
There are also some other words in the same
tongue. A curious anachronism is dis
played in the bombardmcnt of Jericho with
cannon and mortars. Other quaint objects
are to be seen among the designs. There
was also received from Hon. James L. kem-
per, late Governor OF Virginia, a fac-simile
in bronze OF the Jackson-Hope medal, rep
resenting the prize founded by gentleman
Of England as a tribute to the great Con-
federate Captain, Thomas j. Jackson. used
as an annual reward or distinction of schol-
arship at the Virginia Military Institute.
Mr.. OFT stated that he had deposited for
safe-kceping in the vault OF one of our city
banks an extensive and highly valuable col
lection OF papers preserved in the Massic
family Of Virginia, extending back to the
beginning Of the eighteenth century. They
present interesting data and views OF the
manners, customs, and commercial prac-
tices OF colonial Virginia, and include valll-
able correspondence with distinguished
cheitains OF the Revolutionary war, and
were bequeathed to The Society by the late
Major Thomas J. Massie, OF Arlington, Va.
Mr. Brock submitted to the inspection oi
the committee the first No. Of the american
antiquarian, published quarterly, at g per
annum, by Rev. Stephen D. Peet, ut Ash
tabula, Ohio. 1t is a valuable publication,
and the only one devoted to archaeology in
the United States.
The following members were elected
Honorary, Colonel Joseph Lemucl Chester
LII. D., London, England: regular, Alex
ander Brown, Norwood, Nelson county, Va
Adjourned.
THE You've MEMS CHRISTIAN AssocIA
| tY