Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-07-01

For the SPECTATOR.
The Stuart Papers-NO. 8.

LETTERS ADDRESSED TO THE LATE
JUDGE ARCHIBALD STUART, OF
'STAUNTON.
While attending court in Lexington
on one occasion, Judge Stuart encoun-
tered youth named JOHN ALLEN, and
encouraged him to study law, taking
him into his office and family. After
obtaining license to practice law, Allen
settled in Kentucky, and very soon be-
came distinguished. He and Henry
Clay were rivals at the bar and for pop
ular favor, and it is still question
which was the more talented. But AL
lens career ended prematurely-he was
killed at the battle of the River Raisen,
January 22d, 1918. The following are
extracts from letter written by Allen
to his early patron -
FRANKFORT, 18th Oct'r. 1903.
Dear SIR Since [ wrote you [ have
had trip to the Mississippi, visiting
some of our tawny neighbors. That part
on the Mississippi. just below the mouth
of the Ohio is yet within the Chickasaw
boundary and in point of importance to
the western people will be second only
to New Orleans itself. I, therefore, have
but little doubt that purchase will
shortly be made of the Indian right of
hunting, &C.. and leave given for the
settlement of the place. And now
word of communication to your own ear
ear-if the castle should turn out an airy
one suffer it in silence to return from
whence 1t came. Suppose a capital of
100000 to be put in trade so soon as the
above purchase shall be made-a house
at New Orleans to manage exports and
imports, another at the mouth of the
| Ohio with the aid of its subordinate
houses) to manage the trade with the
western citizens, also the Fur trade with
the Indians on the Mississippi, Missou-
ri, and other tributary streams.-su
pose your friend to have considerable
share in organizing the affair, and
among other things a power of letting
in some of his friends, and suppose his
| eye Immediately turned upon you, will
you write me whether you would like
to place money in such bank, and if
so, to what extent. So much for that
part. Your friend also has considera-
BILE share in the ground where the set
tlement must be made. The town. VI
will be laid off under his direction-he
would like to name it Jefferson, for your
friend of that name, but is unwilling to
use the name without permission. It
would be iEdelicate for any but a par
ticular friend to make application. Will
you, as that authorized friend, procure
me the permission of using it and ad-
wise me thereof.
\ x X
am obliged to attend closely to nav
practice to keep the money account in
my favor. Those other things are my
hobby horses and are rode hard when l
am not on law subjects-the plan is
broad and the necessary information
difficult to be come at. l have done
much and much is yet to be done. I
have got out of the habit of taking any
time to myself, this accounts for my
know you can and will view it right. 7
fear Mrs. Stuart will tEiEk I have been
negligent, be my advocate with her,
Inclosed you have letter, which you
will please look over aud hand her.-l
Expect another letter when can write
it. Your friend,
J. ALLEN.
The Hon. A. Stuart,
Mr.. Jefferson was President of the
United States when the following was
written -
MONTICELLO, Sept. Is, 'OG.
Dear Sir II went to Charlottesville
today with g view to ask you to make
this your headquarters while attending
court. Having got there too late to see
you, now make the request by letter.
The ride is SO short that it is scarcely
more inconvenient than lodging in
| Charlottesville.
Accept affectionate salutations and
ASSURANCES of esteem,
TIL. JEFFERSON.
At the date of the following letter,
Mr.. Jefferson had retired finally FROM
public life, and was settled at Monticel,
10 as at former:-
MONTICELLO, Aug. 8, I'll.
| Dear Sir Il ask the favor of you to
purchase for me as much fresh timothy
seed as the inclosed bill will pay for,
pack and forward, and that you will
have the goodness to direct it to be
lodged at Mr.. Leith's store in Char
lottesville by the wagner who brings
it. You see how bold your indulgences
make me in intruding on your kindnes.
do not know that the government
means to make known what has passed
between them and Foster before the
the meeting of Congress but, in the
meantime, individuals, who are in the
way, think they have ss right to fish it
out, and in this way the SUM Of it has
become known. Great Britain has GER
tainly come forward and declared to our
government by an official paper that
the conduct of France towards her dur
ing this war has obliged her to take pos
session of the ocean, and to determine
that no commerce shall be carried on
with the nations connected with France.
That, however, she is disposed to relax
in this determination so far as to permit
the commerce which may be carried on
through the British perts. L have, for
3 or 4 years, been confident that, know
ing that her own resources were not
adequate to the maintenance of her pres
ent navy, she meant with it to claim
the conquest Of the ocean, and to permit
no nation to navigate it, but on pay
ment of a tribute for the maintenance of
the fleet necessary to secure that dOmin-
ion. A thousand circumstances brought
together left me without doubt that
that policy direc Led all her conduct altho
not avowed. This is the first time she
has thrown off the mask. The answer
and conduct of the government have
been what they ought to have been, and
Congress is called little earlier, to be
ready to act on the receipt of the reply,
for which time has been given.
God bless you.
From yours affectionately,
TIL. JEFFERSON.
: Judge Stuart.
MONTICELLO, Nov. Is, II.
Dear Sar We have safely received
the cask of timothy seed, as also the very
excellent parcel of butter which you
have been SO kind as to send us; for
which be pleased to accept my thanks,
or, perhaps, I should more properly re-
quest you to tender them with my re-
spects to Mrs. Stuart.
You have, days since, seen the most
excellent, national. and dignified mes.
sage of the President, and the documents
, accompanying it. In these you see the
, British government have openly avow-
ed that they will enforce their orders of
council that is, will keep exclusive pos.
session of the ocean, until France will