The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-12
IFor the Dispatch.I
THE Rev. Mr. Weenis as Historian.

THE Rev. Mr. WeemS as Historian.
| Mr.. Parton, in calling attention TO the Rev.
Mr.. Weems as an author, fails to notice his
most prominent, and suppose his earliest
work-,yiz., bis editing The Life OF General
| Francis Marion. This Life was written by
Major Horny, OF South Carolina, one OF
"Marion's men," In the ater years OF Ma
lior Horry's life he was cripple from rheu-
| matism. His sutferings from this disease
Induced an annual visit to the Hot Springs OF
| Virginia. The journey from South Carolina
was made in a little wagon fitted up with
appliances to render it more endrlrable to
the invalid. The companion of these Jour
neys was q faithful, strong negro man, who
bore the old soldier in his arms to and from
his carriage. Coming and going, Month
cello was always one Of the resting-places.
| Here Horry's sturdy honesty, his warm pa
triotism and simple manners, made MIN an
ever welcome guest. On, the occasion
Of one Of these visits Major Hor-
| ~. showed r. Jefferson the biography
| OF his idolized chief. Mr.. Jefferson founa
| ii attractive from the simple, manly styIe IN
which it recounted incidents whose darlng
and dangers the author had shared, ana aa'
Vised its publication.
stonni,,e mt Courthouses on his Journeys,
Horny unfortunately fell in with the plaus-
ihIe and garrulous Weems. He won the
confidence OF Horny, who (proDably des-
pairing OF any other means or giving
TO the world the story OF Marlon's
acbieyements) entrusted the manuscript
to him for publication. When it came
out, full Of grandiloquence, and rhodo-
montade, loaded with incidents which had
no foundation but in Weems's imagination,
the old soldier was furious, and fercely
denounced it as unworthy its great subject
| and himself. find in u collection OF auto
graphic letters one from Parson Weems to
MIR. jefferson, so characteristic in style that
| I transcribe it. MIR. Jeterson's answer is
| written on the back in his peculiarly neat,
| fine hand:
.a DUMFREEs, October Ia, 81. :
III. Jefferson, Esq; :, ,:,@s, s.osi.s. -
Very honored Sir,-I have favor to ask
fyou.. The" great success I have had in my
American Biographies has tempted me to
add another great man to the list. e.,
William Penn. ihaye been told that piece
OF the maple, immortalized by his treaty
with the Delaware Indians, converted into
q cups vas sent to you with some appro-
pirate lines. Have you any objection to do
my book the honor to give those lines "a
place in it2 II you have not please get one,
OF your family to transcribe them in let
ter to meat Phil; tocare OF Math. Carey q
Sons. q - ssss.-s. ,,;,s
Yours, with good will that shall last
| long as the sun and moon give light,
Mel, WEEMs. |
1 The widow Of your old schoolmate and
early friend, Colonel Jesss EWell, has the
fever OF the season, IA stt, .ksNsya.;l {;
Sir,-The information you, have received
| OF my being in possession Of piece Of the
Emapie under " hieh Penn treated Withsthe
Indians issentirely a fable. T know nothing
Fol such reflex. Any information sIGoula
| have given should have been quite at your
service. zf . 81 81 II
Accept MS; respectful salutations. g
! '1'..ss. tsssss III. Ia tn JEFEERs0s!
The clerical book FeRtier Yas-Eery-un.
EclericaI i'm. the choice OF hiss WaT,es. "a long
With books ol an sasheissieals chaEaatef le