The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-10
LOCAL MATTERS.
Yne virginia Historical Society

VALUABLE GIFTS TO THE S0CIETY-THE I'M
PORTANT HISTORIC LEE PAPERS AT TIE UNI
yERsITY OF yIRGINIA-ACCESSI0N OF MEM.
BERs TO THE SOCIETY.
A meeting OF the Executive Committee
OF the Virginia Historical Society was held
Yesterday at II O'Clock. Present: Messrs.
Henry (cbairmanl Ou, Barney, Wellford,
and Brock. The recording secretary. Ma
Tor Barksdale, being absent, Mr. Brock was
requested to act os such.
A number Of valuable gifts OF books, &c.,
we're reported. Letters were read from
the following gentlemen accepting member
ship I'm the Society: Messrs. Herbert Au-
gustine Claiborne, Marshall Nj. Gillian, and
Lewis Booker, Richmond, Va. Hon. Alex
snder II. II. Stuart and Major jed. Hotch-
kiss, c. f., StauntOn, Va; John Hunter,
Sr., ESQ, Louisa Courthouse, Va, and Col
oneI John Minor Patton, Bentvoglio, Albe-
marie county, Va. from Daniel h. Stewart,
ESQ, Richmond, Va, and james L. Nor
gan, Jr., Esq New York city, accepting
life emembership.
A letter was also resd from Conway Rob
inson, Esq, Washington, ID. e., giving In
teresting "reminiscences OF the formation OF
the Society, and Offering valuable sugges-
tions towards the promotion OF its inter-
ests and objects. In the letter OF Mr.. STU
art an interesting reference is made TO some
important materials for history, as follows:
"Wbjle | was at the University [Of Viz
ginia. from which he had stated he mas just
returned found that we had there great
treasure in the Arthur Lee papers, which
include letters from Richard Henry Lee,
William Lee, Francis Lightf0ot Lee, Jeffer-
son, Madison, Monroe, Patrick Henry,
George Mason, John Marshall, Grayson,
and indeed almost every distinguished man
OF the Revolutionary era, and the pre-
ceding decade. We [the Board OF
VisitOrsl ordered them to be di-
gested and arranged in the best form.
| Colonel Il. l.. Preston is now engaged IN
the work. understand from him that
these papers throw great deal OF light on
many obscure points OF national and per-
sonal history" This valuable collection,
the CORES pOndence OF Arthur Lee, was de-
posted in the library OF the University OF
Virginia by Richard Henry Lee. Jr.. the
author Of the well-knOwn Biographies OF
Richard Henry Lee and OF Arthur Lee, al
what precise time we are not Informed. In
| 1853 Nathaniel Francis CabeIl, ESQ, OF
| Warminster, Nelson county, Va, by per.
mission OF Mr.. r. II. Lee, Jr., made
transcripts OF many OF the letters which
were published during that year in the
Southern Literary Messenger, then edited
by the late John K. Thompson. An index
was made Of the letters by DR.. Frank Carr,
secretary to the Board Of Visitors to the
| University, some time before the late war
during which unhappy period the collection
| became by some means displaced, ana were
supposed to be lost. In May, 1870, however
thew were found in the possession Of gen.
hoe oh hppn
mitted, and returned to the University. We
have been Informed by Mr.. n. F. CabeI
that "tbe papers OF Arthur Lee make uT
less than bali OF the collection" part OF
his papers having been deposited by
Mr.. II, II. Lee, Jr., "at Cambridge
! i'm the library OF Harvard University, We
presume, though we were not definitely sc
| Informed. II our inference be correct, {
list of them would be desderatum for the
collection at the University OF Virginia
| II is TO be hoped that the librarian OF Har
ward, Justin Winsor, Esq, will kindly fur
nisb it.
The corresponding secretary was instruct
ed to forward TO the Minnesota Historical
Society, through Oscar Stephenson, Esq.
ST. Paul, Mimi, a gift Of such publications
OF this Society OF which duplicate copies
remained.
on motion, it was also
ResoIUed, That the corresponding secre
tary be instructed to express to the West
moreland Club the sensible appreciation ol
this Society of the gift OF valuable files Of
newspapers generously rendered by th'
Club, and that the same are gratefully ac
| cepted.
Tbe following gentlemen were elected
members OF the Society: Major Mann Page
| Brandon, Va: Colonel Randolph Harrison
Cartersville, Va; Captain Robert 3. Lee
West Point, Va; Colonel William 7. Bur
well. Captain Maxwell L. Clarke, Majo'
John u. Rogers. and Messrs. John Hunter
Jr., Thomas Atkinson, and William Ii. Gil
ham. Richmond, Va; Hon. Robert w
Hughes, Ii. d., Norfolk, Va; and Z. L.
Burwell, Esq, Cumberland, Nd.
The following honorary members were
also elected: Hon. Islac n. Arnold. Cbica
go, ILL.,; Nathaniel Francls CaDe'i' Esq
Warminster, Nelson county, Va.
| Adjourned.