The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-02


wn would come out about even, and Mr.
consented 10 discount the 80.
c,etyss nate sor $4,000. snd not long affcf
Won found out We would need more money
Ra 600 was borrowed Of Mr.. Thomas, ana
liffle later vog wrote II was evident that we
would need still more, and $1,000 note o.
che Society was pat ehost, &c, &c. And
how al the January meeting OF our commit
lee Il was difficult TO satisfy some 81 our
disappointed members (6esides BerdfeN 80
10 the Interested Indebtedness OF the society,
az well as 10 the way IN which the faif.
Grounds were 10 be managed the present
year. what will they think when we meet
In August 10 be told the Society owes tlo.-
600 or more, aud that We have failed 70 rear
tze from the grounds, as we had expecteu,
either through the lessee, superintendent, OF
atberwise. as the case may be? And what
shall we now say TO many OF the truest aod
rsost anxious friends OF the Society WHO
have been led 10 believe the debt was IN
fair way OF liquidation ! confess 1 90
NOT know. To say that the books nave beea
prouerly kept only proves that we are nom
est, which nobody has yet disputed,
whilst the facts in the case snow tbat We
have uuwittingly misled and disappointed
our friends. and at the same time subjected
ourselves to the ridicule OF our enemies.
with me The case Il even worse tpan nave
stated II. have been met lately by anum-
Der OF the best friends OF the Society WIN
the lnqaily, did you not tell me tne eeO.
had been reduced 10 about SlO,OOo at tne'
last fair: how Is 1t that hear u IS some
SI4 600 or $4,000! Wonderful dinerenee'
and how do you account for n.y. DC.
"If / had been the secretary ana treasu'
rer Of the Society, in the face OF these iacls,
would have gone out TO the grounos every
morning Ia the week before breakfast soon
or than 1 would have been imposed upon by
lessee SUPERINTENDENT, or anybody else
or. like MIR. Alfred Jones, after hard days
WORT in his Office, would have taken the
Fredericksburg train to It's shops, thence TO
his farm near BIZ, every evening IN the
week. even thOgGb, like him, might have
n foot il back home. Such attention is
sometimes necessary, and particularly with
sroperty like the Society's, which Is by
many regarded as q source OF legitimate
prey. do not write in this way, Colonel,
because it gives me any pleasure TO bnd
fault, but because IL is the way IN which
AN written to by members Of the committee
and of The Society. and ii is but fair that
You should know what is expected OF the
secretary and treasurer (the only PAID of1cer
OF the Society.
aIn regard to your official bond, had
no object in referring to 1t other than 10
comply with the resolution Of the Society
which makes II my duty to see that II Is
propetly executed The security on the
last when taken was considered good. III
am properly informed, the same would not
now be regarded as sufficient.
"As heretofore, very truly your friend,
ga. II. DREwRY.
"COIonel W. G. Knight, Secretary Virginia
State Agricultural Society,""
And that I should have borne such en-
barrassment 10 the close of my admlnistra-
ton IS evidence OF the uestfriendship, and
cannot be accounted for 10 any other way.
Even now I am disposed to do Colonel
knight full justice, and. will repeat what
have said on all lit occasions. In my 0pln-
ion he made one OF the best committeeman
the Society ever had, and / think be made |
q good pTesd mt, but he did not make Z |
good secretary and treasurer. He is too
Inaccurate as TO figures, and in so saying l
dc not wish to disparage him, for 1t often |
happens that common man Will m9ke a
superior clerk, and that IS not an accom- |
p.isbment which necessarily attaches TO a |
higher order Of talent. L am sorry that the |
public should be troubled with this CORE |
spondence. 1t has, however, borne much |
more heavily upon me, unaccustomed TO |
such work; and such persons as can |
appreciate the duties OF farmer at this |
particular season OF the year, with his |
crops maturing in quick succession upon |
bin, must know that he has not the time, il
he had the taste, for a newspaper contro.
versy. What | have said has been spoken |
under sense Of duty as one of the mana !
gers of the State Agricultural Society, which |
conceive to be highly mertorious and
useful public institution. Personally | have
nothing 10 ask OF its friends, whether they
come from the town or the country. | am
not a candidate for the presidency OF the
Society, nor for any other office whatever
from any source. as for Colonel Knights
figures 10 his late communication, baye not
had time to examine them carefully, but
from recollection | may state that the sum
of between five and six thousand dollars
was derived from the sale OF State stock |
during bis administration which does not
seem to be embraced in his figures, and
which, il Incorporated, would materially
affect The statement, whilst an examination
OF the books might disclose other errors.
A. Ii. DHEwRY.