The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-31

Famed Virginia Bill OF Rights }" Added 90
the Treasures OF the sOciety-The Original
Manuscript or General Henry Lees Scam
pains In the South ~ Important Resolutions
Passed-Aceession OF New Members, &c.
A meeting OF the Executive Committee
OF the Virginia Historical Society was held
Yesterday. Present Messrs. Curry (chair-
mani. OFT, Palmer, Barney, CabeIl, Yaen-
tine, Brock and Barksdale, (recording secre-
tary.)
A number OF valuable gifts OF books, &C.,
were reported. Letters were read by the
Corres ponding Secretary from the Hon. Al
exander III. II. Stuart, StauntOn, Va, ac-
cepting the presidency OF the Society ITO
which he was elected at Its last meetlng).
Expressing the deepest interest in its well
fare and bis desire to advance its objects by
bis best efforts" and stating that be would
present the application OF the Society for the
custody OF the Report OF Washington as
Commissioners 10 determine the service OF
the Virginia soldiers OF the French
aud Indian War now on file in the
District Chancery Court az Staunton,
TO Judge William Mclaughlin at the
next term Of said court, and that he
would endesvor by all proper means to
ensure the success OF the application; from
Colonel William Allan, professor Nc
Donogh Institute, Owings's Mill post
office, Maryland, testifyiDg bis pleasure at
the favorable prospects OF the Society; from
Colonel Thomas II. Ellis, Chicago, Ill,
making valuable suggestions in behalf OF
the furlherance OF the objects Ofth Society;
| from George Mason, Esq, Alexandria, Va,
the great.gr9ndson OF the author OF the
| Virginia "BlI Of Rights" and giving an in-
teresling account Of precious memorial OF
the eminent patriot aud immortal instru-
ment. This relic Is the original writing.
table OF George Mason, and is undoubtedly
| the table upon which was written the Bill
OF Rights" The table first descended to
bis eldest son George; on whose death TO
! bis second son William (my grandfather),
| then to my father, and finally to me, l hay-
! ing a sort OF prescrIptiye right to the table,
! besides that OF actual possession, being the
only surviving male OF the eldest surviving
branch OK our family, and, to use an Eng
| Ii,h term, "the head OF the Mason family"
This table is Of English oak and almost as
! it was in Colonel George MasOn's time, eX.
cept to the extent oi some very injudiciOus
attempts at repairs made after our late war
to " reconstruct" for Injuries done by Fed
eral soldiers. They had knocked of the
two brass knobs OF the drawer and injured
! the curious old claw-shapcd feet OF each
| lCg. The knobs were replaced by wooden
ones; the feet by splicing on wooden
pieces to make the legs longer.
There is not The least doubt bat that this
table was the accustomed writDg.table OF
George Mason before and during the reu0lu'
tiOndry period, and he himself said that he
actually wrote "Tbe Bill" on it.
Mr. Mason concludes By offering to pre-
sent the valuable relic to the Virginia His
| tOTical Society.
The corresponding secretary was in
structed TO communicate to Mr.. Mason, IN
behalf OF the Society, its grateful accept
ance Of the sacred trust.
Letters were also read from the following
gentlemen, accepting membership in the
Society: Nathaniel Francis Cabell, Esq
! Warminster, Va; Major Charles 5. String
fellow, Richmond. Va; William z. st.
John, Esq New York city Colonel Ran
dolph Harrison, Cartersvlle, Va, and from
Cas.ius F. Lee, Jr., Esq, AleXandria, Va,
| in reference TO a valuable historical memo
rial, as follows:
"Sbortly after the late war (hayng come
into possession Of it during that period
gave to General Robert f. Lee the Ms. me-
moirs written 10y his father, General Henry
Lee. pre- ume this Ms. is in the hands OF
bis son, General G.. W. Custis Lee, and per-
haps il you were TO write to him o present
them to the Virginia Historical Society for
preservation, he would do So"
Mr.. Brock stated that In consonance with
the suggestion OF Mr. Lee, he mad already
written TO General Lee, but had as yet re-
ceved no reply from him.
The following resolutions were adopted
ReSOlUed That much valuable historical
material correspondence, diaries, family
narratives, old land patents and deeds, early
account. books, &c.-being believed to exist
IN the several old faHily-seats throughout
this Common wealth, the owners thereof are
! hereby earnestly solicited 10 deposit the
same with the Virginia Historical Society
for due preservation. Not only arc the pre-
sent rooms OF the Society practically secure
against fire loss aud damage, but the pros
pCct is most encouraging that it will soon
be endowed with a tireprOOf hall OF its own
ReSOiUed. That the daughters Of Virgins
are elrnesily eutreated TO lend their efiec'
tive voices and offices to the Society in this
important matter, 80 essential 10 due rep
reseDtatlOn OF the glorious past OF the Ole
Dominion and in record OF the worth anC
virtues OF an honorable ancestry.
ReSOIUed, That the corresponding secre
| tary be authorized to communicate with The
| clerks OF the several cities and counties In
Ibis Commonwealth and to request them tC
act as special representatives Of this Society
| in a search for documents Of historical in
terest contained in the records in their keep
ing, so that copies OF the same may be made
| for The use and collections Of this society
! ReSOlUed, That this Society tenders tC
the newspaper press OF Virginia and oul
sister States a grateful acknowledgement OF
the lively interest which is now being 50
generally manifested by 1t in behalf Of the
welfare and progress Of the Society.
Resolved, That the photographers through
out the state be requested TO make pictures
OF all objects OF historical interest, family
seats, &C., in the section in which they re-
side, and OF such portraits OF persOnages
distinguished in the annals OF the State,
and OF relics, as may be within their accom-
plishment seyerally, and to present copies
| OF the same 10 the Virginia Historical So
ciety, which hereby pledges itself to due
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the favor, and 10 pro-
per effort to bring such interesting repre-
seRtstions 10 the public attention.
The following gentlemen were elected to
membership in the Society Life-members
His Excellency +. W. NJ. Holiday, Gov
ernor OF Virginia; Charles NJ. Fry, Esq,
pI esident OF the Bank Of New York, New
York city. Members: Colonel William
Allan, president OF McDOnogh Institute,
Owings's Mill post-office, Maryland; Messrs.
John j. Lancaster and G. SOlvyus, New
York city; DR.. Bucban Richards, Sweet
Hall, King William county, Va; Cassius
F. Lee, Jr., Esq. Alexandra, Va; Messrs.
o. Ii. Chalkley, Charles Baucb, Samuel Fl.
Cornick, James Lyons, Jr., George W.
Warren, and Virginius Newton, Richmond,