The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-12
Virginia Historical Society.

A meeting OF the Executive Committee
OF the Virginia Historical Society was held
yesterday. Present Messrs. Palmer CHAIR
MANI, Barney, Valentine, Brock, Ander-
son, Kelley, Henry, Cabell, and Barksdale
/ recOrding secretary.
A number OF gifts OF books, &C., were
reported. A letter relating to the opening
OF the American struggle for independ-
ence, found by the corresponding secro-
I tary among the manuscripts OF the Society
/ whilst arranging and IndeXing them, was
read by him. II is evidently a copy re-
| tanned by ITS writer, Harrison Gray, Re
cciyer-General Of the Colony OF Massachu-
/ sets, OF a letter addressed 10 the Reyal
\ Governor, Thomas Gage.
/ Mr.. Gray's estate was cOnfscated, and he
was prescribed and banished from Massa-
chusetts, dying in England. His son
Jscky," also n loyalist. was in London in
I 1871. His only daughter, Elizabeth, was
the first wife OF Samuel Allyne Otis, and
mother OF Harrison Gray Otis, who, q dis
/ tinguished statesman, while the Federalists
were in the ascendancy, died at Boston in
1s49; aged eighty-iour.
The letter is as follows:
Sr.-As the bearer hereof, my young
est son, can give you particular account
OF the battle at Bunker's Hill and Of the
present situation Of our army, l shall con-
tent myself iy saying il was cOmplcat
victory over the Rebels. However, two or
three such victories would ruin the British
Army, and had the Navy given that assist
ance to the army that Admiral Montague
would have afforded had he commanded,
not Rebel would have escaped. As this
goes by the WHY OF river post no doubt
your EXcclency will have Later News than
/ / can give you: therefore shall not enlarge
at this time, but may hereafter do myself
that honour Ny sons departure from
home was sudden. Several Gent'n OF the
Council have hired Bryce belonging 10
my son Lewis 10 20 TO Ireland for a load Of
provisions to prevent their starving the en-
suing winter; and Jackey, by the advice
Of his friends, has taken this opportunity
/ 10 see the world. and tells me he shall 20
/ from Liverpool 10 London to spend few
/ days. which Is the occasion Of INV troubling
YOU with this scrawl. Any notice your
EX'y may take Of him will he gratefully
acknowledged 10y
"YOur Sincere Friend. III. g."
The Corresponding Secretary stated that
| a list OF the membership OF the Society was
in the hands Of the printer and would soon
| be readyfor distribution. He read, among
other letters, one from George u. Scull,
Esq, Rugby Lodge, oxford, England, an
nounciu, his intention soon TO privately
/ print q work appcrtaining to the early set
| Element of Virginia: "The Eyeylyns in
/ America, 160S-lS05," and giving also the
gratifying intelligence that the deficient
/ three leaves Of the documents relating to
| the French Protestant Refugees settled at
I Manikm Town, James river. I'm 1850 (0f
which an account was given in the minutes
OF the Society for August 2G, 1881, was
/ immatcrial, rs they related to an eXtranc-
ous matter-some cases Of piracy of the
coast Of Virginia in 100. The occa-
/ sion OF the preservation in private
hands OF these documents was because OF
/ their having been loaned 10 DR.. Daniel
I Coke, Of London, (the promoter OF French
emigration to Amcrica,) and never re-
turned. They were at his death sold al
auction, and purchased by the collector,
Richard RawlinSon, who had passion for
storing up such raw materials OF history.
Letters from Nlessrs. Robert G. Morton
and Mark Downey, Richmond, Va, ac-
cepting membership in the Society, were
read.
The following were elected members Of
the Society: W. +. Clarke, Esq, Boston,
Mass: Hon. +. Emory Aldrich, Worcester,
Mass. The Library Company Of Philade-
phia. represented by George Maurice Ab-
bolt, Esq, librarian in charge, Philadel-
phia, Pa.
Adjourned TO meet on Friday next the
18th instant at / o'clock u. VI.