The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-16

MONEY vALUE W SVnS vssD h"' $3.50 -.
ACCOUNT To HIS fArHER OF The FAIL OF
vfcKsBrRo.
,rrom ,ec ro,ton Co mmercis' Balletin.I
The sale Of autographs letters ana us
totjcal manuscripts at auction IN Boston on
Tuesday and Wednesday. ana the prices on
tanned for the most impol taBi, indicates the
Increased attention that has been turned to
This description Of literary merchandise,
moro especially that Of historical character.
There are several extremely rich collections
~ m,uuscripis respecting the early history
Of this country and Of the Revolutionary
war ia the hands OF private individuals OF
means. and they and the various historical
societies who have Of late years been on the
watch for documents OF interest OF this de-
scrtptiop have rendered desirable specimens
rare and consequently high-priced. The
collection which has Just been sold belonged
"a The late j. r. Des Forgts, OF Baltimore.
The collection confirmed comparatively few
Of high value and good condition. Such rs
were so brought very satisfactory prices.
A fine letter Of Edgar A. Poe, criticIsing
some Of Washington Irving's writings, sold
for st5; Nathaniel Hawthorne. referring TO
one OF bis stories, Tor 1915; Beniamin
Franklin. letter OF purely domestic
character TO his sister, 81; one on public
or political matters would have brought
double that price, and one OF more interest.
ing character was sold on the second day OF
this sale for $125 80. Letters In poor condl-
lion and upon commonplace matters OF GEL
ebrated names brought prices as foiiows--
none too low, however, as they were not de-
fable specimens: Alexander Hamilton,
81: Henry Laurens. Si.05; w. II. Harri-
CON. go: Madison, Sl.80; Bancroft, 81 20 /;
Jefferson Davis, S1.05; X. II. Lee, 81. !:
Tbomss Penn, $3.50; an early-date letter
signed Zachary Taylor, 81 go. good auto
graph letter OF Taylor during bis military
career In Mexico or while he was President
wonld command $40 to Sl2. When the
autograph letter OF Thomas stone, sisner
OF the Declaration Of Independence. was
reached. really quite scarce specimen, The
price Of $40 was paid for IL.
An instance Of its rarity and how highly
| il was prized was displayed in The case OF
Mary Washington to her son. General
| Georae Washington. dated in 1882. This
was badly damsged by fire, the three edges
where folded were burned quite through.
We, on these Uttered fragments, that had
10 be handled almost like bit OF finder
10 keep them from falling to pieces, were
the words OF the fond mother 10 "Dear
George" regreiiiDg that she was away
when he pissed through Fredericksburg,
and thanking him for kindly sending her
The thirty guipeas. "1our atiectionaie mo-
tber, Mary Washington" was distinct and
but little injured. IL was curious 10 see the
competition over these three bis OF burned
paper, which ended when the auctioneer's
hammer fell at the final bid of S5f, which
the purchaser seemed well contentcd to paw
for this touching memenlo OF the mother OF
the "Father OF his Country"
A letter OF Benedict Arnold, dated May,
i71G. aud describing military operations In
Caoada. went for a u: one OF kosciusZko
10 English. 81; one in French, $3.50; letter
from Lafayette. d1led White Plains, 117S.
sold for 81 %; and fine autograph letter OF
Charles Lee sold for Sl4. General Richard
Mont gomery started at 81. and was Knocked
down for SIC. General Israel Putnam, a
good military letter, In which he says: "
believe that the army under General Wash
iugton, after taking possession OF Princeton,
proceeded on with all expedition, so that
the enemy are now. believe, in possession
OF Princeton with General Howe at their
bead; II this be the case, now Is the ime."
&c. This sold for S6.25, which Is low
price for 1t. A fine letter Of General T..
Schuyler, referring to Arnold's treason,
brought but $3.50, and remarkably good
one Of Mad Anthony Wayne, respecting bis
movements in Georgia (l7S2), and keeping
the enemy shut up IN Savannah, % 80.
Artemas Ward sold for 81 %; General
Nathaniel Greene, s4 10. A letter Of John
II. Stone, Governor OF Maryland. while he
was an officer in the army in III, written
in camp few days after the battle OF Bran
DIVINE, and giving an interesting three page
folio account OF that battle, in which he was
an active participant, was Knocked down Tor
81.
A letter signed BY Abraham Lincoln went
for So. but the signature OF j. Wilkes Booth
for payment Of money brought So %.
Tue following interesting letter, relative
TO the fall OF Vicksburg, written by General
Grant to his father, was bought 10y Boston
GENT
VICKsBURG, July 6, 1868.
Dear Father, Vicks5urg has at last sur
rendered, after q siege of over forty days.
Tue surrender took place on the morning
of the 4th OF July. found bad cOnlnu-
Ously underestimate the force OF the enemy,
both in men and artillery. The number OF
prisoners surrendered was thirty thousand
and two hundred. The process OF paroling
is so tedious, however, that many who are
DESTROYS OF getting 10 their homes will escape
before the parOling officers get around to
them. The arms taken are about $50 pieces Of
artillery and over 10000 stand OF small arms.
The enemy still had about fouI days ratlon>
Of flour and meat and large quantity OF
sugar. The weather is pow. exceedingly
warm and the roads intolerably dusty. IL
cannot be expected, under these circum-
stances, that the health OF this command can
keep up as it has done. My troops we're
not allowed one hours idle time after the
surrender, but were at once started after
other game. My health has continued very
good during the campaign which has Just
closed. Remember me 10 all at home.
ULYSSES.
The above letter, entirely in the autograph
OF General Grant. is certified as such by the
following endorsement:
This IS an autograph letter from nv son,
Ulysses 5. Grant, Lieutenant. General Unit
ted States army. JESSE Il. GRANT.
A Passenger Going East.
he rOii Post.