The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-12

We give Mr.. ALEXANDER BgowN's note
without comment. II needs none II our
view OF the question discussed Is the cor
rect one. lie says:
"UNIoS HILL" May o, 1882.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
I do not think Washington was born on
the 18th OF February, 1888, rs stated IN the
Dispatch OF May 9TH, and did not say so
In nv note In "'The Magazine OF American
History" II the record In the family
Bible has been correctly given, and j have
no reason to doubt it, then / think wash
incton was born on the 22d OF February,
1893, according to the computation OF time
in this country since 1852, which date, prior
10 1852, would have been recorded mere as
the nth OF February, 1872, and the
record in the family Bible Is as follows:
{" George Washington, son TO Augustine
and Mary, his wife, was born we llth day
of February, 1882. about 10 In the morn
ing. and was baptized the Sd OF April fol-
lowing. Mr.. Beverly Whiting and Christie
pher Brooks, godfathers, and Mrs. Mil
dred Gregory, godmother." IN the par
ish register is still in existence 1t would
very probably state clearly Sd OF April,
.l-32. or 1888, and thus settle the question:
The day Of the month is old style, and
think the year is also. According to all the
records Of this country that | have seen
family, parish, or court-"ye 11th OF FEB
ruary, 1871, or 1872" .. S., would be
22d Of February, 1882, n. s., and aye 18th
Of February, 1882" or "1732-'3," o. s.,
would be ODD OF February, 1885. n. ;.
have lust looked over some Washington
articles in the Standard, and find in an
article by DR.. Toner the following: "The
earliest reference / have met with as 10 q
celebration OF the birthday OF Washing
ton was on February II, 1882, in Virginia,
by some of his personal friends, when the
General had attained his fiftieth year." III
Washington was born in 1882, n. S., as
our historians, believe, have invariably
stated, would he not then Q1th February,
1872 have completed his fiftieth year and
attained his ffty-frst year? l think " his
personal friends" had the year Of his birth
correct; but the 18th continued to be cele-
brated us the day until 1871, when this
error was publicly corrected in Philadel-
phia, and by 1893 generally adopted. Yet
the year OF birth was as liable to need cor
rection from O. s. to y. 5. as the day
but under our system OF celebrating only
the day, il was less liable TO be corrected,
and it seems has been overlooked.
know Great Britain was slow in dis
continuing the Julian calendar, or old
style, and in adopting the Gregorian, or
new style. Most countries had adopted the
new style prior to I'LL, and most Roman
Catholic countries adopted it in 1882, the
year il was first ordained to be adopted by
Pope Gregory Kill, from whom 1t derives
it, name.
1t was first adopted by an act OF Parlia-
ment passed in the twenty-fourth year OF
George H., various clauses OF which act
were to take effect the day cater the last
day OF December, 175l," %. ST. and the day
after the "second Of September, 1862" %.
So throughout all his Maiesty's domin-
ions in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Ameri-
ca" &c. / have always found that the old
style was used in the colony of Virginia
prior to 1852; but the last figure Of the new
style year was frequently annexed TO the
old-style year. Ii the entry in the Bible is
"ye 18th Feb'y, 1872" then think the
historians are right, of course; but if the
entry is aye 18th FeIy, 1882" then think
they are wrong; but, OF course, | may be
mistaken. ALEXANDER Brown,
Norwood, Va.