Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-21
WRITTEN BY NOTABLE MEN.
A Collection OF AutOgr aphs at the Ma
tiOnal Museum.

tfOnal Museum.
LETTERS AND OLD DocUMENrs-PApERs OF
HISTORICAL AS WELL As PERSONAL VALUE
MEMORIALS OF THE LATE WAR AND OF THE
REVOLUTION.
The north hall of the National museum build
ing, the one which the visitor first enters when
visiting the museum, has been given up partly
to the exhibition of articles of historical interest
The historical collection has recently been en-
riched by the addition to it OF a loan collection
of curious and valuable autograph letters and
manuscripts. These autographs which have
just been put on exhibition in cases arranged
most conveniently, SO as to permit close in
spection, receive much attention from visitors,
who almost invariably spend considerable time
inspecting the contents of the case. One of the
most notable things in the collection is the
original draft of the letter, dated Philadelphia,
July 8, 1875, and signed by John Hancock,
which was sent to the colonies, accompanying
the Declaration of Independence. Another val
liable manuscript OF the same period Is the
original draft of the resolution by the CONT
mental Congress, dated December %, 1776, in
vesting Washington with the supreme COM
Stearns a soldier OF the 9Th Massachusetts reg
iment, is dated June 8, 1888, and bears the sig
nature of George Washington. The original
manuscript of Cooper's novel. Mercedes OF
Castillo which was printed in London, is in
Guided in this collection. 1t is written IN
fine hand, on foolscap paper, and bound in
paste-board cover.
AUTOGRAPH LETTERS.
There are autograph notes or lettes from
Henry w. Longfellow, Samuel Rogers, ''Stone-
wall" Jackson, Gen. Henry Lee, the Light
Horse Harry of Revolutionary fame; Robert
athan frumbuIi, dolly Madison, John RAN
dolph of Roanoke, Samuel Huntington, Sir
Walter Scott, Field Marshal Macdonald of
Adams, Fillmore, Buchanan, Lincoln, Grant
and Hayes, and other notable men.
INTERESTING OLD DOCUMENTS.
Among the curiosities Is a deed of Virginia
lands signed by Lord Fairfax; decree made in
New Mexico in 1851 for the punishment of a
man for heresy; a legal paper signed in 1913 by
:,obert Fulton; an act OF the confederate con-
gress, signed by Jefferson Davis as president,
and r. NJ; I. Hunter, president pro tenn. of the
senate: a land patent dated in 1898 and signed
by Presiden: john Adams; the original copy OF
the articles of confederation, signed by Charles
Thomson, secretary OF the convention; a bondor
copartncrshp agreement entered into IN Phila-
delphia, January, 1747, between Benz. Franklin
and David Hail. and bearing their signatures;
bill for goods dated New York, May Is, 1873,
and receipted by John Jacob Astor; an old
ledger kept by William Corbett, of Philadel-
pna and dated nd aS state paper bearing Ihs
military order. dated March 10, 111S. and
signed by Gen. G. w. Clinton; note Tor $40.
payable one year after the establishment in fact
OF the Independence of the Hung iLian govern
ment, and signed by Louis kossuth; an ancient
copy of ekuran in curiously illuminated lndo-
Mohammedan caligraDhy; Il lleuienantS com
mission in the New Hampshire lice, dated
May Sth, 1888; commission from President
Monroe, dated February 18th, 1918, issued to
John O. Adams, Lewis Cas- and Duncan Mac
Arthur, to make an Indian treaty; the original
treaty executed by Gen. Albert Pike on the
part of tine southern confederacy, with Indian
nations west OF Arkansas: Il letter dated 1Ioi,
written by John Christopher Hartwick and
giving an account OF German settlements in
New jersey aud New York; an application for a
Through made during the Florida war and en-
dorsed by Gen. Harrison, and verses and music
in the handwriting OF Thomas Moore.
REMINDERS OF WAR TIMES.
A reminder OF hard times in Richmond is pre-
scented in the shape of a bill dated August Ii,
1868, for a suit of clothes, lone black cloth
coat and black cashmere pants" is put down at
1915. and lone vest at $50.
Other mem2ntOeS of the late war are eEhib-
tied in the shape of a confederate provost mar
shal's pass to a citizen OF Petersburg to visit
Richmond, and Il general order, issued by Maj.
Gen. MagrGder al Yorktown, December %,
OF the peninsula. This announced that the
troops would winter where they were then sta
toned and added, =" Ii the enemy attack we
viii defeat him, and after the victory we will
Newport News.
\ curious and Interesting memento of Secre-
tary Stanton is included in the collection. This
is "a minute made by him on the lily leaf OF
book OF army regulations OF caol-
net meeting. held with President Johnson.
1t is scrawled in pencil, and says: '! dissent
from the whole opinion, except the points: LIST,
as to the disqualification of merely municipal,
local sanitary officers; I'd, the duty of regis
trltiun officers TO take the oath of applicant as
final, May 23, 1867, in cabinet. Present, the
President, Seward, MeCuiloagh stanton ton
opinion referred to was probably tEc one given
by Mr.. Stanbery, Attorney General, as to legal
from which Mr.. Stanton alone dissented. 1t
was this dissent that led Immediately to the
| rupture between Johnson and Stanton.
WHAT JACKSON SAID.
An interesting letter from Elisha Whittlesey
to H. Niles, dated February IL. 1882, relates to
the controversy between President Jackson
and the Senate, and says: You need not be
| surprised it proceedings are had in the Senate
| showing the dlsapproba:iOn of that body to the
| denunciations OF the President. There is no
| the Spanish inQusition; that il was turned into
| a beer garden; that the nomination of Mr.. \ an
Buren, was rejected by set OF drunken Sen;i-
tors, and that the Senate when in secret session
/ was :riducing female virtue and innocence.
| No other man than Gen. Jackson could with
stand the damning facts arrayed against him
| for a moment"
A letter written by Senator, afterwards Presi-
| dent James Buchanan, to a friend from this
| fences: 81 consider it very doubtful whether
| shall ever be a candidate for the Presidency
sin all sincerity do not think the Presidency
worth the efforts necessary to reach it, and it is
| very questionable whether any Pennsylvanian
in our day and generation will ever win the
prize"
THE CLOSED SENATE.
| An old letter from Governor Huntington, OF
| Connecticut to Governor Telfair, OF Georgia,
dated April IL, 1892, says:
| IL am this day hOnored with the receipt your
| letter OF the 25th of January, enclosing a reso
| hut on of the general assembly Of the state OF
Georgia relative to the doors OF the Senate OF
| the United States being kept open when sitting
| i'm their legislative capacity; and shall commu-
nicate the same to the legislature OF this state al
! their approaching session, which will be on the
second Thursday of May"
| The Associated Charities.
| THE WORK IN THE FOURTH DIvISION-ORGAN.
IZING FOR THE WINTERS WORK.
About forty ladies and gentlemen, composing