Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-24
THE ANCIENT CAPITAL.
The Old Powder Horn-A BIT of History.
,~orr..,cnaepce ~ tho Richmond DIspatchl

COrres pondence OF tho Richmond Dispatcn.i
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. January %, 1890.
As the time for the Colonial Assembly
ball approaches everything bearing upon
the old magazine here is eagerly sought
after aud published. The proceeds from
the ball VIII be applied towards paying for
the building, which was recently purchased
by the Colonial Capital Branch OF the Asso-
citation for Preservation of Virginia Anti
guities located here, and under whose SUI
pervision the work of repairing goes slowly
on and from present appearances III VIII oe
some time before the ancient building is
turned over TO the society.
NO NEw MATERIAL.
In order to preserve the antiquity of the
building in reality and appearance, no new
material has been used as far as could be
avoided except IN the woodwork; the
broken places in the brick-work are being
repaired with bricks which have been
recently dug from the foundation OF the
Capitol building and Lord Dunmore's pal
ace. Apropos of the above, the Williams
burg Gazette of June 16, 1775, contains the
following: in the third week of April the
country was alarmed by the Governour's re-
moving in the night from the colony maya
zine and putting on board his hlalesty's
schooner the Magdalen. Captain Collins
commanding, fifteen barrels OF gunpow-
der. nearly the whole which the magazine
at that time contained, and 1t was also dis
covered that he had spoiled several of the
firearms of their locks. Upon the first IN
telligence of this action many OF the
inhabitants Of Williamsburg flew to their
arms. and resolved in that way to de-
mand reparatlon. No violence, however.
was committed. They were persuaded To
dispense and the Common Hall addressed
his Excellency. Their address set forth
that the magazine was erected at the pub
lie expense OF the COLONY and appropriated
20 the safe-keeping of such munition as
ehould DO lodged there for the protection
and security of the country, to be used by
the militia in case of inyasions or lnsurrec-
tions, and that it was therefore the only
proper repository TO be resorted to IN times
Of Imminent danger; that, from various
reports of internal Instructions, the ut
most attention to their security was be-
come necessary, and they therefore desired
20 know his motives tor carrying Oh the
powder in such manner, and entreated
him Immediately TO return II TO the maya
zine. To this his Excellency replied
that the report of an instruction IN a
neighboring county bad induced nm 10
remove the powder from the magazine,
where he did not think 1t safe, TO IA place
of perfect security that he would return
II when il was wanted on any instruction
that he had removed il in the night TO pre-
vent any alarm that he was surprised TO
hear the people were under arms on this
occasion, and that he should not think it
prudent TO put powder into their hands in
such a situation. This answer gave no
satisfaction. The people could not con-
ceive how disarming them would discou-
rage their slaves from rising should they
he so disposed. nor could they divine how
he could procure the powder upon any
emergency from vessel whose situation
for one hour was uncertain. The magazine
had never yet been attempted by the me-
groes. and had this been apprehended they
thought il might easily have been secured
by guard. Upon the whole they looked
upon the Governour's answer as evasive and
insulting. and the people were with diff
Guilty kept.within the bounds OF modsra-
tionu W.