The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-12
RELICS OF WASHINGTON.
a Large Number Of Rare Men1entoes
IL Be Sold in Phila-
delpllia
ArtiquaIien and Autograph Dol
loctols From All Quarters
Will Be Present.
Ancestral Treasures Tar Too Precious ia
~ Displayed George WSshington's
WILL His Eavorite Violin.

~PnrLApEIpnIA, Dec. 1l.--There will be
sa.e sale in Philadelphia about the 10th {
this month. 1t will be an auction that wi
attract antiqusries. autograph collector
and patriots from all parts of the Unite'
States, The collection that will produo
this result comprises many different relic
OF Gen. George Washington, in addition 4
numerous manuscripts, letters and auto
graphs of some of Americas most distin-
enished sons.
The relics sre genuine aud are authenti-
astsd by affidavit of Fl. l.. ID. Lewis. o.
ferryville, Clarke county, Va, who is tn,
administration of Mrs. Lorenzo Lewis, tn,
daGehter-in~lRw of Major Lawrsncs Lewis
Who married Nellie Custis, Wasbington 's
adopted daughter.
Although ros coming direct from tat
Washington family, the rated correspond
enas ct Gen Washington with Robert Nor.
sls. of Philadelphia. ON important wa,
matters, which will also be disposed of tc
the highest bidder at this sale. comes also
from Virginia, belonging to a maternal de-
scsndant of John Randolph aud a collat
sral descendant of Robert Morris.
For the last hundred years have these let,
teSs Snd relics Of our first president been
religiously guarded and hidden away from
the sight of most Americans in old Vir-
ginia homestes6s. They were ancestral
treasures, almost too precious to display.
Perhaps tie most interesting letter in the
Washington correspondence was written at
Valley Forge May %, IT'S. This was just
after the most trying period in the rsvolu-
fInnQrV war n TINA Vuhap tina xrp,r, WAC far
months but poorly fsd. ill-clothed and sell
dom paid, when the British regulars were
feasting and making merry in Philadelphia
and as the same time planning the utter
annihilntion of W~ashington's ragged con-
tinentals. 1t is no wonder, therefore, that
at the close of this period, with the begin
ming of spring, that Washington thanked
heaven for the ALLIANCES with France that had
been formed, took on fresh hope and cour-
age and wrote to Morris az follows:
DEAR SIR: | rejoice most sincerely with
you, on the glorious change in our pros
pects--Calmness and serenity, seems
likely to succeed in some measure, those
dark and temPestuous clouds which at
times appeared SO ready to overwhelm US.
The game. whether we'll or ill'played
hitherto. seems now to be verglng fast to
2 favorable issue, and cannot l think be
Lost, unless thrown away by too much su-
pincness on one hand, or impetuosity on
tho otber---God forbid that either of these
should happen at a time when we seem to
be on the point OF reap:ng tho fruits of our
toll and labor.-A stroke, u reverse, under
such circumstances would be doubly dis
treBslnQ.-I remain, DR. Sir
Yr Most obed't serv't
GEO WASHINGTON"
Almost a year after the above letter was
writtsd the general addressed a letter
Jointly to Morris and b. MeClenachan, in
which il 9 paragraph of much interest, as it
gives an idea Of the character and ambi-
tions of Washington. It reads:
In a struggle like ours, perplexed with
endorsements, if it should be my fortune
to conduct the military helm in such a
manner to merit the appreciation of good
men and my suffering fellow citizens it will
be the primary happiness Of my life be-
oause it is the first and great object of my
Wishes.''
The last writing ir this remarkable cor
~respondence is a short note addressed to
Morris and written in Philadelphia. It ia
amusing and interesting, showing at the
same time how intimate Washing
ton must have been with the great tinsncier
Of the revolution to invite himself and fam
said:
DEAR SIR: knowing full we'll the multi
pllci.y q Importance of y'r business, it
would give me more pain than pleasure if I
thought your friendship or respect for me
dld, IN the smallest degree, interfere with it
at an times I shall be happy to sec you,
but wish it to be in your moments of Ieiz-
ure, II anv such you have
MIS-. Washington, myself and family,
will have the honor of dining with YOU in
she way proposed. to-morrow-being Christ
mas day. am Sincerely & affectly Yrs
GEO. WASHINGTON.
Wcn,an-1ika i'm y, "a : loI,r $3.50. I
rival at Mount Vernon from PHILADELPHIA,
Ms the expiration Of Washington's second
term as president, Nellie Gusts procured q
sheet of her fathers water marked paper
and proceeded to write a letter to her
TREND, Mrs. Molcott, dated Mount Vernon,
hiafch ~, lf5'' In one paragraph of this
epistle she says:
'Grandmamma informs me that YOU
wished me to write q inform you how we
are after our journey. | have therefore
taken pen IN hand to do so u also to thank
you for the kind interest you have taken in
our welfare. We arrived here or Wednes-
DAY, without any accident, after q tedious
and %fatiguing journey of seven DAYS. The
roads were better than we expected TO find
snsm. although In some parts were bad.
Grandpapa ia very we'll IL much
Washington
When this vas written little did Miss
Custis think that the time wou,I come
wnen her note would be considered of in
trlnsle value and yielded at last to the
harsh fate of an a~neticneer's hammer.
Inc treason Of Benedict Arnold has to
the historian and novelist ALWAYS formed
one OF the moat dramatic incidents Of the
revolutionary war. And when it is an
therefore. that in thisc collection
- 20 De found a copy, in the handwriting OF
Zen. Robert ii. Harrison, of the famous
letter written by Gan. Benedict
arnold under the nom dc plume of "Guate-
WE 10 Mr. John Anderson (Maior ANDRE,
OF New YORK. dated Aug. 80, 1850, together
VIII an autograph letter showing how Gen.
washington cams in possession Of the let
ter and the reason he made this COW. which
10 dated Oct. II, 1880. considerable interest
Wiii ns aIouBed. especially as tile original
ietter mas been lost or DESTROYED, and az the
letter mas never appeared in print.
Inc letter Is d mighty clever piece of
yelled writing, n to obtain the true raean.
ing one has to read between the lines
closely: No wonder that Gen. Parsons in
whose hands the document fell, supposed it
70 feier merely to and therefore
1al!eu TO bring 1t before Washington at
once; Ihus IT was not until the exposure of
we norrla plot That the instruments was
READ IN Its proper light. The most inter
esting paragraphs in the letter are:
MT. Ne assures me that he is still of
that his first proposal ia by no
means unreasonable, and makes no doubt
when no has a conference with YOU that
VIII o.oso with it. He expects that
Wheh y''F: nisai that sou will be fully au-
lnofl%sc Srtss;. ycur HOUSE,, that the risaUe
anu va proAts OF ths co-partaership nay
DO 1ulsy and clearly understood.
q spocnlHtlon might at this time be-