Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-05-13

day. Whether she has actually gone I d.
not know. hope she has. II not sbal
return by the Sweet Springs and epdeavol
70 induce her to 60 back with me. Whether
she comes or not be of good cheer. shal
ba with you and will gee that every COM
fort is provided that love and foresight car
suggest. Woodville says your mother viii
certainly go down, and trust she may, 81
it would be comfort to you and pleasure
to US all. Your father looks quite well, il
hale and hearty, and Mrs. Woodviile, who
is az the Springs, much better. James
sends his love to you and William.
am your affsctionate husband,
JOHN 81. PEYToN.
P. Mrs Woodville was very anxious
to have accompanied your mother to
Staunton, but James bids me fell you be
could not spare his wife so long.
Note-The James here mentioned was
James Lttlepags Woodville, who married
Mrs PeytGn's eldest sister, Mary Lewis
Mr.. WoodviIle resided at FincastIe and
Buchanan, was prominent lawyer and
President of the Bank of Buchanan. His
father was Rev. John Woodville, Rector of
St. Msfks Parish, Calpsper Co., and a
native of north Britain. He was a
nephew of the celebrated, but excentric
Lewis Littlepage, whose career was bril-
liant and unequalled. Littlepage was
born in Virginia in 1862, and died at
Fredericksburg in 1902. At the age of II
he went to Europe, and in 1779-S0 ac.
eompanied Mr.. Jay, American Envoy to
the Court of Spain, to Madrid. Though
only youth his figure was f1ue and manly
his dark eyes bright and penetrating and
his face peculiar and striking. Among his
acquaintances he was regarded as a
prodigy of genius and acquirements.-
Shortly after reaching Madrid, Littlepage
separated from Mr.. jays family, and
joined as volunteer aid to the Duke of
Cui!lon, the army at the siege of Minorca.
At the siege Of Gibralter he was on a
floating battery and blown up, but being
unipiured was rescued from the sea and
distinguished himself during the further
opel ations against that fortress. On the
return of the fleet to Cadiz he was sent
with dispatches to Madrid, where tae
Court received and treated him with much
distinction. He then proceeded to Paris,
and was on terms of friendship with DR..
Franklin, who was then living at Passy.-
At Paris and Versailles this adventurous
going Virginian had moved in the best
society and attracted marked attention
from all. After brief visit to London he
returned to the Continent and made tour
of Europe, establishing himself at War
saw, where he was so popular that he rose
to be in effect the Kings Primo Minister.
He resisted and defeated the plans of
Zamoyski before the Diet. He afterwards
went to St. Petersburg as Ambassador
from Poland and acquitted himself with
ability and became favorite
&c tbo Tho fona
letter of Lewis Littlepage to Lewis Holli.
our account ends and completes the story
of his eventful career in Europe.
altoona, January 9th, 1901.
DEAR SIR IL have this day received
your letter of 22nd of August 1900. Since
my existence is called in question, give
you for the satisfaction of my family and
friends, short account of all that has
to me in Europe since 1855. On
the 2nd of March, 1856, was sworn into
the King of Poland's cabinet, as his first
secretary, with the rank of
Chamberlain. In February, 1887, l was
sent to negotiate treaty with the Empress
Of Russia at Kiova, which l effected. The
same year l was sent as secret and special
envoy to the Court of France to assist in
the negotiations for the Grand @ ladruple
Alliance, which failed. In 1788 I was re-
called and sent to Prince PotemkiD's army
IN the Turkish war, where l commanded a
\ division, acting at the same time in a po-
itical character. In 1889 was compelled
% leave Poland and travel to Italy. Short
y after l received orders to repair to Ma
lrid upon high politicalbmission, in which
| completely succeeded. In 1870 1 was
recalled from Spain and ordered to wait
ultimate instructions at Paris. after
wards received orders to repair, by way of
Berlin to Warsaw for the revolution of the
,rd of May 1891. In 1899, 10000 Rus
,ians invaded Poland. I was nominated
Aid de- Camp General to the King, with
the rank of Major General. He signed the
confederation of Fargowitz, and in April
1893 sent me, once more, as his special
Euvoy to Petersburg to prevent the d.
vision of Poland I was stopped by the
Russian government on the road and the
iivislon took place. In 1890 Koscius sko
and Madalinski began another Revolution
in Poland Or tbe11tn of April, the garri-
ION aea- ..iaDitants of Warsaw rose in arms
against the Russians; to save the life of
my unfortunate friend and King, l was
obliged to take part with Poland, and that
Dreadful battle ended in the slaughter of
10, 600 Russians. The Empress Catharine
II never forgave me my conduct upon
that occasion. She was more irritated
against me by hea ing that bad consented
to accept as Commander-in- Chief under the
government, although l was
destined to act against Russia. My having
assisted in repelling the Russian armies in
their attempt to storm Wilma, gave also
offence. In short, hao gone SO far in the
re Volution, that should have gone much
farther had l not been defeated with my
friend Prince Joseph Poniatoski, the Kings
nephew, by the late King of Russia, on the
both of August, 1894. That event lost me
all my popularity. It was very near get
ing me hanged, for was regarded as the
acting person, although, upon my honor,
Prince Poniatoski acted that day against
US with about three times our force, both
in men and artillery, and Kosciusko af-
forded US no support until we were beasen
beyond redemption, although neither his
eff nor centre were engaged otherwise
than in cannonading.
After the battle / took no further part in
military affairs until the storming of
Prague, which cost the lives of 10000
Polar6ers. On the 7th of January, 1895,
the King of Poland was taken from War
saw by the Russians to Gradno- I was
from him by express orders of
the Empress, and it was limited to me
that nothing less than my former services
in the Turkish war could have presented
me sharing the fate of the other ca .efs of
he revolution of 1894. After the departure
Of the King went to Vienna, but was i'm
medtately ordered to leave that Capitol
which caused a public alteration between
me and the Austrian Ministry, which ended
to my satisfaction, as Russia came forward
aud did me justice. The King of Russia
Frederick William H., afterwards allowed
me to return to Warsaw; then under his
dominion, where I remained until the death
of Catherine II. l was then invited to go
to Petersburg with the Kpg of Poland, but
unless Tera 7atiOu was made ue fr ri
the treatment had experienced The En-
peror said that cali that regarded his moth
ar; as he had giveu no offence, he should
make no reparatiou" l perhaps, might
have gone at last to Russia, but was pre-
vented bv the sudcen death of NV fr;end