The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-11

np 10 the breaking out OF the late var 10 |
hold their regular meetings. For want OF |
more public places these were generally |
at the private houses Of the members. An |
matters pertaining to the objects OF The |
society were discussed. and such meas |
ures adopted as seemed calculated TO |
create interest In the public mind. For |
reasons given above these utterly failed |
and but for the devotion Of the few
friends Of the society IL would have died
out entirely. In the meantime these
monthly gatherings were seasons OF de-
lightful entertainment to those who az
tended them
The officers of the Society about this
period Of its existence were as follows:
President, Hon. William G. Rives; Vice
Presidents. Hon. James H. Mason, VIII
liam mcfarland. Hon. John y. Mason;
Corresponding Secretary and Librarian,
Hugh Blair GriRsby; Recording Secretary,
Andrew Johnston; Treasurer Jacnueline
=. Taylor: Executive Committee. Conway
Robinson, chairman; Gustayus ID. Myers,
lrhomas T. Giles, Arthur A. Morson,
Thomas II. Ellis, George w. Randolph
and II. Coalter Cabeli, Esqs. Mr.. Grigs-
by, who had just been elected correspond
ing secretary to succeed Mr.. William Max
well, ,he late accomplished and gifted
secretary, VINO had just died. declined the
appointment being resident In the
country. on which account he could not
perform the duties OF the Office Where
upon Or. William L. Palmer was made
corr. spending secretary. The latter the
year following, having declined to hold
the office under the regulations which be-
came necessary in consequence OF new ar
rangements," &c. the executive commit
tee elected Dr. George w. Bagby his sue
ccgsor About this time many influential
gentlemen from the country began TO
manifest interest in the objects or the
Society by becoming active members
Among them were William Il. HARRISON
OF Brandon. Colonel Robert Carter OF ga
bine Hall Colonel John H. Lee OF Ut
ange. and Thomas L. Preston or SmyIh
county and others The same interest
was manifested by others in presenting
TO the Society interesting documents
| portraits and other valuables. IN inns
way were acquired the portraits OF Dr
| Arthur Lee. Washington, Madison Mar
shall. jefferson and George Mason anu
| the library received many accessloHS'
/ among which were copies or all the IeI
! ters and manuscripts OF the late PatHck
/ Henry through Mr.. John Henry. the
Youngest son Of his illustrious father
| Under the inspiration OF the society
/ during the period just referred TO- many
and valuable additions to It's historian
| learning were made. 1t was at the sus
gestion Of its executive committee tnat
Mr. Hugh Blair Grigsby prepared ms
! elaborate and invaluable discourSes OH
| the several conventions that Assembled
! I'm Virginia during the troubles with the
mother country. They were written LOT
| the special benefit Of the ooric'Y. Inc
! last of the series, that on the co (enuoh
OF 1888. was delivered in February, l6oS'
| in the hall Of the House OF Deltsl .es'
| the lecture-roOm at the Antheneum be
! ing otherwise occupied These papers
] Iar1sr int
| contained biographical sketches OF all the
| DISTINGUISHED actors In the events OF
| that momentous time. on this account,
| the Society in one Of its cOmmendatory
/ notices speaks of their author as having
! thereby performed an Office OF useful
| ness, not only to the present generation
! but TO succeeding times. and made Vaiu-
! able addition to our historical literature.
one Of the most earnest and useful
! members Of the executive committee was
William Maxwell. Esq This learned and
accomplished gentleman had long been
| president Of Hampdan-Sidney College, ana
| was well-knOwn in Virginia as man OF
! literary taste The Society, for want or
| patronage, began TO languish few years
! after it was founded, and ABOUT the
! wear 1898 its operations were entirely
! suspended. But in 1871, through the ell
| forts OF certain gentlemen, chief Of whom
| was Mr. Maxwell, a reorganization was
| effected. Hon. William G. Rives was
| made president Under the auspices OF
| Mr. Maxwell and a few others the FIRST
t annual meeting took place IN Feoruary'
| 1847 The president delivered an eio-
! ouent address. and Mr.. Maxwell was
made corresponding secretary He at
| once determined to make a special effort
| in behalf Of the Society. the nature OF
/ which will be explained In his own words
! He saws: eve have undertaken 10 publish
| this little Quarterly journal in order 10
| furnish the Virginia Historical Society
| established in this city, with conVe-
! nient organ of communication with It's
| members and the public: and at the same
| time to cooperate with it ia the prose
| cution Of its important and Interesting
objects by diffusing useful and interest
| ing information relating TO the history
! of our State" &c. This was the origin
Of the Virginia Historical Register, one
Of the most valuable publications Of the
| kind and which is now extremely rare,
because it has been for many years out
of print. For five years only the publ
cation was kept up; but in the meantime
| it's busy and accomplished editor had
| filled it's pages with valuable historical
| matter Whether for want Of support or
! other cause we know not, he closed his
| connection with the Historical Register in
| 1858. announcing the fact with evident
| this number we close our present volume,
| and conclude our work. In parting with
| our readers we thank the Virginia His
! torical Society for their liberal and con-
slant support OF our contribution from
the beginning" &c. Mr. Maxwell soon
after this began TO decline in health and
retired to the country, where he finally
/ died in January. 1851.
Upon the reorganization Of the Society
/ in 1871 the executive committee adopted
| a policy which had in view the prepare
| lion and publishing in chronological order,
! what were to be called the Annals OF
! Virginia" AS preliminary TO this. the
| chairman Of the committee, a gentlemen
already deeply engrossed in the pursuit
Of his own profession, was prevailed upon
| to prepare an account of all the efforts
| made by the SpaniaI Dis and others to set
| tie the country alCng the Atlantic coast
! Of the western hemisphere. This was
considered to be pro- er introduction to
any plan for arranging the annals Of
| State which had eventually bee ONE the
most important result Of all these at
tempts. Mr. Conway Robinson and an
| able coadiutCT had Just been authorized
| by the Legislature to revive the statute
| law of Virginia. This onerOus and impOr-
! tant duty was already absorbing so much
Of his time that II necessitated his
abandoning part CT his private practice at
| the bar. Notwithstanding this, he did
| not hesitate TO acCede 10 the request OF
| the executive committee Of the Historical