Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06

roll mercer and not examined until recently,
has proved to be an original story of the York
town campaign, written from the point Of view
| OF an eye witness by a colonel in the army OF
Virginia, John Francis Mercer, who gives an
account in many respects totally different from
the version historically accepted. He was at the
mead OF little band Of fifty gentlemen, recruited
| In this neIghborhood, who for while held the
! whole British army in check by foolng the
| enemy into believing that his small force was
an advance column of large body Of troops.
Col Mercer after the war was a member OF
| Congress.
Among the letters included in the collection
Is one from Aaron Ogden, who visited Mount
Vernon in 1902. to his wife, describing Mrs.
| Washington. He says:
| A DESCRIPTION OF MARTHA WASHINGTON.
The visit was very agreeable and interested
my feelings exceedingly. The prospects are
me, and the grounds, which are laid out, very
extonsive-rhe whole in style very grand in
deed-lt appears like works of its once great
poSseSsor, and Is style like himself.
Inc scene appears in some manner like
the idea of the great Washington with every
thing You behold. His vault, containing
MS remains, made great impression on my
mind. His widow is an affecting parsonage
dlSnlhed and polite, inspiring the greatest
respect and veneration. She remembered and
protested to be very glad to see me. which
doubt not. recollecting the great attachment
winch she knew most Of the army had for her
husband"
| wAsHINGroNs FIRST INAUGURATION.
One OF the most interesting of the letters has
been contributed by Rear Admiral Franklin. 1t
was written by Sarah Robinson to Kitty F.
Wister in 1873, just before Washington's in
auguration as first President under the Con-
| stitution. The fair writer says:
raiA
| OF zen. Washington, an elegant barge decorated
with an awning Of satin, twelve oarsmen dressed
In white frochs and blue ribbons, went down to Z.
Town last fourth day to bring him up. A
stage Was erected at the coffee house wharf,
covered with a carpet for him to step on,
artillery and most of the inhabitants we're
waiting to receive him. They paraded
through Queen street in great form, while the
music of the drums and the ringing of the
bells were enough to stun one with the noise.
Previous to his coming Uncle Walters house
on Cherry street was taken for him, and every
room furnished in the most elegant manner.
Aunt Os8ood and Lady Kitty Duer had the
whole management Of it. l went the morning
before the generals arrival to take a look at it,
| the best OF furniture in every room and the
greatest quantity of plate and china l ever saw,
the whole Of the first and second story
is papered and the floors covered with the
richest kind Of Turkey aud Wilton car
pets. The house did honor to my
aunts and Lady Kitty; they spared no
pains nor expense on it. Thou must
know that Uncle Osgood and Duer were ap-
pointed to procure house and furnish it. ac-
cordingly they pitched OH their wives being
likely to do it better. l have not yet done. yet
my dear is thee not almost tired? The evening
after his eXcellencys arrival there was a gen.
eral illumination took place, except among my
friends (Quakers) and those styled anti-feder-
allsts. The latters windows suffered some,
thou may imagine. As soon the general has
sworn in, grand exhibition Of fireworks is to
to Be tomorrow. There is scarcely
anything talked about now but Gen. Wash
ington and the palace. and Of little else
have told thee yet, tho have spun my
miserable scrawl already to a great length;
but thou requested to know all that was
going forward"
ALETrER IN RHYME.
One curious Ms. is a poem by BENZ amin
Franklin Bache, son Of Benjamin Franklins
daughter and only legitimate child. 1t was
written when B. +. Bache was only seven or
eight years old, being addressed to his foster
father. He died when only twenty-eight years
OF age, having already earned fame as editor
of the Aurora and having shared largely in
forming the democratic party. The poem
begins
My dear Papa, you'd give guinea
Just now to see my nurse. Mo minny,
With such fretful busy face,
Pursuing me from place to place.
She scolds and cOaxes. frowns and fatters,
And now she's dumb, and then she chatters,
And all, forsooth, to get me out,
With her to hirt and CAD about
Now spare your labor, Goody Nurse;
For, look, says l, with all your fuss,
won't be cod1'd abroad. nor carried;
Go-coax your Sweetheart and get married;
Then, please the pigs, hope to see
Your Husband plagued instead of me!
She persevered and persisted,
The more l turn'd the more she twisted;
And truly I'm ashamed to say
What gave occasion for the fray;
In short, she made this mighty pother
Lest should interrupt my Mother,
While she was writing, Sir. to you!
No, no, let Benny scribble too.
But now, I've writ SO long letter,
only wish it were a better!
l hope in time l shall improve
And more and more deserve your love-
Mamma takes all the pains she can
To make me good and be man:
It's her delight she says, to teach
Your ever dutiful
BEN FRANKLIN BAcHI."
FROM GEN. pURaoYNE.
There is also q letter from Gen. Burpoyne
written after his return to England from this
country. to Susan Cauffield, singer of great
prominence with whom he formed an Illicit
union. He says:
Il have sent you q pheasant and brace of
partridges-both will keep, but particularly
for week, if you chuse it. I give YOU the par
ticulars, though at the loss of your INDULGENCE
IN the curiosity OF rummaging, because / find
there is practice in fashion Of stealing half
out OF bushels OF game.
Yours ever faithfully,
p. g.: Fie Fie! to get such colds and pains
In the stomach by feasting. II you did but take
such care as do!
AN INVITATION TO DINNER.
Another curiosity is an invitation written bv
George Washington on the day after his birth
day-February %, l799-in which he and Mrs.
Washington present their compliments to Mr..
Andrew Ramsay, Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. William
Ramsay, and request the favor Of their COM
pany to dine on Tuesday next with the couple
just married." The couple referred to had
been married the day before, on Washington's
birthday. at Mount Vernon, and, following the
| custom Of that time, had taken no
wedding trip. They were Eleanor Parks Gusts
and Lawrence Lewis. Another letter is dated
May 3, 1855, and is addressed to Martin Cock
burn. In it he says:
"Do you hire your negro tailor by the year?
II 80, on what terms, and is he now or win he
soon be disengaged2"