The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-13
THE LEES OF VIRGINIA.
4 yAIuABLE CORRESPONDENCE
rh. r.tters of william Lee. Edited by Mr
Ford, Throw Much Light on tho HIS
tory of the Revolutionary Era.


dustry. research and scholarship OF Mr.. fof
for a collection OF letters that FIJI or he'p
fill void in the history of the foreign aHa',
of America during the Revolution. lnis COZ
lection also dsclOses many Of the secret nv
tiyes that moved the actors in these 'ceAe'
the early efforts Of our representative W W
tain recognition and assistance from '''s ~
ropean governments ,s, what W,
The form of the publication 10 Just "nas w
have been led TO expect from thl' 49, :
collector and careful editor, 80 vninmes
tinted n 90 copies and Is III three 'o4u Ill'
The serviceable binding. the broao nai -. =,
oil, tens and clear type form hn a'ts v
tSats;,t t'r tho letters In the intfouucuVi
The eiifor has given a detailed account "a s'-'
writer and OF his life. associates anu S "a,
roundiues. thus making the Ma''oi "a '"'
letters easily understood. =.
M ersf volume is adorned with portrait
of William Lee. which presents INN as man
of most pleasing appearance. WIN 10 iile l 4
oent frank and handsome couh'vuauOo WIZ
Sbirb nature has endowed more than one OF
the family. Not the east OF the addltions OF
,be edlt n il q table OF contents 10 each vol
ume showing in brief the substance OF each
ist,sr TOGETHER with a general index that the
historical student will find most useful.
The most raOid Democrat must be content
with political equality. The attempt 10 en-
tsgo distinct and separate races or between IN
1,viduoIe has been and always Will be "a fail
no N il among the chief faults of repub-
lie that In abOlshing social inequality
founded upon birth-an aristOcracy-t con
demns Us TO another social standard when IS
chiefly measured by wealth-a plutocracy. The
correction OF this evil can only be expected
when the improved development Of the race
sbail result in vast increase Of just such
families rs the Lees Of Virginia Then. lot
aristOcracy. for plutOcracy, VIII be substituted
n standard based upon breeding, education
and native talent. For the family. 70 which
The author of these letters belonged. IS re-
markable example of q distinguished position
being retained chiefly by the intellectual and
moral force of its members Tor successive
sprung from good English stock. this
family has from 1911 10 the present time Deen
constantly prominent IN the annals OF this
State. and in war and IN peace mas luInisneu
orators. statesmen and generals. but IL was
at the timeof the American Revolution mat
il was most prolific IN the number or OF It's
talented sons. Thomas Lee, VINO had been
gDpointed governor of the colony though No
did not live 10 receive his commission. died
In 1850. leaving six sOns-Philp LudweH,
Thomas Iudwell, Richard Henry. Francis
IightfoOt. William and Arthur. Philip Luu-
well was a member OF the council; Thomas
1udwell was also member of the Governors
couucil during colonial times, and member
of the committee of safety during the Revolu-
ton He took an active part IN the conveh-
ton of 1776 that gave the first constitution
under which Virginia became state, ana
was one Of the first reyisers OF the law acting
under that constitution. At the time OF BIS
death. in April, 177S. he was Judge IN the
general court" Richard Henry Lee was
speaker OF the first quality. His polished
oratory was applauded to the echo by his fei-
low Burgesses, who took the keenest de-
light in his frequent classical illusions
and in the exquisite symmetry of his soaorous
periods He was the only rival of Patrick
Henry as q speaker both IN the debates OF
Congress and in the halls of the state Legs
lature Francis LightfOOt Lee was. ike Rich
ard henry one of the signers OF the Declara-
ton of independence and prominent charac-
ter in the councils of the State and nation.
Arthur lee was O diplomat and foreign minis
ter OF the fret rank and at first represented
his country in Europe as one OF the commits
sioners to the court of France, ETanknn ana
Deane being the other two.
William Lee the author of the letters, was
born at StratfOrd IN August, ll39. In l166 or
'67 he accompanied his brother Arthur to
England TO engage in mercantile pursuits.
The brothers were soon identified with the
popular party and played somewhat con
epicuous part in the agitation led by Wilkes.
Arthur introduced into the Wilkes movement
the grievances of the American colonies, and
insisted that they were kindred subjects Vol.
J.. D. gLMWilliam Lee had in the meantime
married Hannah Philippa Ludwell and, with
the aid IF bis wife's fortune, became mer-
chant in London. He, too. engaged In the
local politics of London, and was reputed not
only "a known and approved friend OF lib
erty,n but was elected sheriff and an alderman
Of London. being the only American ever cleo
ted TO these positions. The duties Of the
Office of sheriff were well discharged by HIM.
IN tine early debates in regard to tho state OF
the American colonies. Lee was present ut
the meetings of the merchants OF London
and assisted in their deliberations The COM
ments contained in his letters show him to
be an accurate forecaster Of events as well as
Il Jealous defender of the colonies. Without
the commanding abilities Of his brothers he
was a man of clear views and native
shrewdness As early as September. INA,
in letter TO his brother Richard
Henry Lee ne denounces the government as
having "a settled plan 10 subvert the liberties
and Constitution OF this ii. e., England
country as well IA that OF America" tie
thus characterized Lord North "a tyrant from
principle cunning. treacherous and perser-
verine" North's brother-in-law. Lord Dart
mouth a man whom Horace Walp0e described
as bein, in the odour of devotion. William
Lee declares will whine, preach and cry
while he is preparing privately dagger to
stab YOU to the heart Vol. l., y. 81 and ST.
I'm lT75 Alderman Lee accompanied the
Lord Mayor aud other city dignitaries 10 st.
James TO present to the King Ill humble ad-
dress and petition" praying for suspension
of the Operations of force In April, 1777,
lee received notice OF his appointment as
commercial agent for the Continental Con
eress in France. lie soon closed up his mer-
camille business matters. and was IN Paris in
June. IL was "A position for which Lee was
eminently fitted by habit. training and char
acter. His failure TO accomplish anything of
note must be attributed to BENJAMIN
Franklin and Sllas Deane. two Of the
American commissioners 10 France. For
this these TWO men incurred the warm
dislike and distrust of William Lee. In brief.
the main point of dispute is this The Ameri-
can privateers had captured some rich prizes,
which they had brought into the French ports
10 dispose of. Their sale and the collection
of the proceeds was the peculiar duty of the
commercial agent. Although Lee was in
Paris and awaiting orders from the commits
sioners. Deane aud Franklin, they. without
Lees knowledge. designated jonathan Viii
liams, "a nephew OF Franklin, and TO him the
sale or the prizes was committed and
he was TO reap the heavy commissions
which the law allowed upon these sales. A
careful perusal of the letters. reports. etc. of
this period OF ee's life as contained in the
first two volumes of this work must convince
the reader that the conduct OF Deane and
Franklin was indefensible. and laid them
open TO the suspicion OF interested motives
and injudlcious. II not improper, conduct
This was the opinion of Arthur Lee. lizard
and the Morrises as well AS William Ise
a1t& %