The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-27

,o,s {, tobacco. Consequently. II
,,as oriorsl that the Treasurer should re-
Go tnstead OF $4,000 in deprecated cur
,oncv "a 400 pounds OF tobacco. payable IN
Quarterly instalments. But IN the year l'Sz
tbia state of the public finances hau changed.
and we find the treasurer ieceiving toeo
snec;e and all the other public officials their
salaries in due proportion. In 1885 1t
WAS found necessary TO retrench.
and ali public officials felt tho
affects OF q reduction Of their paw. The
treasurer now received only $500 IN paper
money. but in 1892 his pay was increased
10 1854.
ROBERT CARTER NICHOLAS.
We have nothing to do here with the trea-
sury as it existed under the Colonial Gov
eminent. nor, of course. with those who then
administered its duties. Robert Carter
Nicholas had been one of those since the
year 1865. when he succeeded by appoint
ment the venerable JOHN Robinson. late
treasurer OF tho Colony. whose death had Just
occurred. This eminent gentleman continued
10 hold the Office for about ten years. Dur
ing the interregnum, and under the authority
Of the committee of safety. he renamed ia
Office, but when IN 1916 the General Assembly
OF the Commonwealth declared, by speclai
enactment. all persons holding lucrative OF
fees incapable of being elected menDerS Oh
either house of Assembly Mr. Nicholas
capacity His subsequent career az prolni-
nent actor in the affairs of the state Is 100
well known to he referred 10 here. we tnuS
dispose of the first Treasurer of the new ,oH,
monwealth, of whom 1t was oinciaiiy salu
that he had from time TO time been hp.
pointed and continued" in TINS important
position: that his accounts had been duly e1,
amined. and that he had faithfully discharged
his onerous duties TO the approval or the
General Assembly.
JAoUELIN AMBLER.
At the time TO which we now refer Jague-
lin Amber ESQ.,. was the treasurer. lie
was worthy representative OF one OF tho
best and purest families that ever came 10
Virginia, being descended on one side from
race of sturdy English ancestors and on the
other from the Jaquelins, wealthy and IN
fuential Huguenot family who fed to VIZ
ginia from religious persecution and settled
near jamestown, where stood an imposing
family mansion, built of brick and surrounded
by thousands of acres of valuable land.
Here they had long resided III baronial style
until the war of the Revolution made it nee
essary to withdraw for safety to a retired spot
in Hanover county called The Retreat"
Mr.. Amblers father had been a prosperous
merchant in Little York. as the present
Yorktown was then called; and under the
Colonial government had been collector OF
the customs. 1t was while associated with his
u y
acquired his knowledge of financial and mer--
camille affairs. After the Revolution, and
when the seat of government had been re-
moved to Richmond Colonel John Amber and
the other members of the family took up
their residence in the latter place. Colonel
John Amber lived in picturesque and taste
Tul residence which stood Cd the spot now
occupied by the home of Mr.. X. A. Lancaster
At the eastern end OF Clay street. The house
was in the French villa style, supported
)n brick arches and adorned with por-
,icos and verandas. The grounds were
embowered in trees aud shrubbery
IN front while the extensive gardens grace
'ully declined towards romantic dell in the
rear of the mansion by succession OF ter
races and grassy slopes. the whole being en-
closed within a massive brick wall few re-
mains OF which were to be seen but few
years ago. The house is said to have been
built by Mr.. Lewis Burwell. Jaquelin Am
bier. the treasurer. built and lived IN the old
fashioned white frame house on the western
'ide of Tenth street between Marshall and
Jay streets, opposite the Baptist Female
seminary.
1t was once beautiful for situation, elegance
md style and at this moment presents to the
,ye a certain architectural individuality sug-
gestive of a former age and a state of social
life necessarily different from that IN which
We now live.
AN EARLY VIRGINIA HOME.
IL was inherited by his son-in-law, Mr..
George Fisher. ST., father of the late Mr..
George Fisher. and until within comparatively
a few years the mansion stood IN the midst of
grounds and gardens Astounding
in fruits and flowers. This was the style or
living at that dav. Each private establish
ment was sort of social autonomy wherein
its functions were performed by each men,
Der of the little community according to the
taste of the head of the household, and this
was for the most part of the choicest
and most refined style in all respects These
old places have now almost entirely disap-
peared, and one who would care TO look upon
his venerable relic could scarcely believe that
il was once the centre OF a whole square of
ground instead of being. as now is, ''cribbed,
confined and bound in" between what. could
it be allowed to give out its own utterances.
would be described as the base intrusion Of
vulgar brick. i.
ITO be continued.