Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-16
MARY WASHINGTON.
The First Mary Washington Monu-
 ment.It Was Erected By Sllas E.

|
 Burrows, . Famous old Time Mer-
 chant of New York, Father of our
 ToWnsman 8ilas E. BurroWss Who
 Was Sitting on President Jackson's
 Kncc When the Latter Was Insulted
 By Randolph.
 The following timely and appropriate article which appeared in the New York Tribune of May 12, relates to distin- guished old time merchant. Silas E. Bur rows, who was tn. fath | our. esteemed townsman, Silas E. Burrows of Temple street, who, though child at the time, we'll remembers the incident mentioned re- garding President Andrew Jackson, having | been on tho steamer at the time, accompa- | nying his father on the memorable trip spoken of. He was sitting on President Jackson's knee when Randolph insulted the president as Is spoken of below. MT. Burrows bought years ago. very pleasant home on Temple street this city, near Grove street and beautifully fitted it up and adorned 1t, and 1t Is still his New Ha- ven home, but for the last eight years he has been living abroad. The house is near 1y opposite that of his wife's mother, Mrs. Henry Trowbridge, and is now occupied by MT. Thomas R. Trowbrtdge. MT. and hrs. Burrows have been residing in Germany much of the time for thelast seven or eight years, but spent last winter at Rome, Italy. They are residinR abroad In part for the education of their daughter. A part of the time they spend in visiting England where relatives Mr. Burrows reside. The article from the Tribune is as follows: To the Editor of The Tribune:
 Sir: A great deal of interest is taken this
 week in the dedication of the nsw monu-
 ment to Mary, the mother of Washington. It win add to that interest to tell little of
 the history of the one that preceded it, as nearly all present at that tlms are dead.
 In 1880 great efforts had been made in Fredericksburg to build something over the grave of co celebrated g woman. After many and repeated failures, 1t was brought to the attention of Silas E. Burrows, young and prosperous merchant of New York He volunteered to build 1t at his own expense. Andrew Jackson, the president, and his cabinet were present as his guest at the laying of the cornerstone It WAS during the trip, as the steamer stopped on her way from W ashington at 8 small place that John Randolph, who had been angered at being dismissed from the navy, ,sprang on board and pulled Jsckson's
 nose, drawing blood. Nothing could exceed | the confusion that followed. Nr. Burrows l caught Randall as hs reached the wharf, but his friends rescued him and carried him of.
 l The design of the monument was then thought to bs very beautiful and sppropri- 1 ate. It was of staeuary marble, and after much delay the contractors brought every l thing necessary for its complstion-but i'm portant business called Mr. Burrows to
 South America and the shaft wss never I placed upon the pedestal. lie had spent $1O,000 for 1t. It is hard to imagine why
 the mothers of Virginia did not then zee that this work was done at the outlay of 8 small sum. A short time after this wart-
 wout's defalcation as collector of the port
 of New York startled the city. Mr-
 Burrows was one of the bondsmen
 for $250, 1000. Hs then went to South
 America and China, where he continued
 his shipping business. No one at that
 time could have been more philanthropic.
 Letters in the family show that he relieved
 President Monroe during his last days when
 be became financially embarrassed. One
 of his whale ships, fitted out for three
 years' cruise, met disabled Russian frig- captain of the whale ship would turn
 around and bring them in safety to New
 York. He did so-but Mr. Burrows re fused to accept any reward, and then pro-
 ceeded to raise the funds to fit out the Rus
 sian ship At another tins there was 8
 coal combine to raise the price during g severe winter. He gent two of his
 ships, had them loaded with coal and } the entire cargoes were sold to the poor al
 cost. It is we'll, ss this nev monument ii
 dedicated and the old one broken to pieces
 to recall the m ~mory of 8 man who spent
 for the purpose of honoring Mary, ths mother of Washington, and for many an
 other noble effort, thoussnds that would f ] now, after the lapse of over half century . have been millions had 1t been careful, A invested. At the time Mr Burrows WE
 building the monument he employed Cap ? tain Vanderbilt (sfterwsrd Commodore) a , S1.50 day to lighter his whale ships ol ? their arrival from the south.
 During Mir. Burrowe' residence in Soul , America, William H. Harrison, afterward president, was eousul at Carthsgena Hearing that he was disappointed in hi s ! plans for returning north, MT. Burrow f offered him one of his vessels free o l charge to convey himself and family t
 the Un:ted States. The offer was grate e fully accepted. Years afterward, whe1 , l elected to the presidency, Mir. Hsrri | son offered Mr. Burrows the place of min ister to Russia or any office he would ae ! cept. A month later Mr. Harrison died a The following letter was written b
 William H. Seward, governor of the stat
 | of New York:
 Il ALBANY, May 21, 1S41. To His Excellency, the President of tn , United States:
 From my earliest recollection the na m 3 of Silss E. Burrows has been associated fl my mind with generous and patriotic sc [ | tions. His muni6cencein erecting a mon 3 ument to Mary, the mother of Washington f in contributing to the comfort Of the de ] ciining ys ars of Praaident Monroe, his gen
 erous conduct coward the late Presiden , Harrison in South America, and to Baror s | Krudener, the Russian minister, with aev
 1 eral officers of the Russian navy ,are par of this history of our country dear to al . our recollections, honorable to himself ,ant
 merit for him high personal respect an. T esteem. have the honor to be, very re } l spsctfuliy your obedient servant,
 WILLIAM N. SEWARD. Il On May 9, 1883, Mrs. Jane Washington 7 proprietor of Nit Vernon, presented to MT Burrows a medal of General Washington and children.
 On May 10, 1894, Mrs. Roger A. Pryo called upon Mrs. J. B. Greene, presenting her with beautiful flowers and gold med
 al of the Mary Washington Monument 80
 cisty, at the hour of the unvsiling of th monument and ceremonies being carried ] on by President Cleveland at Frederioks burg, Va. Upon the medal is inscribed To Mrs. J. B. Greene, daughter of Siias E Burrows,i in the name of the national board of directors, making her life member O the society" G. P New York, May Il, 1894.
 West Haven.
 West Haven Is in a bad way as regard