Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-19
VIRGINIA HISTORY.
Interesting Review Of the Work Of the
Society During The Past Year.
ELECTIONS In COLONIAL DAYS.
Professor Tyler Makes an Entertaining
Address on This subject-President
Bryan's Report-New Members, Etc.


sided, and upon calling the meeting to
order submitted the report of the Execu-
tive Committee for the year just closed,
which was adopted.
The report shows that the present men,
bershlp is-Life members, SO; annual men,
bers. s9I-total, $50. Total receipts for the
year, sG,22Os6 Expenditures. A2s7.Sh Bal
ance on hand, S,s53.52.
An application was made 10 the Legs
lature in SESSION last winter for aid. ana
a bill was prepared and presented TO the
proper committee appropriating GoOo.
This sum was cut down by the Finance
Committee TO 81 co. and for that amount
the bill was approved, but 1t failed OF It's
passage, and was not even reached on
the calendar. This application Will be
renewed at the next Legislature, but
mean time, our reliance is on our own
membership for the support OF our work.
THE LIBRARY.
Touching the library, the report says;
THE additions 10 the library for the
eleven months ending December LIST were
3Oj volumes. including books and PAM
phlets. Particular reference Ia gratefully
made to the very valuable gilt OF the
Board Of World FAIR Managers OF Viz
ginla, who presented the society with
large number OF books by Virginia au-
thors which formed a part OF the col
lection exhibited in Chicago. This was q
very notable addition TO the collection or
books relating to Virginia. now in posses
sion OF the society. Our Library Commit
tee are especially anxious to increase this
collection with view Of making 1t In
time one Of the most complete In the
State At present, reliance has 10 De
placed on the generosity OF friends or the
society 10 enlarge the collection, and II Is
hoped that all who are interested IN the
growth Of the librar will present 10 II
such books relating to Virginia history as
they are willing to give.
VALUABLE MANUSCRIPTS.
''The most important addition to our lite
rary resources, as they are among the
most valuable ir the United States, were
the two volumes Of manuscript proceed
ings of the London Company, and one
volume Of miscellaneous manuscript notes
from ths Colonial records. apparently
compiled about i7i0 1t Is possible that
these are the notes mentioned by Stlth
In his preface as having been compiled
under the direction Of Sir John Randolph,
and used by Stith in preparing his history
Of Virginia. These manuscripts were de-
llvered to the society by the heirs or the
late Conway Robinson, in accordance with
his express wishes, and were reserved by
them until now. only because the So
clety lacked a fire-proOt safe In wnicn 10
deposit them. This safe-a commodlous
one. but quite toe small for all the manu-
If fr.a
obtained, put in place, and contains the
most valuable Of our manuscripts.
THE SOCIETY'S PUBLICATIONS.
"The publications Of the society for the
past year" continues the report. have
been confined TO its quarterly magazine.
II Is gratifying 10 know that this maya
zine is held in high esteem by historical
scholars generally. 1t Is, perhaps. not
too much 10 claim for IL the second posi-
ton among similar magazines issued in
this country. There has been a growing
demand for the back numbers of it from
all parts Of the United States. The secre-
tary printed and distributed a full list OF
all the publications OF the society, and
in consequence the sales OF such publica-
tsons amounted. during last year. TO about
$3.50 The publication Committee make
an encouraging forecast OF their work
for the coming year. They say It is their
intention to conform very strictly TO the
policy adopted for the magazine I'm the
beginning, and which has been the true
explanation OF the attention which IL
has attracted among American scholars,
that is. to contine the matter appearing
in 1t, as far as practicable, TO the price
less original materials for Virgin!an and
American history which are now found
IN different receptacles. public and pri-
vate, in this State and In England.
MORE LETTERS.
Following upon this line 1t Is proposed
to continue, during the coming year, the
publication Of such matter as the Fitz-
hugh letters. 10 be followed by the Byrd
letters, these being almost the only ma
terlal in existence OF this special per-
sOnal character which throws light or
the trade relations Of this colony and
the mother country in the seventeenth
century. besides being valuable from
genealogical poln of view. The publica-
ton OF the instructions to Governor
Yeardley. in 1918. will, in the course Of
1885, be followed by the publication Of the
instructions given by the English Gov
eminent to Harvey. Berkeley, Culpeper.
and Howard. 1t IS proposed to continue
the series Of grievances offered by the
different counties OF Virginia TO the Eng
lsh commissioners after the close OF the
Bacon inSurrection, to be followed by
the very valuable and interesting first
report, never before printed. which these
commissioners made 10 their government
as TO the causes and events OF the in
surrection"
LADIES' SOCIETIES.
The report outlines other interesting
features that will appear i'm the magazine.
and continues:
AS was reported at the last annual
meeting, the society had rendered the
use Of the rooms to the Association for
the Preservation OF Virginia Antiquities.
to the Society Of the Colonial Danes of
America, and 10 the Old Dominion Chap
ter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. These organizations have.
from time to time, held their meetings
In the rooms Of the Historical Society,
and We have been gratihed by the in
terest that the ladies have taken in the
objects of our society and their apprecia-
tion OF its usefulness. which they have
practically illustrated, not only by the
presentation 10 the society last year OF
S026O in cash, but they now offer TO
furnish the upper rooms OF our building.
and have made an appropriation for that
purpose, which will be expended under
the direction OF a committee composed
OF representatives Of those societies and
of this. They further offer us for our
reading-rooms the leading periodicals and
magazines Of the day"
N CONCLUSION.
In concluding the report pays tributes
10 the memories of Or. G.. G. Barney.
Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, and Mr.. +. III.
Mcclure, and says:
"a cordial Acknowledgement should be
made by the society to its officers, Mr..
Philip a. Bruce corresponding secretary
and librarian, and his assistant. Mrs.
Sallie Nelson Robins: to the recording
secretary, ID. c. Richardson, Esq. and
10 our treasurer X. T. Brooke, Esq. for
their faithful work and Jealous interest,
to which SO much of the prosperity Of
the society is due.
''Your committee are of the opinion
that great sphere OF usefulness lies be-
fore the society: that no argument Is
needed to convince even the most thought
less OF the value Of experience as a
teacher; that history presents the expe-
riencc Of nations. ard that 1t Is as true
now as II was In the days OF Solomon
that the thing that hath been Is that
which shall be. and that which Is done
rs that which shall be done. and there j.
no new thing under the sun; that at no
period OF our history has IL ever beer
more essential than now TO hold fast To
sound doctrine In the conduct OF the
affairs OF State. and that es no new prin'
eiple of government viii be discovered
we have before us only the choice OF
those that have been tried: that as So
In, o.. ftuA ieeot "a