The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-27
WRITTEN LONG AGO
OLD LETTER BY GEORGE WASHING
TON is RESUBREOTBD.

TON is RBSUBREOTBD.
In 1t He Gives His Views on the Danger o
America Being EmbroiIed in European
Poiitics-Nothing Short of hyperion
Necessity Should Urge the United State
to Enter Into the Intrigues of the Con
tinent-It was Written to the Earl o.
Buehsn-TeIt of the EpistIe was Giver
Warning to the Americans.
Washington, Dec 25-In the manu-.
script department of the British Muse
am in London, there are slowed away
hundreds Of autograph letters of men
famous in modern ard ancient history
While in London, last summer, Mr.. O.
D. Stealey. the Washington correspond
INT Of the Louisville Courier-Journal
,ound among these old letters an autho-
graph one from George Washington,
written from Philadelphia April %, 1898,
to the Earl Of Buchan. A part of the
letter refers to foreign complications,
and furnishes an interesting chapter at
this time.
With the letter was the following note
written by the Earl of Buchan, brother
Of Lord Erskine:
On the 18th Of January, 1893, l wrote
70 Mr.. Washington on the happy pros
poets America might entertain if by any
mems II could abstain from mlngling in
European politics. I laid before him
the vanity and folly Of preferring the
nd
and resentment to the slow but certain
benefits to be permanently obtained by
peace and internal prosperity. 1 ven
tured also to recommend as great OBJ
jects to the executive Of America peace
and union with the red natives, and
attention 10 national education. To
these sentiments the president answer
ed in the following letter:
WASHINGTON'S LETTER.
The first part of the letter relates to
private affairs, and indicates that Cen
eral Washington and Lord Buchan
were old and intimate friends. Then
the letter proceeds to the subject mat
ter. as follows:
The favorable wishes which your
lordship has expressed for the prosper
ity Of this young and rising country
cannot but Zoe gratefully received by all
means 10 the contribution of which, and
its happiness, is very judiciously pro-
trayed in the following words of your
letter: TO he little heard in the great
world Of politics. These words l can
assure your lordsTip are expressive Of
my sentiments on this head And 1
believe i is the sincere wish of united
America TO have onthing to do with the
political intrigues, or the squabbles Of
european nations; but on the contrary
To exchange commodities anil live in
peace and unity with all the inhabitants
~ RE earth; and this I am persuaded
they VIII do. To administer justice to
and receive il from every power with
TEoI1 hey are connected will | hope
be always found the most prominent
feature IN the administration of this
country; and 7 fatter myself that moth
ing short Of imperiOus necessity can oc-
casion 2 breach with any of them. I'm
der sucl a system, ii We are allowed to
pursue il. the agriculture and mechani-
cal arts-the wealth and popula ton Of
these states VIII increase with that de-
gree Of rapidity as 10 battle all caIcula-
tons. and must surpass any idea your
iordship can hitherto have entertained
on the occa sion.
ITO evince that our views Cwhether
realized or noO are expanded, I take
the liberty Of sending you the plan of a
new city, situated about the center Of
The union Of these states, which is de-
sir-ne1 for the permanent seat Of the
govern ment-2nd we are at this mo-
ment deeply engaged. and far advanced
in extending the inland navigation OF
the river P0tOmac) on which it stands
and the branches thereof through az
rich country for hundreds of miles a 3
any - The world. Nor is this a solitary
Instance OF attempts Of the kind al /
though Il s the only one near compile I
ton and in partial use. Several inn |
partant ones are commenced and little I
1ouht i entertained that In ten years, /
If uadisturhed. we shall open commune /
30 ton NY water with all the lakes north .
T2 VI ana westward Oe US with which
We have territorial connections. and an
inland navigation in a few years more /
from Rhode Island 10 Georgia inclu-
siVely, partly by cuts between the great (
bays and sounds. and partly between
he Islands and sand banks and the
main from AEbemarle Sound to the
river ST Mary's. To these may also
'e added. the erection Of bridges over
considerable rivers. and the commence
nent Of turnpike roads as further indi-
adion Of the Improvements in hand.
with great esteem and respect.
AVE the honor to be your lordship's
most obedient, honorable servant.
&c. WASHINGTON"
Mr. Stealey took a copy of the letter,
nd 1t is not believed that il has ever
'een printed in this country.