The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-12


cluster. Under the auspices OF TINS ASSOC
citation we have assembled on thls occa-
sion 10 render "A just tribute 10 the
memory Of Alexander Spotswood. one Of
the most gifted and ilu,trious men
known in the annals of Virginia during
her colonial period.
Alexander SpotswoOd was descen ied
from a long line OF distinguished mos
tors. ana proved himself TO he worthy
son of noble sires. He was born III Tan
gier. an English colony in Africa. ia ne
year 1876 Having been reared among
soldiers and educated FOR the profession
of arms. he became aide TO the Duke OF
MARLBOROUGH. and was severely wounded
at the battle of Blenhclm. On to- -"id
of June. l710. he arrived in the colony.
with commission ~ Lieutenant Cover
nor. At that time George Hamilton.
Earl of Orkney. was nominally Gov,-nor
and Commander-in-Chief of Virginia. but
although he enjoyed the honors and emo
mments of the position for forty vear,.
he did not seem TO be impressed with IN"
idea that public office is public trdSi
and never once set foot uoon the SOIL CT
Virginia. Being Peer of Scotland ana a
member Of the House of Lords. and hay
ing served with distinction in ali he
wars of her reign. he was great favor-
tie with Queen Anne. She conferred many
favors upon him. and permitted n'ui
while drawing his salary regularly as
Governor of Virginia. TO delegate the ac-
tual conduct of the government to Li,I-
tenant-Govcrnor Spotswood.
THE ABLEST GOVERNOR.
Governor Spotswood exhibited extra
ordinary enterprise and public-spirit in
that capacity. He was confessedly the
ablest Governor Of Virginia during her
colonial period. Such was his admins
trative ability that he at once inaugural
ed a new era Of prosperity. He establish
ed schools for the instruction OF the In
dian children IN the Christian religion
He put into operation the first iron fur-
mace i'm America. He improved the cul-
ture of Nirginias great staple tobacco
Under his wise leadership Virginia had
mo- public debt. lie explored her terri
tory TO the summit of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. and opened up her beautiful
valley. afterwards inhabited by that re-
markable race of ScOtch-lrish. who by
their patriotism and Valor so impressed
,,,.,,e.1,es upon Washington. that, III the
latest hours of the Revolution "heh
lie army had been almost dcsuoNe" ~
nr;vation and hunger. he eNcialilcu'
81 eove me hut banner 10 place upon
,hc mountains Of West Augusta ana
viii rally around me men VINO VIII M
our bleeding country from the uus' anu
Get her free 1t was upon tha' famous
.Vnedition of Governor SpotsWoou thd'
me instituted the kniehtly oIder Oh the
Golden Horseshoe, an oiuer 'io""u
which has been thrown suVh 7,,'"vn.
~ noetrv and romance. We are told 'nat
,ha Golden horse-shoes were studded with
,,alnable stones resembling heads OF
Ills with this inscription on the one
side. sic iuVat transcendere monies
rbev were given 10 his gay ana galiahl
companions by the Governor IN conlmeh-
moration OF their success. ana me morse
shoes was selected as symDoi because
OF it's being an unusual requirement ala
the lower part of the country, whereas
for this mountain exploration large
quantity OF them were needed II =
pcars form the historical accounts "a
this expedition. that the company con-
sisted of about fifty persons, they had q
large number Of riding and pack horses
an abundant supply of provisions ana an
extraordinary variety of liquors. From
the journal of John Fontaine. member
Of the expedition. who records their pro
ccedings after crossing the mountains.
make the following extract: The
Governor buried bottle with q paper
enclosed on which he writ that he took
possession of this place in the name ana
for King George 1. Of England. We had
a good dinner. and afterwards we iot
the men together loaded all the arms
and drank to the Kings health in Cham
pagno. an fred vollcy .the Princes
health i'm Burgundy. and fred a volley.
and all the members of the royal family
i'm claret. and fired Volley. We drank
the Governors health and fired a Vpilcy.
We had several sorts OF liquors namely:
Virginia red wine and white wine Irish
Usquebaugh. brandy. shrub two sorts
of rum. champagne. canary. cherry
punch. water cider etc" As ii is not
recorded that anybody's health was drank
In water cider. | fear that beverage was
somewhat neglected on the occasion.
MAGNIFICENT PANORAMA.
What must have been the thoughts that
thrilled the breasts OF Governor Spots
wood and his companions as they stood
NJ Swift Run Gap. the now historic pass
OF the Blue Ridge mountains. and looked
upon the magnificent panorama stretched
out before them How far short of ths
reality their widest and most extrlss-
giant dreams must have fallen. If It
could have been vouchsafod TO them TO
lift the veil which concealed the futI-c
from their gaze. and get a slimrse q
Tho things TO come. they would have seen
Virginia transformed from a weak aud
dependent colony into n free and In iep-
cndert Commonwealth They would have
seen her a co-equal member OF confed-