Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1897-02-18
WASHINGTON RELICS
RARE DOCUMENTS RELATING
TO THE GREAT AMERICAN.
Many Characteristic Traits Revealed
In Message In Martha Wash
ington's Handwriting
Bill OF Ills Tailor.
THE New York Herald repro

a great deal about Washington as O
soldier and statesman and it would be
we'll II we knew as much about his
private life. True, we have general
conception Of the manner in which he
bore himself to his family, his SER
wants and his neighbors, and what his
personal tastes and habits were, but q
thorough knowledge of him from this
point of view cal only be obtained by
studying just such documents as the
Herald publishes.
The first document is a letter from
Martha Washington to her kinsw oman,
Mrs Frances Washington. The letter
was written by Martha, but was dicta-
ted by George Washington, who was
then President Of the United States.
1t was duly forwar led to its destina.
ton, but draft was made by Wash
ington's Instructions and from this
draft the Herald reproduction has been
msda. The note at the end Of this
letter is in Washington's handwriting;
the letter itself is IN his wife's. Here
is the text, with few slight changes
IN punctuation and spelling:
IN MARTHA wAsHINGToN's HASDwR1TrsG
lhe President says you are already ac-
qpainted with his sentiments on the propriety
ni renting out our lands and negroes In
Berkeley. As it seems to be the intention to
settle another plantation there, he thinks
that tho negroes, with such as you NAV in
cline 20 move up from Fairfax, had better
be divided between the two places and each
rented to some man Of character and respon-
sibiity who will be able 70 give security for
the performance OF the agreement. This will
case you OF much trouble and reduce your
income to certainty, which never will be
the case under overseera at distance, as
you seem to experience already. He thinks
articles should be drawn up by some profes-
siOnal man and Skilful person and every pre-
caution taken to prevent waste OF the timber
or the cutting down too much thereof, and no
abuse OF either the land or tho negroes
(should) be permitted. AS to the terms for
which you should let the estate 1t must de-
pond upon your own view OF the subject the
will and the advice of your friends those
who arc much better acquainted with the
circumstances attending the estate and the
utility OF n longer or shorter term than be is
at this distance.
Then comes the following memoran.
dun in George WashiDgton's hand
writing:
"Sentiments dictated by George Washing
ton in letter from Mrs. NJ Washington to
Mrs. Frances Washington. June. 1893"
A peculiar interest attaches to this
document for the reason that very
few OF Martha Washington's letters are
in existence. Her husband, both in
his official and private capacity, wrote
great deal; she apparently wrote
comparatively little. Doubtless this
sensible, good woman thought that
the could spend her time more profit
ably than In letter writing, or it may
be that her letters, being naturally OF
private nature. were not preserved
ms carefully as those written by her
illustrious husband. She NAV, how.
ever, have frequently acted as hi.
secretary, especially when some
family matter was under discus
sion, as in the present case. Tha,
she was rot apt with the pen i:
evident. There is also notabl,
lack Of punctuation throughout the
letter, though the writer's clearnes:
Of mind Is shown by the little dashes,
which, except in one or two places,
are used in lieu of full stops.
In his counsel that "no abuse of the
negroes (should) be permitted' at
zee a striking trait OF the man. Nc
one was ever more kindly and lndul
gent than he. He owned many col
orei servants and treated them al
Well. Among them were carpenters
blacksmiths, wheelwrights and mel
skilled in other trades. $50 tha
the plantation produced everything
within itself for ordinary use.
There may haze been some goo
tailors on the plantation also. but Mr.
Carlin, whose bill is reproduced here
with, was evidently not one OF them
Washington's kindness to his Ser
wants was indeed always marked. .
few davs before he died Mr. Lear
his secretary. brought him some let
ters TO be franked, IN order that the,
might be taken to the Postottce, but
although Washington attended to hi
request, he said that the weather wa
too bad to send servant ont VT
them. Again, few hours before i
drew his last breath. he turned to
servant, Christopher, who had bee
IN the room uuIIu : huo ''- $500 :
most the whole time on his feet. az
Kindly told him TO sit down. he VI
President of the United States VII,
be wrote 70 Mrs Frances. with l.
cares OF a nation on his shoulders, O
vet he did not forget to say XII
word for the negroes. Just as he q
not forget the courtesy due TO me
ial when be WAS lying on MS ueat
he'll We have many letters wflU'
hv Washington. but few more WORT
OF study than this one to his XII
woman.
This Mrs. Frances Washington "
,be daughter Of Colonel Burwen 81
sett, of New Kent County Nrsin
She married on October -, -
Colonel George Augustine Nashii
ton. who was the great ueors
nephew, being the son OF his yonns
brother Charles. Mrs. Frances q