The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

The Last Royal Governors Of Vir-
ginia and Their Patriot Amer
loan Contemporaries
Historical Letters and Documeuts from
the Monticello Collection, Annotated
by Mrs. Barton Harrison.

A batch Of old letters. documents. and memo
rsnda from the pigconholes OF Monticello lie
before us. For q number OF years they have
been in possession OF q descendant OF Mr.. JET.
ferson. They are assembled without method
and IN dates. subjects, aud autographs. form
. curious patchwork OF apparently unrelated
paits. No one Of the names signed TO them is
unknown TO history; many are those Of the
grcAt founders Of American independence.
One IL from a CzIr. others arc from famous
GENERALS. diplomatists. scientific men. authors.
statesmen. patriots, and clever somen OF Eu.
rope and America. The letters range over
the whole Of Jeferson's public life. To the
student Of Americana the collection is OF espe-
eial value and Importance; TO all Americans
It should be OF interest II II our purpose In
rsproducins IL TO try TO make what is missing
clear TO the casual Y, ader through the fash
liRht OF biographical comment.
OF earliest date in cur budget In The scrap OF
psper bearing the simple autograph Of "A.
b~potswood." the capitals intcrIwined and en-
eircled with = flourish of black ink. suggesting
the art OF n provincial master OF specimen
peninanship." The writer was one OF the most
famous and brilliant Of the Colonial Cover
nor.. He has continued 70 ride down the pases
Of history As dashingly as he once led his
knights OF the Golden Horseshoe" across vir-
gtnia TO explore the country beyond the Blue
Ridge. And he has been always the dearer
20 virginians because he brought out TO them
in June. l7lo. the writ Of hdbtds orpus which
they ~ ardertly desired. spotswood was born
fn 1879 in Tangter. Afri-a. where his father
was q surgeon OF the English earrison. He
.erved under Marlborough and as wounded
in the breast In the battle OF Blenheim. From
IN old d yelling called Chelsea. II King VIII
liam county. Virginia there has been lent 70
"a -aa-
~ their rooms. an interesting portrait of Sir
alexander Spotsu God. with q pi,ture Of Blen-
helm Palace painted mo the background:
the artist. in those DAYS, giving the full worth
e his money In complimentary addendA TO his
work. Spots wood lent powerful aid 70 the
manufacture o. iron In Virginia. hence his
p-eudonym OF '1ubal Cain" He brought out
. number OF German Palstines and settled
thew at Germanna on the Ra oidan River. near
his own castle" In which Col. Byrd OF Weft-
over visited him In 1879. The castle. actually
. country house Of moderate dimensions. was
IN the heart Of the wilderness. but the deer
that. straying into its drawing room. fell 70
Sighting with his own i'm age in one OF my lady's
fine new mirrors. which he smashed. prese tly
Withdrawing from the combat into q cabinet
laden with china was q pet ami
NAL. reclaimed from his wildwood f~astnes..
Spotswood held other ofnc~s. He married
end died in virginia. and has left there many
Lescendants who retain his memory with Just
iridr. lie was strong. fearless, public-spirit-
ed. self willed. adventurous. yet always cen
scientious In his relations with the colony. In
his dag It was that the pirate Blackboard,
whose real name was John Theach. brought his |
fhip into the waters OF virginia and the Caro-
linas. s~potswood. swift ia pursuit.. sent out |
two ships that overhauled. brought. to the des-
pnrndoes. and boarded them. In q haud-to-
hand hRht. Blackboard waa killed. and his
crew gave In TO the Virginians. The pira'e's
Last order to his crew. to blow up the powder
magazine At the moment OF surrender. was not |
che ed. A bakers d ozon OF the captured rob-
hers were brought to Williamsburg and hung
there. while Blackbeard's skull. to the 6iscred!t
~ his captors. be 1t said. wa converted into a |
drinking cop Get In silver and handed down"
IL some fortunate +. F. V. 1t Ia said TO have
] can long preserved at the Raleigh Tavern In
villa nSburg. The story Of these adventures
was made into verse and troiled through the
streets OF Boston by Q printers boy with whom
We shall by and by come into touch among |
Jercrson's correspondents. br the name Of
Ben Iamin Franklin. Here Is the spotswood
autograph,