Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-02-19
WASHINGTON RELICS
RARE DOCUMENTS RELATING
TO THE GREAT AMERICAN.
Many Characteristic Traits Revealed
In a Message I'm Martha Wash
ington's Handwriting
Bill OF Ills Tailor.

We'll IL we knew as much abOut his
private life. True, we have a 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
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 letter from
Martha Washington TO her kinswoman,
Mrs. Frances Washington. The letter
was written by Martha, but was dicta-
ted by George Washington, who Was
then President of the United States.
II WAS duly forwarded to its destina.
ton, but draft was made by Wash
ington's instructions and from this
draft the Herald reproduction has been
mBds. The note at the end of this
letter is in Wsshington's handwriting
the letter itself is In his wife's. Here
is the text, with few slight changes
in punctuation and spelling:
IL MARTHA wAsHISaToN's HANDWRITING.
The President says you are already ac-
quainted with his sentiments on the propriety
Of renting out our lands and negroes in
Berkeley. As II seems TO be the intention to
settle another plantation there. he thinks
that the negroes, with such as you may in
cline % move up from Fairfax, had better
be divided between the two places and each
rented to some man of character and respOn-
sibility who will be able to give security for
the performance of the agreement. This will
ease you OF much trouble and reduce your
income to certainty. which never will be
the case under overseers at distance, rs
you seem to experience already. He thinks
articles should he drawn up by some profess
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 the negroes
(shOuld) be permitted. As to the terms for
which you should let the estate 1t must de-
pend upon your own view OF the subject, the
will and the advice of your friends. those
who are much better acquainted with the
circumstances attending the estate and the
utility of a longer or shorter term than he is
at this distance
Then comes the following memoran.
dunn in George Washington's hand.
writing:
Sentiments dictated by George Washing
ton in a letter from Mrs. NJ. Washington To
.
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
she 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
as carefully as those written by her
illustrious husband She may, how
ever, have frequently acted as lns
secretary, especially when some
family matter was under discus
sion, as in the present case. That
she was not apt with the pen is
evident. There is also a notable
lack of punctuation throughout the
letter, though the writer's clearness
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 (shouldl be permitted We
see a striking trait OF the man. No
one was ever more kindly and indul-
gent than he. de owned many col
ored servants and treated them all
we'll. Among them were carpenters,
blacksmiths, wheelwrights and men
skilled in other trades. $50 that
the plantation produced everything
within itself Tor ordinary use.
There may have been some good
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. A
few days before he died Mr.. Lear,
his secretary. brought him some let
tiers to be franked, in order that they
might be taken to the Postotfice, but,
although Washington attended to his
request, he said that the weather was
too bad to send servant out with
them. Again, few hours before he
drew his last breath, he turned to his
servant, Christopher, who had been
in the room during the day, and al.
most the whole time on his feet, and
kindly told him to sit down. He was
President of the United States when
he wrote to Mrs. Frances, with the
cares of nation on his shoulders, but
yet he did not forget to say kind
word for the negroes, just as he die
not forget the courtesy due to a men
iol han ha wi h.
bed. We have many letters writer
by Washington, but few more worthy
OF study than this one to his kins
woman.
This Mrs. Frances Washington was
the daughter of Colonel Burwell Bas
sett, of New Kent County, Virginia
She married on October 10, 1885
Colonel George Augustine Washing
ton, who was the great George
nephew, being the son OF his younger
brother Charles. Mrs. Frances hat
four children, one of whom died in in
fancy. Her husband left her by will
which was probated in 1898, all hi
property as long as she remained I
= widow, though provision was made
> for the children as soon as they shoul'
marry or attain their majority. Ii
!. the will is full description of tn
= Berkeley county property referred tt
!. in the letter.
} TAILOR CARLIN's LITTLE BILL.
. The second document is very cur
ious. Here is verbatim copy. Mr.
Carlin has such distinct individualit.
that it seemed pity to mar it by sub
stituting modern English for hi
quantity spelled words:
l772. Col George Washington Dl