The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
SOME LETTERS OF WASHINGTON.
The Father of His Country as IL Youth
sui Poet.
New York Mail and Express.

New York Mail and Express.
1t may surprise the casual reader to know
that the father of his country once tried to
write poetry. The attempt was in his early
youth, however, and the habit fortunately
did not take deep root.
George Washington and Richard Henry
Lee lived as boys, only mile apart, and
were friends and playmates. Washington
was the younger by about a month. When
the boys were nine years old Lee wrote to
his playmate. with fine scorn of punctua-
ton:
Dear George:
PA brought me two pretty books full of
pictures he got them in Alexandria. Cousin
bids me send you one of them 1t has a
picture of an elefant and little indian boy
1 learn my task good he will let uncle 10
bring me to see you will you ask your ma
to let you come to see me
ORCHARD HENRY LEE"
To this the future leader of soldiers and
statesmen replied:
Dear Dickey: I thank you very much
for the pretty picture you gave me- / can
read three or four pages sometimes with
to see you and stay all day next week if it
be not rainy l have a little piece of
poetry about the picture you gave me, but
l mustn't tell you who wrote the poetry
G.. VS. compliments to r. H. L.,
And likes his book full we'll
Henceforth will count him his friend
And hopes many happy days he may spend.
Your good friend,
GEORGE WASHINGTON"
There is a postscript to the letter, which
shows that the youthful George believed in
abbreviating when he could:
Il am going TO get whiptop soon, & you
may see it & whip it,
1t was this Richard Henry Lee, grown
to mans estate who. on the 18th of June,
1176, laid before Congress the stirring reso-
luton that these united colonies are and
of right ought to be free and Independent
states. that all political connection between
them and Great Britain is and ought to be
totally absOlVed He was with his
brother, Francis Lghtfoot Lee, signer OF
the Declaration of Independence.
1t was in the only eXtant letter of Wash
ington to his wife, that he called her his
dear Patsy" This letter was written June
he says fills him with indispensable con-
Germ" because of the uneasiness it will
give her. He says;
TT has been determined in Congress that
the whole army raised for the defense of
the American cause shall be put under my
care, and that it is necessary for me to
proceed Immediately to Boston to take upon
me the command of it. You may believe
me, my dear Patsy when assure you in
the most solemn manner that, so far from
seeking this appointment nave used every
endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only
from my unWillingneSS TO part with you
and the family, but from the consciousness
of its being a trust too great for my capa-
city. and that L would enjoy more real
happiness in one month with you at home
than I have the most distant prospect of
finding abroad, if my stay were to be seven
times seven years
The letter to young Lee is the first letter
of Washington's preserved to US, while the
last was one written to Charles jolly, on
July 80. 1799 now in the possession of Judge
Harrison, Of Clarksburg, w. Va. 1t is as
follows:
Mount Vernon, July 80. 1899
"Sir-I am quite ashamed of the error
committed in passing nv rect. to you for
fifteen instead of fifteen hundred dollars,
which you had the kindness to be the
bearer of from the Bank of Pennsylvania
for my use.
being for small sums, it required some time
to get at the amount of them-th1s circum-
stance writing to Mr.. Fox-and fear that
l was OBTAINING you, as you were under en-
gagement to dine in Alexandra, occdsloned
hurry & the consequent mistake
II hope 1 was more correct in my &C
Acknowledgement to the President of the
Bank of Pennsylvania.-It was my inten-
ton to be so in both cases.
Il am Sir-yr most obedt H6le Ser c,o,,
"Chas. Jolly, Esq
1t will be seen from this letter that Wash
ington's prediction for abbreviation con-
tinued to the end of his life Another thing
apparent is that even hero can make a
mistake when he does not take time 10 DO
things properly.
The letter is written on paper resembling
Irish linen, a little smaller than foolscap
and folded so as to leave the center
a half by five inches, for the address,
for this was before the day of envelopes
1t was sealed with a red wafer, and in adj
dition to the address bore the postmark
Alex. Va. Jul. 81 the word free and
the signature of Washington in the lower
ieft-hand corner, From this it appears that
although Washington refused pay for his
services as commander of the American
himself later of the franking privilege con-
ferred uDOn him by Congress.