Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-05

| Ine perlI5 ana dangers OF out slightly
explored wilderness inhabited by
treacherous Indians and half breeds to
assist his cousin, George William Fair
fax, to survey and map out his re-
moter possessions in the Shenandoah
valley.
Early in the year 1850 William Fair
fax, accompanied by his son-iu-law,
Major John Carlyle, of Belle Haven,
made visit to England, from which
place he wrote home num-
ber of letters still extant, and
which would be very interesting read
ing did space allow of their publication
here in our story of Belvoir.
| George William Fairfax, born as al
ready noted in Nassau iu 1924, sue
ceeded on his fathers death, which oc-
Cured in 1857, to his large estate. He
had been educated in Englaud, as was
then the usage with the sons of the
wealthy colonists. Like his father,
Geo. William, he had found favor
among his neghbors on account of his
many estimab,e qualities, and from
time to time he had served them in
various public capacities of trust and
honor. In 1918, accompanied by his
wife Sarah, the daughter OF William
| Carey, of Hampton, Virginia, he went
to England to look after some property
he had recently Inherited there On
his way over he passed the ships which
brought To the colonies the illfsted
cargoes of tea which We're either burned
or cast overheard in the hsrbors of
Boston, Annapolis and Bridgeton.
Washington consented to act as his
agent at home in his absence, supposng
| the agency would be of but short dura-
| tion. But, owing to long delays in the
settlement of bis English affairs and
the occurrence of the political troubles
of the colonies, Fairfax never returned
to Virginia. He finally directed his
agent to dispose OF his household fur
niture and the stock and fixtures of
the plantation and to lease the
premises of Belvoir. A sale was ac-
cordinglv held on the estate n August,
1774, which continued two days; and
second sale was held in December of
the same wear. The inventories OF the
articles Of the household furnishings as
far as Can now be gathered have al
ready been given. The property was
then leased to Rev. Andrew Martin Tor
term of seven years, but in short
time after the old home was destroyed
by fire. The owners long absence and
the fact that the place was dcsolute to-
gether with the excitement and de-
raupement of business incldeut 10 the
revolutionary war, caused the whole
estate to rapidly depreciate in value.
The long and incessant cultivation of
tobacco and corn crops, chic fly of the
former, had absorbed the virgin fertili-
ty, and the broad fields which had
formerly been so clsmorous with the
shouts and refrains of the negro gangs
one by one had lapsed back into will
derness conditions.
1t was very natural that Washington
vino had been SO often welcome guest
in the cheerful, hospitable apartments
OF the now blackened and desolate
walls should write to friend shortly
after of his great sorrow whenever he
visited the ill-fated place. In that let
ter to one of the Fairfaxes in England
he says: sit is matter of sore regret
when / cast my eyes toward Belvoir,
which l often do, to reflect that the
former occupants of it with whom |
lived in such harmony and friendship
are there no more, and that the ruins
can only be viewed as the mementoes of
former pleasures. W. H. 5.