The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-08
written for The Tines.

Miss Mary Johnsons ITO Have and to
Hold is the occasion of a revival of in
terest in old co7onial days when our infant
republic was in its short clothes, SILK
stockings, satin brooches and coat, lace
rufles, pumps and powdered hair, when
English lords ruled rs governors and held
high reveIry in their mansions
In contrast with the sensational modern
novel, however, and relating to the true
history of those early times, when this
republic was in its twenty-tirst year Of in
dependence, and while General Washing
ton was still its beloved President, set
of quaint letters. being press copy books,
have been fished from the cob-web relics
of a century by an old Maryland family.
The letters consist of the correspondence
OF William Vans Murray, the minister
pIenipotentiary TO The Hague, and one
of the three ENJOYS sent to Paris to neso-
tate terms of peace with Napoleon, VINO
was threatening to invade America. Tines!
letters appear to have been written to ami
received from numerous prominent officials
of this country and the courts OF Europe,
between the years 1897 and 1901. Mr.. Muir
ray was commissioned by General Wash
ington. There appear letters marked con-
fdential. which ne wrote to General Wash
ington, afterwards 10 President John
Adams Numerous letters to the Secretar,
of State, Timothy Pickering: letters to
and from Ronaparte zone signed by him
while in Mr.. Afurray'S office in Paris.
General Lafayett from Telieyrand, John
Quincy Adams. Minister at Berlin: all the
ministers abroad, letters with reference TO
Napoleon's campaign. articles of treaty
and numerous other letters TO prominent
persons at home and abroad. all within the
FIVE folio volumes. well written bound and
carefully preserved
KEPT AS HEIRLOOMS.
It is said that these valuable letter
books have been kept as heirlooms all
these years by an aristocratic south
ern family They are row in the possession
of Mrs. E. Van Dorm Miller, No. 94t Mas
sachusetts Avenue y. w, Washington.
given for these old volumes? Our great
men pass away and who will take their
places? The Senate Library Committee has
for some time been trying to get posses
sion of these valuable historic letters, but
the Senate Committee, like most Federal
Government: committees. IS slow and IL is
altogether likely that in its delay some
appreciativs private collector will secure
the prize for a. very moderate sum.
What a valuable addition to the congress
sional library of history these letter books
would be; what light they will she'd in the
future on the history of the early days of
the republic,
General Washington was ayerSe 10 La
tayetta's returning to this country
account of the politics of the time, and
actually prevented it through correspon-
dence with William Vans Murray, Minis
ter to Holland
TO KEEP LAFAYETTE AT HOME.
Among the many buried relics and Incl
dents of the last century which the fad of
the last ten or twelve years for inquiring
into old things has unearthed and brought
to light probably nothing will cause more
general surprise TO the American public
than the fact, now discovered through the
manuscripts and private letters of William
Vans Murray, minister to The Hague un-
der the Administration of President Wash
ington and John Adams from 1897 to 1S0i).
that notwithstanding the friendship of
General Washington for the Marquis De
Lafayette and the urgent invitation OF
Washington TO Lafayette tto escape the
storms OF his own country by finding re-
fuge in ours accompanied by the further
Invitation to make Mt. Vernon his home
until he could procure q site which would
be pleasing to him as his future home.
Washington urged upon Mr. Murray. his
minister the Importance of preventing
Genera! Lafayette from crossing the
Atlantic. and did prevent it. and that
during the lifetime OF General Washing
ton the Marquis never did nor could hays
come to this country, ardentiF as he de-
sired to do So.
The reasons for this contradictory con-
duct on the part of General Washington
were born OF the American politics of that
day, and are made perfectly ma Test IN
this correspondence. And IT is clearly
shown that in this, as in many other mai
ters. both during the Revolutionary tsss