New-York tribune., 1901-02-24

stands in the midst Of one of the prettiest court
greens in all Virginia.
The last will and testament OF George Washing
ton Is the chief treasure of the courthouse collec
ton The will Of Martha Washington which had
been deposited there carried away in wartime
and never restored. Washingtons will is kept in
small black walnut box with glass The
box has been locked many wears and the key has
oeen lost only two pages OF the timewOrn manu-
script are visible. The handwriting is plain and
neat. but there are many OrthographicaI slips which
prove that Washington could never have captured
the prize AT a Virginia spelling bee''-at least not
II he had lived century later.
Al the beginning OF the Rebellion the Washington
viii was sent 20 Richmond for safekeeping That
odtime papers had little interest for the inhabitants
oi the Confederate capital may be gathered from
the tact that when Richmond burning after
the retreat Of Lees army a citizen OF Fairfax who
happened TO be in the city found the will I'm a pile
OF ruo'ish in house that was spared from the
flames. He took IL home with him and ever since
II has been preserved by the clerk of Fairfax
county There is law of the State providing for
us preservation II is altogether valuable a
rene 20 oe permitted 10 remain In its present un-
sale Repository II the plans projected sue
C.'u II VIII ut placed IN a ourglar-proof and fire
It"ol SdIt, with other precious documents. and
guarded with the care its Importance deserves.
Another interesting document I'm the court house
II the viii OF George Mason the author OF the
"Bill Of Rights" upon which the National and
copied in a wonderfully clear hand in huge
leather bound volume. which contains many other
lived az Gunston Hall. on the Potomac some dis
tauce below Mount Vernon and he disposed OF his
mansion house his hundreds Of slaves and other
property In this instrument.
There is minute book in the courthouse col
lection which contains many curious items Here
D. one ordered. that there be erected in the town
"i AltN1Hdrla "a whipping post and stocks. also
duckinS stool. Tor the punishment Of offenders
Another minute was To the effect that all soldiers
and express I'm His Majesty's service paying ready
money shall have Oue-ffth deducted" &" nder date
OF september - ll5l. is given the
OF every county officer. attorney and vestryman
VINO qualified for office This Il do declare
that there Is no Observation-Disclosures In the
neut ot the Lords Supper In the elements OF
bread and wine az and after the conservation
thereof by any person whatsoever"
There II no more interesting exhibit in the court
nous" thdu copy OF the law regulating licensed
iuHktepers and prescribing the prices they might
charge. This law had to be posted in all the inns
~ Virginia and the man who broke II was made 10
penalty for those days. TObacco was money I'M old
Nfrg.-ia- This Is COPY Of the tariff under Ills
ti.a .iauS Mti,sty'. "tn~ gallon Of rum IS on.
gallon \ank brandy. los: Virginia punch or annie
brandy. tS. New England rum. > sd. FayaI and
other low wines Is sd, London beer. called porter
p. English strong bee-. Is 81. cider BY the quart
bottle 90 for a gill Of rum made into punch with
for "a cold diet. td for a gallon oats or corn al
for staDing and fodder twenty -four hours Cd: for
nights lodging with clean sheets, 6d. otherwise
nothing
II tine Nirgiuians carry out their intention 70
make the courthouse the "FaEcuil Hall' of the OLD
Dominion ii Will become an attraction for tourists
hv reason of its proximity To Washington. The
"WJrreutou Pike runs past the court house This
is the road made famous by the retreat of the Fed
trg0B- from tguii Run In