New-York tribune., 1901-06-12
FOR A NATIONAL PARK.
GRESS TO PURCHASE HISTORIC
GROUND IN VIRGINIA

The Temple farm. near Yorktown. which the
Colonial Danes Of Virginia will petition Congress
70 purchase for a national park. was the meeting
place OF Washington and Cornwallis when the
articles OF surrender drawn up that closed the
war Of Independence. II is the property of c O.
Maunk. formerly Of Ohio. but a Virginian by
descent. and includes the Moore house. which
served as headquarters for Washington. ROcham-
neau and Lafayette during the siege Of Yorktown
This house is in fairly good repair
The farm is rich in historic association for il
was originally the country home Of Alexander
spotswoode. who became Governor OF Virginia in
no His life filed with romantic adventure
and he did much TO develop the material welfare
or the colony. enjoying almost absolute power in
MS position as Governor. He discovered and mined
the first iron Of America thus earning for HIM
self the title of the "Tubal Cain Of Virginia " and
also imported colony of miners from Germany
and settled them on the Rappahannock River.
The Governors loyalty the colony caused him
10 defend il SO faithfully against the exactions of
the crown that he was removed from office in 1722
Changing his residence 10 Annapolis, he was made
postmaster by Benjamin Franklin
His body is said to ne buried az Temple Farm.
His daughter married brother Of Martha Wash
ington's first husband. and his sons were among
the most influential men Of their time in Virginia
The beauty Of Lady Spotsvoode was famous
through all the countryside and Some time after
her husbands death her hand sought in mar
riage by the Rev. John Thompson OF Culpeper
equal in rank. whereupon ne Indignantly penned
the following letter stiIl preserved as a curiosity
in the collection Of the Forbes family at Fred
ericksburg:
You think II diminuJion your Honour md We
Dignity Of your Family TO marry a Person in ye
station OF a Clergyman and yet all Nations.
whether Learned or Ignorant. whether civil or
BarbartanS have agreed to express their Reverence
for We Deity and their affection for Religion BY
bestowtng Extraordinary Privileges upon such as
administer Holy Things, and by providing literally
Igf thelr Malnteiance; and V Honour due 10 tAe
Holy Function flows from ye Law OF Nature, as
appears from hence. yet in ye earliest Times We
Civil and ye Sacred Authority We're united IN the
Same Person. Thus Melchisideck King and
Priest or Salem, and among Egyptians "
Priesthood was Joined with We Crown The Greeks
accounted ye Priesthood OF equal Dignity with
kingshp. which is taken notice Of by Aristotle in
several places in his Politics. Yet Madam. Moses
himself. who Prince Of Israel before Aaron
was ConseCrated, pficiated Priest i'm We solemn
Sacrifice by wch ye Covenant with Israel was Con-
hrmed.
From all wch II evidently Appears VI in all Ages
and Nations Of ye World. whether Jews Hea theus
or Christians, great Honour conferred upon
the Clergy. and therefore dear Madam. from hence
YOU infer how Absurd and Ridiculous these
Gentlenens Notions are who would fain Persuade
you that marrying with ye Clergy would deroEate
from the Honour and Dignity of Your Family
Whereas, IN strict reasoning the contrary thereof
would rather appear. and II would very much tend
10 support ye Honour and Dignity OF Il.
This eloquence won the day. and Lady Spots
woode became Mrs Thompson.