Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-22

building on the eve Of his departure from
washington. Having the privilege to de-
t t,o ,he ADDRESS to PRINCE Henry. I men
VIII OF his ancestor. Frederick the Great,
toward the rising young western republic
also stating that Frederick sent to George
Washington sword with the dedication
THE oldest general of Europe to the great,
est general on earth" The prince seemed
surprised by this mention, and It appeared
that l was the first one to remind him of
this feature Of the friendly relations be-
tween the two great men. After INV ad-
dress had been published a great many
letters appeared In various newspapers at
lacking the historical truth OF the state
ment that Frederick the Great ever sent a
sword to George Washington, and calling IT
q myth. In confederation however, of
Elisabeth Bryant Johnston's publication
about that sword of Frederick the Great I
beg to add that the sword presented by
Frederick to Washington is now in the
collection of Washington relics which was
purchased by the state of New York In
1871. and deposited in the state library at
Albany in 1873 with the following comment.
Dress sword of Washington" This is
one of five swords left by Washington in
his Will to his five nephews then living.
The first namely. who was the eldest. VIM.
Augustine Washington had the first choice,
and selected this sword on account of its
traditional history. There is no known
record of the fact, but it was generally re-
ported in the family that this sword was
brought over from Europe about the year
17SO to Washington, with this verbal mes
sage from Frederick II (the Great, King of
Prussia, From the oldest general of the
world to the greatest" A picture with
this sentence inscribed under 1t is men,
toned In newspaper of that year New
Jersey Journal, August 2, 1880. See
Moore's Diary OF the Revolution). There
was another impression that 1t was brought
over and delivered to him by Col David
Humphreys of Connecticut. who had been
upon his staff. New York state library
annual report " SO. per 1873, p. 143) And
in 'Moore's Diary Of the Revolution, vol.
II. p. 300. we find the further statements:
From New Jersey Journal August Q. 17SO:
August 9--The King Of Prussia not long
since presented his excellency, General
Washington. with the picture Of his
majesty taken to life. Inscribed under,
From the oldest general in Europe to the
greatest general On earth A celebrated
general OF his majesty's,-over whom con-
quest never gained dominion-on viewing
the inscription asked. Why does he stand
higher in the annals Of fame than nnyselfr
Consider replied this illustrious artist in
the science OF war, you never fought but
at the head of troops In numbers. disci-
pltne, bravery, ardor and full of hope,
vieing with any commander; but this noble
chief has encountered every embara ssment.
and his united abilities. complete to con-
stitute general, indeed. has surmounted
untold difficulties. and thereby justly
stands entitled to such 1aurels as conquest,
fame and magnanimity can only give"
We should think. and rightly conclude,
of the great Frederick OF Prussia toward
the great George Washington of the United
States. that the presenting OF dress sword
of honor Is not q myth but a historical
statement made about it in my address
to Prince Henry Of Prussia, February Is.
WILLIAM L. ELTERICH