Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-22
EARL'S SILVER PLATE
Restoration of Valuables by
Captain Paul Jones.
OLD-TIME INCIDEN T
MR.. VIM. z. CURTIS READS NUM-
Der OF OLD LETTERS.
Address by Commissioner West-Sons
of American Revolution-Hold
December Meeting.

-ested, relative to the seizure and return by
Captain Jones of the silver plate of the
Earl of Selkirk at st. Mary's Island Scot
land The correspondence began in April,
177S, and extended through a period of sew
eral years A brief address by Commits
sioner Henry L. West was also an inter-
esting feature of the meeting.
More than 100 members and friends OF
the society attended the meeting last night,
the addresses and musical program being
preceded by a business sess Mr.. john
Paul Earnest, president of the Washington
society, presided and introduced the speak
ers.
Following several musical numbers by
male quartet, consisting of Messrs George
and Jacob Scharf, ]. Frank Myers and VIII
lam A Domer, President Earnest lnlro-
duced Mr.. Curtis Mr.. Curtis related the
incidents leading up to the correspondence
and during the reading of he OLD letters
made numerous apt and amusing comin 111e
on them He mentioned that in April, 100
Capt John Paul Jones. commanding the
Ranger, while off st. Mary's Island, SCOT
land landed on the island, winch was the
estate of the Earl of Seikirk' ana ou az I.I
the lords absence secured the Selklrk fam
lily plate.
Letter of the Countess of Selkirk.
The first letter read was that or the
Countess of Selkirk to her sister, written on
The letter of the countess contained sew
eral references to the polite and civil man
ner in which Capt. Jones and his men TOOK
nossession" of the family plate. and de-
srrihed the feelings of the countess at con-
siderable length. ,., ,s
The next letter read by Mr.. Curtis was
that written by Capt. Jones In May: ~
! to the Countess of Selkirk. In TINS leI-
ter the redoubtable sea captain OF the col-
onist forces apologized for being compelleu'
owing to the insistence OF ms otiiCe: -
take the plate and offered to restore ~ W
tha original owners at some future tiine.
The letter of Capt Jones afforded an apuh.
dance of entertainment for the mempers u
the Sons of the American Revolutioii' as
contained numerous witty ana politely sd.
"a sti, references and eXtraVagant expires
sions In this letter Capt. Jones begged me
countess to write to him.
The communica ton. however, was an
swered by Lord Selkrk himself, VINO Iol-
varded his letter through the British post
master general with an explanatory note ~
that official giving Lord Selkirk,s personal
opinion of Capt. Jones. LORD Selhlrk re-
ferred to the American sea captain as Inttt
fellow Jones'" and he said that While ne
d,sIiked to enter into correspondence with
him vet he deemed it wise to answer MS
Letter to Lady Selkirk as he was appre-
hensive lest Jones might return TO the ISL
and some day and burn his house
Heard at this late day, more than a cen
tnry and a quarter after the incidents took
Mace the letters read by Mr.. Curtis proved
unusually interesting, especially 10 the
members of the society, which is particular
Nv interested in the affairs OF the reVolu-
tionary period. Mr.. Curtis related the SUD
stance of the correspondence or capt Jones
Lord and Lady Selkirk and others. up 70 tne
time the family plate was returned by Capt.
Tones about six years after its SEIZURE. IN
returning the stolen plate Capt. Jones 1u!-
filled his promise made to Lady Seikirk
shortly after the seizure
Commissioner Vests Address.
At the close of Mr.. Curtis address Thos.
T. Jones sang a tenor solo and Commission
| err West was then introduced. Mr.. West
| told the members that he was highly graft
| fled at the representative gathering of men
| who were endeavoring to hand down to
| their children the recollections Of the stir
ring incidents and traditions of the found
| ers of the American republic. The men who
| fought in the revolution, he said, never In
| their most fantastic dreams nor in their
| widest flights of imagination could nave
| foreseen that they were founding such a
| glorious nation as the United States has
proved to be. Mr.. West said he appreciated
| the value of the societys work and held 1t
to be for high purpose
Following Mr.. Vests address the guests
! were invited to the banquet room. where a
! delightful buffet supper was served.
| During the business session the society re-
ceived the following as new members:
Peck, James Sheldon, jr., John Tuition Ma
son and Frank j. Lewis.
Statement of President Earnest.
President Earnest gave a report of the
proceedings at the meeting of the national
board of management of the society, held
December g. in Philadelphia. He stated that
the board decided that the motion passed by
the congress of the Sons of the American
Revolution in Cincinnati in 1897, permit ting
tn consolidation of the order with the Sons
of the Revolution, is still in effect. as IL has
not been repealed by any of the subsequent
| congresses. and that II the majority of the
| state societies of the Sons of the Revolution
act favorably upon it the union will be ac-
| complished.
President Earnest also stated that Judge
| Hancock, the president general or the ma
| tional organization will be present at the
January meeting of the local society, and
| that through the latters influence the next
| national congress of the order will be held
| in Independence Hall. Philadelphia, May 2,
! 1905.
| The treasurer's report showed that the
| society has on hand building fund of
| 81 O66 %, and a cash balance on hand of
| $3.50 80. Mr.. Bailey. chairman of the COM
| mittee on meetings, announced that at the
| next meeting. which will be ladies' evening,
| c. K. Bergman, the well-known cartoonist,
| will deliver a chalk talk
| Then followed the adoption Of several
| amendments to the constitution of the So
| ciety which principally concerned the ad-
| mnistration and disbursement of the
| finances of the society. new amendment
to the constitution was proposed, which I'M
| der the laws of the society cannot be acted
| upon until the next meeting, changing the
| date of the annual meeting of the society
| for the election of officers to noon on Feb
| ruary %, Washington's birthday.
Guests Present
| Among those present were:
| E. D. Sewell, Col. w. A. Meloy, Dr. H. q,
| Robbins B. II. Warner, A. B. Dent, H. B.