Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-07

and then to the Chevalier Legardeur &c
st. Pierre at a French fort little south
of Lake Erie. Maj. Muse and Capt. Van
Braam were with Washington at the Great
Meadows and ii was Van Braam who at
the surrender of Fort Necessity so bungled
the translation of the articles of capitula-
ton from French into English that he was
accused by the Vrgnians of treachery.
Van Braam. with a Capt Stobo, were held
by the French hostages for the return of
the French prisoners taken in the Jumon-
vile skirmish of the Great Meadows eXpe
dition, and Dinwiddie, refusing to give up
those prisoners, Van Braam long remained
in the custody of the French, was at last
released went to England and never more
ill-starred expedition Maj. Muse was
charged with coWardice and his career end
ed. Thus passed two. of the familiar
characters of Belvoir.
When Washington went on his first armed
march 1t was William Fairfax who coun-
seled him by letter TO have public prayers
in camp, especially when there We're In
dian families there" and this was accord
ingly done al the encampment at the Great
Meadows. Irving says, 1T certainly was
not the least striking picture presented in
this wild campaign-the youthful COM
mander presiding with calm seriousness
over a motley assemb,age OF half-equipped
soldiery, leathern-clad hunters and woods
men, and painted savages with their wives
and children, and uniting them all in SOL
emn devotion by his own example and de-
meanor" During this part of the struggle
over the boundary Of the French and Brit
ish possessions which the peace treaty of
Aix-leChapelle had left underlined Will
liam Fairfax a member of the Virginia
house of burgesses and to him Washington
addressed many letters relating to the
too, II, S,F 1nffa Voc
ington expressed himself as much disap-
pointed in George Croghan and Anthony
Mohtour guides and interpreters), who
proved to be great pretenders by vainly
Boosting of their interest with the Indians,
causing dependence to be placed where
there was none for with all their boast
they could never induce above thirty fight
ing men to join the camp, and not more
than half of these rendered any service"
l. was William Fairfax, acting with Law
renee Washington, who encouraged George
Washingtons inclination for a sailors life
and obtained for him a midshipmans war
rant aboard a British man-of-war that lay
off Belvoir. This project was abandoned
when Mrs. Mary Washington, who had at
first assented, finally dissented.
Lord Fairfax made his advent in Vir
ginia in 1879 and was, of course a guest
at Belvoir He is described as being at
that time about six feet high, gaunt and
rawboned, near-Sighted, with light gray
eyes, sharp features and an aquline nose.
in his younger days. He had received his
education at the University of Oxford.
where he had acquitted himself with credit.
He afterward held commission In regl-
ment OF horse called The Blues His title
and connection gave him access to the best
society. in which he acquired additional
currency by contributing a paper or two to
Addisons Spectator, then in great vogue.
Lord Fairfax returned to England, but
came to make his permanent residence in
Virginia in 1146. He took up his temporary
abode at Bevoir, and his friendship for
George Washington was marked THE
merits of Washington were known and APP
preciated by the Fairfax family. Though
not quite fifteen years of age ne no longer
seemed a boy, nor was he treated as such.
Tall, athletic and manly for his years his
early self-training and the code of conduct
he had devised gave gravity and decision to
his conduct and his frankness and modesty
inspired cordial regard