Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-02-27
Washingron's Letter Accepting
lanes River Stock

Washingron's Letter Accepting
James River Stock
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Of last Saturday contained the
following account of the finding OF
an ancient document OF great
hostoric interest-the letter from
General George Washington ac-
cepting the gift from the Virginia
Legislature of certain shares OF
canal stock on condition that 1t
should be donated by him to some
public benefaction. The FUNDS
thus conferred on Washington
were by him transferred to Liberty
Hall Academy, now Washington
and Lee University. The article
is as fellows:
In the course of bis great task
of classifying and refling the old
parchments in the clerks Office OF
the House of Delegates, Clerk John
W. Williams has discovered a
document which is full of interest
to every American to-day. 1t is a
letter from General George wash
ineton to the Legislature OF Vlr-
ginia, and it is regarded as a
sinRula coincidence that IT was
discovered on the birthday OF great
statesman and general.
No human eye has beheld the
paper since it was enrolled in 1888,
and it is a rare document, not only
on account of its age, but because
of the beautiful language in whlc D
il is couched and the clean ana
high sentiments it expresses.
General Washington was then
President of the United States,
and the LsgisfStdfev passed an act
donating to him certain shares o.
stock in companies organized FOL
the improvements of the Potomac
and James Rivers. The letter II
recited In an act which repeats the
former act, General Washington
having declined to accept the gift
The communication is addressed Il
the Governor of Virginia, as FOL
lows: -,
"Your Excellency having been
pleased to transmit me copy
of the act appropriating to my
benefit certain shares in the com
panies for opening the Navigation
of james and Potomac Rivers,
take the liberty Of returning T.
the General Assembly through
your hands the profound and CRATE
| full Acknowledgements inspired b.
so signal a mark OF their oenen
cent intentions towards me.
beg you, Sir, to assure them tina
II am filled on this occasion Will
every sentiment which can nov
from a heert warm with love 10
nv country-sensible to ever,
token of Its appreciation and affec
tion and sollticious to testify i
every instance a respectful sub
mission to it's wishes. With thos
sentiments in my bosom, L nee'
not dwell on the anxiety / feel II
being obliged in this instance t
decline a favor which is rendere
no less flsttering by the name
in which it is conveyed, than it
atfectionate In itself. In explain
Ing this obligation, l pass over
con- parison of my endeavors In I'd
public service with the many hor
orable testimonies of approbatio
which have already so far over
rated and over-paid them, recitin
one consideration only which su
J persedes the necessity Of recurrin
r to every other. When | was hr'
? called TO the station with which
was honored during the late cor
6ict for our liberties, to the din
J dence which l had so many rel
sons to feel in accepting 1t,
thought it my duty to join a mr.
] resolution to shut my hand a9ain'
every pecuniary recompense-,,
this resolution, l have lnvarlaol
sdhered-from this resolution (
J I had the inclination) l do NJ
e consider myself at liberty to d
: part.
"Wnilst / repeat, therefore, N
fervent acknowledgements to tl
: Legislature for their very XIII
). sentiments and intentions In Ii
e favor. and at the same time o'
/, them to be persuaded that r
membrancc of this singular pro
of their goodness towards me W
J never cease to cherish returns
the warmest affection aud graz
tude, must pray that their az
so far as it has for its object n
d personal emolument, may not ma
q. its effect. But if il should plea
10 the General Assembly to permit
: to turn the destination of the fu'
vested in me from my private en-
g luments to objects of public r
III ture, it will be my study in
N lecting these, to prove the sincerl
Of of my gratitude for the honor &C
ferred on ME, by prsferrlng su
y as may appear most subscribe
a to the enlightened and patrio
n. views of the Legisle ture."
% New York and the Tore
ne System