New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-24
RICHARD HENRY LEE
A Neglected Virginian Patriot
and Statesman.

LEE Collected and edited ny JAM
Curtis Ballagh. Phi y. Ill d. Assoc
{ alto Professor of American History IN
the Johns Hopkins University: Vol J.
with portrait, pr. xvii, 451. CThe Mac
milan Company
Professor Ballagh does well a mer-
itorious ask. one that should have been
accomplished long ago in justice to
great and true and eminently useful
American patriot, whose services ana
name have been almost forgotten b. the
hubble" notwithstanding his contempo-
rary fame as statesman and orator ana
| the importance OF his constant ana
| nrduous labor for The cause OF American
liberty. Little OF importance dealing
with the life and career Of Richard
Henry I.ee-sonetime president OF the
! Continental Congress, mover of the res
olutions for a Declaration OF 1ndepen-
dence, foreign alliances and plan OF
confederation and member Of the
senate-has been published since the ap-
pearance. In 1925. of the Memoir pre-
pared by his grandson. This, so far as
his correspondence was concerned, con-
7
introduced in objectionable chronological
/ disorder The present work. OF which
| the first volume is now ready, VIII con-
| tain some five hundred letters written
| by Lee between the years 1882 and 1872
! tie editor having searched the archives
Of the Department Of State. the manu-
script division OF the Library Of Con-
eress. the collections and publications oil
historical societies and private students
and family papers North and South with
thoroughness that has been made
doublv successful by the hearty collab-
grafton given Professor Ballagh on all
sides. for which he returns such generous
thanks in his preface. The collection
il should be added. is published under
the auspices OF the National Society OF
! the Colonial Danes Of America. The
ask Of editing the letters has been done
with 2 systematized thoroughness tnat
secures accuracy without dstracting the
readers attention. The footnotes are
brief and 10 the point.
Born at Stratford. Westmoreland
| County. Va. on January %, 1892. Rich
ard Henry Lee was educated In England,
whence he returned TO Virginia at the
/ age OF twenty From the first he inter
ested himself IN public affairs, became
| justice Of the peace and member OF
/ the House Of Burgesses Of Virginia. and
/ in 1873 was appointed a member OF the
( Virginia committee Of correspondence
md in 1774 n member OF the Continental
| Congress. Here hts services % the coun-
! trv began at once He drafted the peu-
| ton to the King. and prepared the ad-
dress 70 the people OF Great Britain and
/ the memorial TO the House OF Lords on
/ June :. 1875, he made the motion. which
vas adopted on July 2. that these united
/ colonies are. and OF right ought TO BE-
free and Independent states and that
eli connection between them and the
state Of Great Britain IS, and ought 10
he totally dissolved Lee was mem
her Of the Virginia Legislature IN 1850
's4. being returned 70 Congress in the
! latter year and elected its president
he was elected TO the Senate on the
adoption of the new federal Constitu-
ton. and resigned in 1892 on account Of
increasing i'll health. dying two years
later at his home Chantilly, in his ma
tive state and county.
The scope and value OF Lees ser
vices during the War Of Independence
may he traced FIR every one Of his letters
printed in this first volume. addressed
10 George Washington. Thomas Jefrer-
son. samuel Adams, Or. William Ship
pen. IT.. Francis Lightfoot Lee. Patrick
Henry. Robert Morris, the commission
e-s in France and q host Of other CORE
spondents His unshakable faith in the
ultimate triumph % the cause is the key
note Of all these letters which are, how
ever. no less remarkable for their
authors piercing insight into the mill
tary, naval and political situation al
home and abroad and the energy Of his
suggestions Lee is constantly preoccu-
pied with the development Of affairs In
France and Spain. In Prussia, even. his
descriptions Of affairs IN the field are
clear and vivid. while. on the other hand.
he does not neglect such matters s the
difficulties of short term enistments
and Of equipment for the troops. or the
contraband trade In supplies carried on,
In Maryland. for instance. with the coun-
try's enemy And there is eloquence in
his deuunciations Of the knavish tricks
Of tyranny Writing 70 Gouverneur
Morris on MAY %, 1776. Lee SAYS.
The friends OF virtuous liberty in New
York have certainly effected a most i'm
portsnt change IN the political systems or
that hOurishng City. 1 congratulate you.
Sir and your worthy Associates IA this
happy revolution. II is most certain that
p profiigate Ministry nave greatly relied
ON the assistance Of your me fertile prov
. ince for O. IRVING into execution their cruel
/ system. system by which existing mill
ions and Millions Vet unborn, are 20 be
II plunged into the abyss of slavery, and OF
! Consequence deprived OF every glorious dis
tinCti0n that marks the Man from tho
Brute But. happily for the cause Of hu-
manity, tie colonies are now united and
may bid defiance 10 tyranny and IS in
famous Abettors
The ardent patriot behind the states
, man and leader gives a living human
touch 10 history in these letters and
makes them vivid. fascins ting reading
They are generally too long for quota
, extracts from their context. with the
unavoidable loss Of the impression they
create Professor Ballagh has earned
the thanks Of all students OF American
history with this able performance Of
task all too long neglected.