The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-01

best meet the approval and crafty the
sentiment Of Governor Stuart and the
people of Virginia.
II might be allowed to offer a sug.
gestion. II would be that. because Of
my fathers well-known interest In
Mount Vernon and of my own connec-
ton with 1t as a member of tho ad-
visory board Of the Mount Vernon As
ISOLATION. it. seems to me peculiarly
appropriate that a relic SO closely as
ISOLATED with Washington should be
preserved and available to the public
at the place especially consecrated to
his personal memory. should be
much gratifled II you could in con-
suitation with Governor Stuart. and
a way by which this will shall eventu-
ally ~ placed at Mount Vernon and
conided to Tie keeping of the Mount
Vernon Association. This suggestion
Is in accordance with the suggestion
In my letter to Governor Stuart Of
March IL, 1914, end is what had
hoped to do when the Supreme Court
had upheld my title to the document
Should il become possible to carry
out this idea It would give me sa tis-
faction to provide at Mount Vernon
an appropriate and fireproof re-
ceptacle for the safe kecping and
preservation Of this and other precious
relics of the place.
have intrusted this letter. together
with the original will OF Martha,
Washington, to our mutual friend. Mr.
Fairfax Harrison. who has kindly un-
dertaken to deliver them to you.
With great respect, ! am
Sincerely yours.
(Signed) J. p. MORGAN.
Judge keith's RerIy.
To this graceful letter Judge Keith
made the following appreciatory PC
ply:
September 80, 1915.
Mr.. J. =. Morgan. New York City.
Dear Sir.--I have received the origi-
nal will of Martha Washington and
the letter which you entrusted to our
friend Ar-Fairfax- Harrison. and |
shall endeavor to dispose of II in such
a way "as will best meet the approval
and crafty the sentiment of Governor
Stuart and the people OF Virginia" I
am in full sympathy with your sug-
gestion that Mt. Vernon should be the
final repository OF the will of Martha
Washington. As you wen say. ut is
peculiarly appropriate that relic 30
closely associated with washington
should be preserved and available to
the public at the place specially con-
seerated to his personal memory. and
L small CHserIuliy eEAeHscf III 'bnsuita-
ton with Governor Stuart and others
to bring about this result. There are,
however, difficulties In the way which
you will at once recognize. The peo-
pie of Fairfax County have a just
pride in being the custodinns of the
wills of Washington and his wife, but
trust that this sentiment will yield
to the advantages presented by Mt.
Vernon. which must for all time be
haEowed az the home and final rest
ingplace 70 Washington. where 1t will
be available to the public and safely
preserved for all coming time in the
freproof receptacle which you Eener-
ously offer TO provide. The people of
Fairfax will, ! trust. remember that
this relic IL placed al Mt. Vernon, will
still be within the limits of the county
Of Fairfax.
Permit me, sir, to express my ap-
probation OF your position In this mat
ter. Much doubtless has been said
and wlitten which must have distressed
you and might well have excited a
spirit of resentment but you have
risen to higher plane and viewed
the subject in a spirit of generosity
and magnanimity which / am sure
will be recognized and appreciated by
the Governor and good people of this
Commonwealth.
l do not understand your letter as
imposing any condition with respect to
my disposition of the will. The only
trust imposed Is that il shall be dts
posed OF In such way las will best meet
the approval and crafty the sentiment
of Governor Stuart and the people of
Virginia" You then proceed to offer
as a suggestion, but not by way of
imposing condition. that Mt, Vernon
shall be the final repository of this
interesting relic. shall endeavor to
discharge the trust reposed In me to
the best of my ability. and shall ear
neNly endeavor to have your sugges-
tion adopted.
I thank you for the kindly terms In
which you refer to me personally. and
beg to remain, with great respect
Very sincerely yours,
JAMES KEITH