New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
ACQUIRES RELICS
OF WASHINGTON
National Museum Receives
Objects Used at Mount
Vernon.

Washington, Oct. 2s.-The National
Museum has lately received very re-
markable loan collection of objects OF
artistic and domestic Interest once
owned By General and Mrs. Washing
ton at Mount Vernon, Va.
The new accession comprises 1916 Cd
iects, and includes china and glassware,
furniture, pictures, kitchen utensils,
manuscripts and letters and a number
of miscellaneous articles Of historical
interest, all of which have come TO
the museum as loan from Walter q;
Peter, of this city. Mr.. Peter inherited
these priceless relics from his grand
mother, Mrs. Britannia W. kennon, OF
Tudor Place, Georgetown, daughter OF
Martha Custis, who was the grand
daughter of Mrs. Washington and her
first husband, Daniel Parke Custis.
OF especial Importance are three
letters written TO Mrs. Washington upon
the death of General Washington. They
are from George Washington Lafayette,
son of the Marquis; Alexander Hamil-
ton and Henry Knox. Mr.. Peter has
lately added four more letters to the
ollection-three written by General
Washington TO Thomas Peter, the hus-
band of Martha Custs, and one letter
written by Thomas Peter to General
Washington. A set of red and white
ivory chess men used by the general
at Mount Vernon forms another inter-
esting feature Of the exhibit.
Several pictures are included in this
collection, two of them depicting Wash
ington-one water color by William
Thornton and the other an engraved
portrait-but by far the most interest
ing object in this connection is the
Washington relief plaque by Cham
pion done in white porcelain.
The jewelry includes a very hand
some gold watch, with an extra case,
face and crystal, owned b. Mrs. Wash
ington piece Of pearl cuff button,
and two gold lockets containing locks
of General Washington's hair, one of
which is woven into design forming
his coat-of-arms, and was worn by Mrs.
Washington on a watch chain.
Considerable chinaware used at
Mount Vernon is exhibited in this col
lection. OF special interest is a bowl
decorated with the insignia of the So
ciety of the Cincinnati. Seventeen
pieces of glassware are also to be seen
among these new museum exhibits,
some of which are cut glass, but others
are of the old style thin pressed glass,
now uncommon.
Among the interesting pieces Of fur
niture is child's French dressing
table presented to Martha Gusts by the
Marquis de Lafayette. Other pieces
came from the drawing, bed and music
rooms at Mount Vernon and the kitch
en-. Conspicuous in the latter group
are pewter, copper and iron cooking
utensils.
A number of articles are from Mrs.
Washington's sewing room, and con-
sist of embroidery from her own hand;
chair cushion done on coarse canvas
shows a design of shells in brown and
yellow woods, the high lights being Sc
cured by gold colored silk. This cush-
ion is said to be one Of twelve made
by Mrs. Washington. four of which she
gave TO each of her three granddaugh-
ters, Mrs. Law, Mrs. Lewis and Mrs.
Peter. Pieces Of Mrs. Washington's
wedding dress worn upon the occasion
Of her marriage 10 General Washington
are also TO be seen.