Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02
Capital Sidelights


England, by Joseph Ball, uncle OF
George washington-one dated MAY 10
1747, when Washington was Is years
old, with reference to the boys suR-
gestion of enlisting in the British Navy:
the other dated September 5, 175s. re-
ferring to the participation of Wash
ington, who was then % years old, in
the Braddock campaign - have been
brought to our attention by Representa-
tive r. Walton Moore of Virginia, in
whose district Washington lived and is
buried, and who Is q member of the
Bicentennial Commission arranging for
the big celebration in 1882.
The f1rst letter Is written to Wash
ington's mother as follows Il under
stand you are advised and have some
thought OF putting your son George to
sea. think he had better be put APP
prentice to tinker-for common
sailor before the mast has by no means
the common liberty of the subject. fol
they will press him from ship where
ne has so shillings month and make
him take IS, and cut and slash and use
him like dog.
las to my considerable preferment
in the Navy it Is not to be expected, %
there are always so many Rrasping for
1t here who have interests and he has
none. And If he should get to be
master of ship, which Is very difncult
to do; o planter who has 500 or 400
acres and three or four slaves IL he
Is industrious lives more comfortably
and leaves his family In better bread
than such master of q ship can.
He must not be too hasty to be rich,
but go on gently and with patience as
things will naturally 60. This method
without aiming to be q fine gentleman
before his time, will carry man more
surely and comfortably through the
world than going to sea, unless it Is q
great chance indeed. I pray God keep
you and yours"
The other letter is addressed to
George himself and reads as follows
Good Cousin: 1t is q sensible pleasure
to me to hear that you behaved your
self with such martial spirit, with
all your engagements with the French
nigh Ohio. Go on as you have begun
and God prosper you. We have heard
Of Gen. Braddocks defeat. Everyone
blames his rash conduct and everyone
commends the courage Of the Virginia
and Carolina men; which Is very agree
able to me. desire you, as you have
1PkfAA tbAAAAHJp HANE AAlU - 0AAOAb dCS0AAAt
how you proceed. I heartily wish you
good success. Your loving uncle"
y y
"There cannot be found in America
another building which has been the
men who have written their names In
q luminous light on the pages of their
country's history" said Representative
Otis Bland of Virginia in speaking OF
Stratford, Westmoreland County, Va.
only short automobile ride from the
National Capital, which has just been
acquired by the Robert e. Lee Memo
rial Foundation.
1t is the birthplace of Gen Robert E
Lee, one of the foremost military lead
ers of the world; of Richard Henry Lee
member of the Continental Congress
from Virginia, who on June Z, 1776
moved in Congress that these colonies
were and Of right ought to be free and
independent States; of two of the sign
ers of the Declaration Of independence
namely. Richard Henry Lee and hii
brother, Francis Lightfoot Lee, who wa
also a member Of the Continental Con.
gress; of Arthur Lee, who helped Il
negotiate the treaty Of alliance witt
France, and who also served ct o Later
time in the Continental Congress; o!
William Lee, who during the Revolution
represented the Continental Congress q,
fiscal agent abroad; of other patriotic
sons of Thomas Lee, who rendered sig.
nal service In the Legislature and on
the bench of their native State.
1t was the home of Thomas Lee. frs
native-born Governor Of Virginia, and Of
Lighthouse Harry Lee, and the scene o.
culture, refinement and patriotism
throughout the long period of its exist
ence.
1t was built by Thomas Lee, who wa
born at Mount Pleasant and who dice
at Stratford. He was of distinguished
lineage, the fifth son of Richard Lee
who was educated ut oxford and con
tinued his studies through life, usual!
writing his notes in Greek, Latin O
Hebrew, who served as member of thu
council in Virginia as burgess, as colone
of the House of Westmoreland, North
cumberland and Stratford Counties ant
as naval offlcer and receiver Of Virgins
duties for the Potomac River district
He was large landowner, holding q
his death about 10000 acres. Thomas
Lee, the builder, served as burgess TO
Westmoreland, member of the council
president Of the council, and at the tim
Of his death was acting governor Of thu
colonies, whose commission as governor
was on the way over the ocean.
Thomas Lee was one of the commits
sioners who in 1744 treated with tn,
Iroquois Indians for settlement Of lanC
west Of the Allegheny Mountains, which
resulted In q treaty whereby the In
dams granted the Virginians the righ
to settle land west of the mountains II
the Ohio River, and he was the frs
president of the company which under
took to settle this territory.
In the patriotic service Of his illus
triouS sons Is found his greatest dis
tinction. President John Adams in I
letter written August IL, 1919, affec
tiOnately described the sons of Thomai
Lee as that band of brothers, intrepis
and Interchangeable, who. like the Creek
at Thermopylae, stood In the sap II
the defense of their country from thu
first glimmering of the revolution on tn,
horizon through all its rising light to IL
perfect day"