Evening star., 1935-02-10

discussed questions of military hy-
giene with special illustrations drawn
from the American war.
Valuable manuscripts, valuable not
only as curioS, but as assisting pre-
else writing of history, come to light
IN curious ways. One might find
plausible excuse for ascribing this
tale to some spiritualistic or super
natural agency. In 1888 the lock
OF an old and seldom used cupboard
In an Irish country house became
broken and some curious person be-
, gan to rummage through what was
inside. p voluminous batch OF manu-
script was turned up and found to
contain notes written by Sir Augustus
John Foster, who was British Min
lister at Washington in the period Just
prior TO the outbreak of the war Of
| 1912.
It will be recalled that these we're
especially vexed times in American
history, British warships impressing
| American sailors and interference
with American shipping constantly
taking place, together with many
other matters of international import.
Here was the man who represented
the British Crown in the negotiations
leading up to the war.
Now here is where the seemingly
supernatural part of the story comes
in. At his death, which did not occur
until 1843, Sir Augustus had stipu-
lated that these notes must not be
| published until 80 years after his
death. They miraculously and acci-
dentally came to light, after having
been lost for many years, just 80
years after his demise. There are
/ five manuscript volumes and the
manuscript division hopes that Con-
gress will authorize their publication
as a contribution to a remarkable
period Of American history.
Acquisition of Lee Letters.
Southerners, especially, will find in
terest in what the Manuscript Di-
vision regards as among the particu-
larly valuable acquisitions of the last
year. Nearly 500 letters written by
Gen. Robert E. Lee to members Of
his family, chiefly to his wife, and 200
letters written by Mrs. Lee have been
deposited in the Library by Mrs. w.
H. DeButts and Mrs. H. E. Ely OF
Upperville, Va. who we're in posses
sion Of them through descent from the
great Confederate commander. Be-
cause Of the personal character Of
this correspondence ii will not be
published and there are restrictions
to access on the part of the public.
The Lee letters cover long period
and therefore possess a special his
torical value They run from 1882
until 1870. There are letters from
Mrs. Lees mother, Mrs. George
Washington Parke Gusts, which treat
Of early matters, and there are two
volumes Of Gen. Lees postwar letter
books.
There have been other acquisitions
during the last year Of Civil War
manuscripts. The Princess Roncom-
pagni, who was the granddaughter Of
Gen. William F. Draper of MaSsa-
chusetts, has presented the Library
with a collection of the generals let
ters relating to the Civil War. She
also has presented a journal kept by
Lieut.. Col. William Preston of the
ALL hSI4luChy 1NSSA44LcLAL VI NO4ulIce4S
concerning his experiences in the War
with Mexico and an original diary
kept by DR.. Isaac Draper. jr., which
relates to his service in the Crimean
War, notably at the siege Of Sebasto-
pol.
All such matters have a profound
value to students and writers of his
tory. With the passage of the years
these old manuscripts turn up and
clarity many obscure matters. In the
Library they are preserved for all
time.