The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-04-24 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

LORD FAIRFAX.  Charles Snowden F3irfax, & deacendant of Lord Fairfax, died in Baltimore on the sth inst. He was tormetly Speaker of the California House of Representatives. Referring to the deceased, the editor of " Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage," dating from 65, Ludgate-hill, London, has sent the Following interesting letter to The 7 low for pubhcation :  --- Tile death of Charles Snowden Fairfax, recently announced as ha' lug occurred at Btltimore on the sth of this month, deserves more than a paasinr notice. Ile was tenth Lord Fairies in the Peerage of Scotland, and was a lineal descendant of the celebrated Parliamentarian Generals Ferdinand,' alld Thomas Fairfax. The latter it may be remembered, r.durtied to Royalism and helped to establish Charles 11. on the throne. The Mil Lord Fairfax married Catherine Coldpepper, who brought him as a dowry immense estates it. gmland and America, the latter situated between the Potomac and the Rappahannock. Their son Thomas the sixth lord) having visited his American property, was so enchanted with it that he resolved to live and die there, and having transferred his English property to his brother, afterwards the seventh lord, built himself two residences, which he entitled respectively Greenway Court and Beivotr, resided principally at the former, where he kept open house with true baronial hovitality, and died a bachelor at a green old age. His brother, who succeeded him. died without issue. In 1500 the House of Lords deeided that the Rev. Bryan Fairfax, a kinsman of the late lord's, was entitled to the barony, and the late Lord Fairfax was his great grandson. An anecdote of the late lord, which I can vouch as being authentic, is so pleasing to our common humanity, and shows so prominently Phe innate goodness of the late lord, who, deeming himself wounded unto the death by an assassin, yet for the sake of his wife and child spared him, that I trust you will allow me to extract it from iny "Peerage" . .  "Is the Spring of 1859 Lord Fairfax was walking home, accompanied by the Chief Justice .f California and two other friends, when he was met by a reporter of the Court named Henry Lee. Lee, having thought Led Fairfax had in some way tried to injure him, accused him of so doing, a charge which his lordship denied. Tothis denial Lee rejoined in an insolent and offensive manner, substantially giving the lie, evidently desiring that Lord Fail fax should strike him; he effected his object, Ms lordship striking him on the face. Lee, in return, struck at him with a light cane, within which was concealed a long dagger. Lord Fairfax caught the cane in his left hand; Lee sprang back, drew the dagger quickly from the cane, and inflicted two terrible wounds, one through the left breast, awl the other lir the side Lord Fairfax had drawn a Derringer' pistol, sod presented it, cocked, in time to prevent Lee making a third thrust. In a moment Lee threw up his arms and cried out 'Don't kill me, lam unarmed I' All this occurred in an incredibly short space of time, before any one had time to interfere, or even realise that a deadly assault had been made). Standing perfec•ly still, Lord Fairfax (a splendid ,thot:, who had him covered at not more than six feet distant, and could have killed him beyond any possible doubt, thus replied, 'You miserable coward, you have murdered me—you have assassinated me—and I have your worthless life in my hands; but for the sake of t'our wife and child I shall spare you.' Cries, at this, were raised from the crowd of Shoot him, Fairfax!' Kill him !' Don't spate him !' and the like. Standing erect, looking Lee full in the face, and holding the pistol as before, Lord Fairfax answered, 'No, I won't Mil him!' and then, addressing Lee, said, 'Recollect, I have your life in my hands, and I spare it; not on your worthless account, for yrcti are an assassin and a coward, but because of your wife and child."