ORIGINAL LETTERS.

We submit here the following copies of the remaining Original Letters to Patrick Henry, &c., obligingly communicated to us by N. F. Cabell, Esq., of Nelson, as stated in our last number; to be read after those which are there given.

FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO PATRICK HENRY.

MOUNT VERNON, JUNE 24TH, 1785.

Dear Sir,-The letter which your Excell'y did me the honor to write to me on the 10th inst., came duly to hand; and calls for my particular acknowledgements; and thanks for your obliging offers.

Although I am strongly impressed with the opinion, that the sunken lands lying on Albemarle Sound, and the waters emptying therein, will, in time, become the most valuable property in this country; yet, reflecting further, that it will require a considerable advance to reclaim, and render them fit for cultivation; and in the mean while, that they may be subjected to expence, I believe it will be most advisable for me (in my situation) not to add to my present expenditures; I am not less obliged to you, however, for your friendly offer of services, in this case.

If your Excellency could make it convenient to give me the substance of the Commissioners report respecting the place and the manner, which are deemed best, for a cut between the waters of Elizabeth River and those of No. Carolina, I shall think myself obliged. The improving, and extending the inland navigations of the waters of this Commonwealth are, in my judgment, very interesting to the well being and glory of it; and I am always pleased with every acc't of the advancement of them. With great esteem, regard, and respect,

I am Dear sir,

Y'r most obed.

Affect. H'ble Serv.

G. WASHINGTON.

FROM TIMOTHY PICKERING TO PATRICK HENRY.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 25, 1799. Sir,—I have the honor to inclose a commission from the President of the United States, by which you will see that Oliver Ellsworth, Chief Justice of the U. States, yourself, and William Vans Murray, our minister resident at the Hague, have been appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic; for the purpose of discussing and settling all controversies between the two countries.

With the commission I have thought it proper to inclose copies of the President's messages to the Senate, of the 18th and 25th of February, on the subject of a new negociation with France, that you may know the condition on which alone it can take place. Of this condition, with the appointments of the Envoys, Mr. Murray has been instructed to give information to the French minister of foreign affairs.

I am, with great respect,

Sir, your most ob't servant,

TIMOTHY PICKERING.

FROM RICHARD HENRY LEE TO WM. CABELL, ESQ.

CHANTILLY, OCTOBER THE 15TH, 1788.

Sir.-A gentleman with whom I have had the honor to serve so long in the Councils of my Country, will I am sure pardon me for informing him of my willingness to continue my public services in the Senate of the new Congress, if it shall please the Legislature to elect me to that office. It is, sir, a conviction of mind, resulting from the most mature reflection, that the civil Liberty of our Country will be endangered if amendments cannot be procured to the lately received Constitution, that has prevailed with me again to become a public man. When so many respectable States, and such numbers of respectable citizens in all the States, are anxious for amendments; they will surely take

place if such men are appointed to the new Congress as are known friends to Civil Liberty and to the amendments required. And I think that the choice of men of a contrary description will as assuredly defeat the wishes of those who desire to secure the public liberty by shutting the door against the numerous abuses, that in its present form, the new Government admits of. It seems to me that if all the friends of the new system were friends to their Country, they could none of them oppose amendments, that in their nature are calculated only to controul bad, but aim not at the restraint of good Government. Yet I have

heard some of these friends, now that their plan is adopted, begin to argue against amendments until, as they say, experience shall have shewn their propriety. I take the meaning of such men to be, that abuse under the name of use shall be rivetted upon mankind. For the reverence paid to established forms when supported by power has generally proved too strong for correction however necessary it might be. I beg to be remembered to those of your family to whom I am known by having had the honor to serve with them in the General Assembly. I am sir, with much esteem and regard,

Your most obedient and very humble serv't,

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

P. S.-A present indisposition prevents this letter from being all written with my own hand which I hope your goodness will R. H. LEE.

excuse.

LETTERS OF GEORGE MASON.

The following are copies of some Letters of the justly celebrated Col. George Mason, of Gunston Hall, the father of the first constitution of our State; written at different times, during our revolutionary and relating to our public affairs during that period; which have been, very obligingly, transmitted to us by his grandson, the Hon. James M. Mason, now a member of the Senate of the United States from Virginia, to be lodged in the archives of our Virginia Historical

war,

Society. We submit an extract from Mr. M.'s letter accompanyin g them, which may serve to introduce them more particularly to our readers; but they will speak for themselves; and must be read with great interest.

WASHINGTON, JANUARY 1ST, 1848.

Dear Sir,-Mindful of my promise when I had the pleasure to see you in Richmond, I send inclosed copies of some letters of my grandfather, George Mason of Gunston Hall, which were written during the revolution-and which contain matter that may be interesting to the collections of the Historical Society.

Nos. 1, 2, and 3, are copies of letters written to his friend and nearest neighbor, Col. Martin Cockburn, before the declaration of Independence and before a government had been formally established in Virginia, in lieu of that then recently repudiated.

No. 4. I think you will find of peculiar interest, as giving a true and faithful account of the causes and origin of the revolt from the Parent Country-and as going far to settle a much disputed point of history-whether independence was originally designed by the leaders in the revolution-or whether it resulted as a consequence only, not foreseen but made inevitable by

events.

No. 5. Is a copy of a letter to his eldest son, George Mason, now dec'd-who was in France when it was written. The indorsement on it, in the hand writing of that gentleman shows, that the original had been by Dr. Franklin put into the hands of the Count de Vergennes-doubtless from the tenor of the letter, intended by Dr. F. to stimulate the government of France to send to the revolted colonies, the promised succor. The concluding paragraph, you will agree with me I think, would have adorned the ages of Brutus and Manlius.

These copies I had made for my own use some years sincethe originals are in possession of my father, at his seat in the County of Fairfax. &c.

With great respect, &c.

WM. MAXWELL, ESQ.

J. M. MASON.

RICHMOND, JULY 24TH, 1775.

Dear Sir,-Having an opportunity pr. Mr. Edw'd Blackburn (who promises to drop this at Colchester) I snatch a moment to

let you know that I am well, and to desire to be kindly remember'd to my dear children, and the Family at Spring-field. I have not since I came to this place, except the fast-day and Sunday, had an Hour which I cou'd call my own. The Committee (of which I am a member) appointed to prepare an ordinance for raising an arm'd Force for the Defence and Protection of this Colony, meet every morning at seven o'clock, sit 'til the Convention meets, which seldom rises before five in the afternoon, and immediately after Dinner and a little Refreshment, the Com. mittee sits again 'til nine or ten at night: this is hard Duty; and yet we have hitherto made but little progress, and I think shall not be able to bring in the Ordinance 'til late next week, if then: this will not be wondered at, when the Extent and Importance of the business before us is reflected on-to raise forces for immediate service-to new-model the whole militia—to render about one fifth of it fit for the Field at the shortest warning-to melt down all the voluntier and independant Companys into this great establishment-to provide arms, ammunition, &c.—and to point out ways and means of raising money. These are Difficultys indeed! Besides tempering the powers of a Committee of safety to superintend the execution. Such are the great outlines of the plans in contemplation-I think I may venture to assent (tho' nothing is yet fixed on) that in whatever way the troops are raised, or the militia regulated, the staff officers only will be appointed by Convention, and the appointment of all the others devolve upon the County Committees :-If the Colony is parcel'd into different Districts for raising a Battalion in each, I have proposed that the Committees of each County in the District appoint Deputies, of their own members, for the purpose; so that every County may have an equal share in the choice of Officers for the Battalion; which seems to be generally approved.

On Wednesday last I gave notice in Convention, that on Monday I shou'd move for the inclosed Resolve; which was accordingly done this day, and after a long Debate, carried by a great majority. The convention will to-morrow appoint a Delegate to the Congress in the room of General Washington; when I be