University of Virginia Library

The earliest authentic information we have of that portion of our state now called
Spottsylvania, is found in an act passed "at a grand assemblie held at James cittie," between
the 20th September, 1674, and the 17th March, 1675, in which war is declared
against the Indians; and among other provisions for carrying it on, it is ordered that
"one hundred and eleven men out of Gloucester county be garrisoned at one `ffort,' or
place of defence, at or neare the ffalls of Rapahanack River, of which ffort Major Lawrence
Smith to be captain or chiefe commander;" and that this "ffort" be furnished
with "ffour hundred and eighty pounds of powder, ffourteen hundred and fforty-three
pounds of shott." This "ffort" was built in 1676, as appears by the preamble of a subsequent
act.

In the year 1679, Major Lawrence Smith, upon his own suggestion, was empowered,
provided he would settle or seate downe at or neare said fort, by the last day of March,
1681, and have in readiness upon all occasions on beat of drum, fifty able men, well
armed, with sufficient ammunitions, &c., and two hundred men more within the space
of a mile along the river, and a quarter of a mile back from the river, prepared always
to march twenty miles in any direction from the fort; or should they be obliged to go
more than such distance, to be paid for their time thus employed at the rate of other
"souldiers;" "to execute martiall discipline" among the said fifty "souldiers and others
so put in arms," both in times of war and peace; and said Smith, with two others of
said privileged place, to hear and determine all causes, civil and criminal, that may arise
within said limits, as a county court might do, and to make by-laws for the same.
These military settlers were privileged from arrest for any debts save those due to the
king, and those contracted among themselves—and were free from taxes and levies save
those laid within their own limits.

The exact situation of this fort cannot now be determined with absolute certainty;
but as it is known that there was once a military post at Germanna, some ruins of which
are still occasionally turned up by the plough, it is probable that this is the spot selected
by Col. Smith for his colony.

The earliest notice we have of Spottsylvania county, as such, is found in 7th Geo. I.
1720, passed at Williamsburg, of which the preamble declares, by way of inducement,
"that the frontiers towards the high mountains are exposed to danger from the Indians,
and the late settlements of the French to the westward of the said mountains. Therefore
it is enacted, that Spottsylvania county bounds upon Snow creek up to the mill,
thence by a SW. line to the North Anna, thence up the said river as far as convenient, and
thence by a line to be run over the high mountains to the river on the NW. side thereof,
so as to include the northern passage through the said mountains, thence down the said
river until it comes against the head of Rappahannock, thence by a line to the head of
Rappahannock River and down that river to the mouth of Snow creek, which tract of

lands from the 1st of May, 1721, shall become a county by the name of Spottsylvania
county."

The act goes on to direct that "fifteen hundred pounds, current money of Virginia,
shall be paid by the treasurer to the governor, for these uses, to wit: £500 to be expended
in a church, court-house, prison, pillory, and stocks, in said county; £1,000 to
be laid out in arms, ammunition, &c., of which each `Christian tytheable' is to have
`one firelock, musket, one socket, bayonet fixed thereto, one cartouch-box, eight pounds
bullet, and two pounds powder.' " The inhabitants were made free of public levies for
ten years, and the whole county made one parish, by the name of St. George.

From the following clause of the same act, it is presumed that this new county had
been cut off from Essex, King and Queen, and King William; for the act declares that
"until the governor shall settle a court in Spottsylvania," the justices of these counties
"shall take power over them by their warrants, and the clerks of said courts by their
process returnable to their said courts, in the same manner as before the said county was
constituted," &c.

In the year 1730 an act was passed directing that the Burgesses for this county should
be allowed for four days journey in passing to Williamsburg, and the same returning.
In the same year, St. George's parish was divided by a line running from the mouth of
Rappahannock to the Pamunkey; the upper portion to be called St. Mark's parish; the
lower part to retain the name of St. George's parish. Four years after this the county
was thus divided: St. George's parish to be still called Spottsylvania; and St. Mark's
parish to be called Orange, and all settlers beyond the "Sherrando" river to be exempt
for three years from the "paiment" of public and parish dues.

The governor fixed the seat of justice at Germanna, where the first court sat on the
1st day of August, 1722, when Augustine Smith, Richard Booker, John Taliaferro, Wm.
Hunsford, Richard Johnson, and Wm. Bledsoe, were sworn as justices, John Waller as
clerk, and Wm. Bledsoe as sheriff; this place being found "inconvenient to the people,"
it was directed by law that from and after the 1st of August, 1732, the court should be
held at Fredericksburg, which law was repealed seventeen years afterwards, because it
was "derogatory to his majesty's prerogative to take from the governor or commander-in-chief
of this colony his power and authority of removing or adjourning the courts;"
and because "it might be inconvenient in a case of smallpox or other contagious distemper."

In 1769 the county, which had theretofore been one parish, was thus divided: all that
part lying between the rivers Rappahannock and Po retained the name of St. George's
parish—the rest of the county was erected into a new parish called Berkeley. In 1778 an
act was passed authorizing the justices to build a court-house at some point near the
centre of the county, to which the court should be removed, provided a majority of the
justices should concur in deeming it advisable. It appears that the justices determined
to avail themselves of this privilege, for an act of 1780, passed, as is therein stated, in
consequence of a representation that the court-house in Fredericksburg was "unfit to
hold courts in," authorizes the county court to be held at the house of John Hollday,
"until the new court-house now building in the said county shall be completed."

The first regular stage coaches that passed through this county were established by
Nathaniel Twining, by virtue of an exclusive privilege granted him in 1784, for the term
of three years, to be paid at the rate of five pence per mile by each passenger.

Beyond Col. Spotswood's furnace, above the Falls of Rappahannock River, within view

of the vast mountains, he has founded a town called Germanna, from some Germans
sent over by Queen Anne, who are now removed up further. Here he has servants, and
workmen of most handicraft trades; and he is building a church, court-house, and
dwelling-house for himself; and with his servants and negroes, he has cleared plantations
about it, proposing great encouragement for people to come and settle in that uninhabited
part of the world, lately divided into a county.

Beyond this is seated the colony of Germans of Palatines, with allowance of good
quantity of rich land, who thrive very well and live happily, and entertain generously.
These are encouraged to make wines; which by the experience (particularly) of the
late Robert Beverly, who wrote the History of Virginia, was done easily, and in large
quantities in those parts; not only from the cultivation of the wild grapes, which grow
plentifully and naturally in all the lands thereabouts, and in the other parts of the country;
but also from the Spanish, French, Italian, and German wines.

This famous town [Germanna] consists of Col. Spotswood's enchanted castle on one
side of the street, and a baker's dozen of ruinous tenements on the other, where so many
German families had dwelt some years ago; but are now removed ten miles higher, in
the fork of Rappahannock, to land of their own. There had also been a chapel about a
bowshot from the colonel's house, at the end of an avenue of cherry-trees, but some
pious people had lately burnt it down, with intent to get another built nearer to their
own homes. Here I arrived about three o'clock, and found only Mrs. Spotswood at
home, who received her old acquaintance with many a gracious smile. I was carried
into a room elegantly set off with pier-glasses, the largest of which came soon after to
an odd misfortune. Among other favorite animals that cheered this lady's solitude, a
brace of tame deer ran familiarly about the house, and one of them came to stare at me
as a stranger. But unluckily spying his own figure in the glass, he made a spring over
the tea-table that stood under it, and shattered the glass to pieces, and falling back upon
the tea-table, made a terrible fracas among the china. This exploit was so sudden, and
accompanied with such a noise, that it surprised me, and perfectly frightened Mrs.
Spotswood. But it was worth all the damage, to show the moderation and good humor
with which she bore this disaster. In the evening, the noble colonel came home from
his mines, who saluted me very civilly, and Mrs. Spotswood's sister, Miss Theky, who
had been to meet him en cavalier, was so kind too as to bid me welcome. We talked
over a legend of old stories, supped about nine, and then prattled with the ladies, till it
was time for a traveller to retire. In the mean time I observed my old friend to be
very uxorious, and exceedingly fond of his children. This was so opposite to the maxims
he used to preach up before he was married, that I could not forbear rubbing up the
memory of them. But he gave a very good-natured turn to his change of sentiments,
by alleging that whoever brings a poor gentlewoman into so solitary a place, from all
her friends and acquaintance, would be ungrateful not to use her and all that belongs to
her with all possible tenderness.

We all kept snug in our several apartments till nine, except Miss Theky, who was
the housewife of the family. At that hour we met over a pot of coffee, which was not
quite strong enough to give us the palsy. After breakfast, the colonel and I left the
ladies to their domestic affairs, and took a turn in the garden, which has nothing beautiful
but three terrace-walks that fall in slopes one below another. I let him understand,
that besides the pleasure of paying him a visit, I came to be instructed by so great a
master in the mystery of making iron, wherein he had led the way, and was the Tubal
Cain of Virginia. He corrected me a little there, by assuring me he was not only the
first in this country, but the first in North America, who had erected a regular furnace.

Fredericksburg was founded by law in 1727, and named from Prince Frederick,
father of George II. The neighboring village of Falmouth was founded at the same
time. The preamble of the act establishing Fredericksburg says:

The town originally comprehended fifty acres, and was laid out on what was then
called "the lease land." In 1742 and in 1759, its boundaries were enlarged. In 1738,
a law was passed directing that "fairs should be held in Fredericksburg twice a year,
for the sale of cattle, provisions, goods, wares, and all kinds of merchandise whatsoever."
All persons at such fairs, going to or from them, were privileged from arrest and execution
during the fairs, and for two days before and two days after them, except for
capital offences, breaches of the peace, or for any controversies, suits, and quarrels, that
might arise during the time. The fairs were continued, from time to time, by various
acts, until 1769, when the right of holding them was made perpetual.

I was obliged to rise early here, that I might not starve my landlord, whose constitution
requires him to swallow a beefsteak before the sun blesses the world with
its genial rays. However, he was so complaisant as to bear the gnawing of his stomach
till eight o'clock, for my sake. Col. Waller, after a score of loud hems to clear
his throat, broke his fast along with us. When this necessary affair was dispatched,
Col. Willis walked me about his town of Fredericksburg. It is pleasantly situated
on the south shore of Rappahannock River, about a mile below the falls. Sloops
may come up and he close to the wharf, within thirty yards of the public warehouses,
which are built in the figure of a cross. Just by the wharf is a quarry of white
stone that is very soft in the ground, and hardens in the air, appearing to be as fair
and fine-grained as that of Portland. Besides that, there are several other quarries
in the river bank, within the limits of the town, sufficient to build a large city. The
only edifice of stone yet built, is the prison; the walls of which are strong enough
to hold Jack Sheppard, if he had been transported thither. Though this be a commodious
and beautiful situation for a town, with the advantages of a navigable river,
and wholesome air, yet the inhabitants are very few. Besides Col. Willis, who is the
top man of the place, there are only one merchant, a tailor, a smith, and an ordinary
keeper; though I must not forget Mrs. Levistone, who acts here in the double capacity
of a doctress and coffee woman. And were this a populous city, she is qualified
to exercise two other callings. It is said the court-house and the church are
going to be built here, and then both religion and justice will help to enlarge the place.

I arrived at Fredericksburg, and put up at the inn kept by one Weedon, who is now a
general officer in the American army, and was then very active and zealous in blowing
the flames of sedition. . . . In Fredericksburg I called upon a worthy and intimate
friend, Dr. Hugh Mercer, a physician of great merit and eminence, and, as a man, possessed
of almost every virtue and accomplishment. . . . Dr. Mercer was afterwards
a brigadier-general in the American army, to accept of which appointment I have reason
to believe he was greatly influenced by Gen. Washington, with whom he had been long
in intimacy and bonds of friendship. For Dr. Mercer was generally of a just and a
moderate way of thinking, and possessed liberal sentiments, and a generosity of principle
very uncommon among those with whom he embarked.

Gen. Hugh Mercer was a native of Scotland, and graduated at an early age in the
science of medicine. At the memorable battle of Culloden, he acted as an assistant surgeon,
and, with a multitude of the vanquished, sought a home of freedom in the wilderness
of America. He landed in Pennsylvania, where he remained but a short time.
From thence he removed to Fredericksburg, where he married, and became distinguished
for his skill in medicine. In the Indian war of 1755, he served as a captain under
Washington. In one of the engagements with this wily foe, he was wounded in the
right wrist by a musket ball; and in the irregular warfare then practised, his company
scattered and became separated from him. Faint from loss of blood, and exhausted by
fatigue, he was closely pursued by the savage foe, their thrilling war-whoop ringing
through the forest, and stimulating to redoubled energy the footsteps of their devoted
victim. Fortunately the hollow trunk of a large tree presented itself. In a moment he
concealed himself in it, and though his pursuers reached the spot and seated themselves
around him, he yet miraculously escaped! Leaving his place of refuge, he sought the
abodes of civilization, through a trackless wild of more than one hundred miles in extent;
and after supporting life on roots and the body of a rattlesnake, which he encountered

and killed, he finally reached Fort Cumberland in safety. For his gallantry and military
skill in this war—proved, in a distinguished degree, by the destruction of the Indian
settlement at Kittaning, Pennsylvania—the corporation of Philadelphia presented to him
an honorable and appropriate medal.

The commencement of the American revolution found him in the midst of an extensive
medical practice, surrounded by affectionate friends, and enjoying in the bosom of
a happy family all the comforts of social life. Stimulated to action by a lofty spirit of
patriotism, he broke from the endearments of domestic life, and gave to his country, in
that trying hour, the energy and resources of a practised and accomplished soldier. In
1775, he was in command of three regiments of minute-men; and early in 1776 we
find him zealously engaged, as a colonel of the army of Virginia, in drilling and organizing
the raw and ill-formed masses of men who, under the varied names of sons of liberty,
minute-men, volunteers, and levies, presented the bulk without the order—the mob
without the discipline of an army. To produce obedience and subordination among
men who considered military discipline as a restraint on personal liberty, and who had
entered into the war unpaid and unrestricted by command, was a severe and invidious
task. The courage, the fortitude, the self-possession of Col. Mercer quailed not at these
adverse circumstances; and, by the judicious exercise of mingled severity and kindness,
he soon succeeded in reducing a mutinous soldiery to complete submission. Tradition
has preserved the following anecdote, illustrating, in a striking manner, his characteristic
promptitude and bravery:

Among the troops which arrived at Williamsburg, then the metropolis of Virginia,
was a company of riflemen from beyond the mountains, commanded by Capt. Gibson.
A reckless insubordination, and a violent opposition to military restraint, had gained for
this corps the sarcastic name of "Gibson's Lambs." They had not been long in camp
before a mutiny arose among them, producing much excitement in the army, and alarming
the inhabitants of the city. Freed from all command, they roamed through the
camp, threatening with instant death any officer who should presume to exercise authority
over them. In the height of the rebellion, an officer was dispatched with the
alarming tidings to the quarters of Col. Mercer. The citizens of the town vainly implored
him not to risk his life and person amid this infuriated mob. Reekless of personal
safety, he instantly repaired to the barracks of the mutinous band, and directing a general
parade of the troops, he ordered Gibson's company to be drawn up as offenders and
violators of law, and to be disarmed in his presence. The ringleaders were placed under
a strong guard, and, in the presence of the whole army he addressed the offenders in an
eloquent and feeling manner, impressing on them their duties as citizen-soldiers, and the
certainty of death if they continued to disobey their officers, and remained in that mutinous
spirit, equally disgraceful to them and hazardous to the sacred interests they had
marched to defend. Disorder was instantly checked, and, after a short confinement,
those under imprisonment were released; and the whole company were ever after as
exemplary in their deportment and conduct as any troops in the army.

Col. Mercer now joined the continental army, Congress having conferred upon him
the rank of brigadier-general; and throughout the whole of the stormy and disastrous
campaign of 1776, he was a bold, fearless, and efficient officer. At the battle of Princeton,
Gen. Mercer was mortally wounded. The circumstances were these:—In the
march from Trenton to Princeton, Gen. Mercer led the vanguard of Washington's army.
Reaching Princeton about sunrise, Gen. Mercer encountered three British regiments,
who had encamped there on the previous night, and who were leaving the town to join
the rear of their troops at Maidenhead. A fierce and desperate conflict immediately
ensued. The American militia, constituting the front, hesitated, became confused, and
soon gave way, while the few regulars in the rear could not check the dastardly retreat.
Ere the fortune of the day was changed, and ere victory perched on the patriot standard,
the heroic Mercer fell. Rushing forward to rally his broken troops, and stimulating
them by his voice and example, his horse was shot from under him, and he fell, dangerously
wounded, among the columns of the advancing enemy. Being thus dismounted,
he was instantly surrounded by a party of British soldiers, with whom, when they refused
him quarter, he fought desperately with his drawn sword until he was completely
overpowered. Excited to brutality by the gallantry of his resistance, they stabbed him
with their bayonets in seven different parts of his body, inflicted many blows on his head
with the butt-ends of their muskets, and did not cease their butchery until they believed
him to be a crushed and mangled corpse. Nine days after the battle, he died in the
arms of Major Geo. Lewis of the army, the nephew of Gen. Washington, whom the
uncle had commissioned to watch over the last moments of his expiring friend. His

latter hours were soothed by the skilful and affectionate attendance of the distinguished
Dr. Rush.

In a small house, a few yards distant from that blood-red plain of carnage and of
death, far away from the soothing consolations of domestic affection, this distinguished
martyr of liberty breathed his last. The victorious flag of his country proudly floated
over a field of triumph, and without a murmur he sank into a soldier's grave, finding a
hallowed sepulchre in the hearts of his countrymen, and a fadeless epitaph in their institutions.

The remains of this gifted and accomplished soldier now sleep in Christ church, Philadelphia,
under a plain marble slab, bearing the simple yet expressive inscription—"In
memory of Gen. Hugh Mercer, who fell at Princeton, Jan. 3d, 1777."

The valor of Gen. Mercer was only equalled by his modesty. When Virginia organized
the third regiment, there were numerous applications for commissions, but scarcely
one for less than the rank of a field-officer. "During the sitting of the House of Burgesses
upon the question, a plain but soldierly-looking individual handed up to the
speaker's chair a scrap of paper, on which was written, `Hugh Mercer will serve his
adopted country, and the cause of liberty, in any rank or station to which he may be
appointed.' This from a veteran soldier bred in European camps—the associate of
Washington in the war of 1755, and known to stand high in his confidence and esteem,
was all-sufficient for a body of patriots and statesmen such as composed the Virginia
House of Burgesses in the revolution. The appointment of Mercer to the command of
the 3d Virginia regiment was carried instanter."

In Wilkinson's Memoirs, several interesting particulars of the life and services of Gen.
Mercer are related, and, in alluding to his death, that writer remarks: "In Gen. Mercer
we lost, at Princeton, a chief who, for education, talents, disposition, integrity, and
patriotism, was second to no man but the commander-in-chief, and was qualified to fill
the highest trusts of the country." The same author remarks, that an evening or two
before the battle of Princeton, Gen. Mercer being in the tent of Gen. St. Clair with several
officers, the conversation turned on some promotions then just made in the army.
Gen. Mercer remarked, "they were not engaged in a war of ambition, or that he should
not have been there; and that every man should be content to serve in that station in
which he could be most useful; that for his part he had but one object in view, and that
was the success of the cause, and that God could witness how cheerfully he would lay
down his life to secure it." Little, adds the writer, did he or any of the company then
think that a few fleeting hours would seal the compact.

Col. Fielding Lewis, who married Elizabeth, a sister of Washington, resided in
Fredericksburg on the farm where lies buried Mary, the mother of Washington. He
was proprietor of half the town, and of an extensive territory adjoining. He was an
ardent patriot of the revolutionary war, and superintended the great manufactory of
arms in this neighborhood at that time. He was also a magistrate, and represented the
county in the legislature. He died in Dec., 1781, aged 55, universally respected and
esteemed. His valuable estate was divided equally among his sons. His children were
Capt. Fielding Lewis; Capt. George Lewis, a captain of Washington's life guard;
Elizabeth Lewis, who married Charles Carter, Esq.; Maj. Lawrence Lewis, who was
aid to Gen. Morgan in suppressing the Whiskey Insurrection; and Capt. Robert Lewis,
who was one of Washington's private secretaries.

Opposite Fredericksburg, on the east side of the Rappahannock, below the rail-road
bridge, and within the limits of Stafford county, is "The Washington Farm," at present
the property of the Rev. Thomas Teasdale. A few years after the birth of Washington,
his father, Augustine Washington, removed with his family to this place, where he resided
until his death, April 12th, 1743, at the age of 49. The house in which he resided
has long since been gone: it stood near the present residence of Mr. King, from
which spot the view of Fredericksburg in this volume was taken. Here it was that
Washington spent his early youth; and here, says tradition, is the place where, when a
young man, he threw a stone across the Rappahannock,—a feat that no one, it is said,
has since succeeded in accomplishing.

Sparks, in his life of Washington, says that his father was buried at Bridge's Creek,
Westmoreland county, in the tomb of his ancestors. "Little is known," says the same
author, "of his character or his acts. It appears by his will, however, that he possessed
a large and valuable property in lands; and as this had been acquired chiefly by his own
industry and enterprise, it may be inferred that in the concerns of business he was

methodical, skilful, honorable, and energetic. His occupation was that of a planter,
which, from the first settlement of the country, had been the pursuit of nearly all the
principal gentlemen of Virginia.

"Each of his sons inherited from him a separate plantation. To the eldest, Lawrence,
he bequeathed an estate near Hunting creek, afterwards Mount Vernon, which
then consisted of 2,500 acres; and also other lands, and shares in iron works situated in
Maryland and Virginia, which were productive. The second son had for his part an
estate in Westmoreland. To George were left the lands where his father lived at the
time of his decease; and to each of the other sons, an estate of six or seven hundred
acres. The youngest daughter died when an infant, and for the only remaining one a
suitable provision was made in the will. It is thus seen that Augustine Washington,
although suddenly cut off in the vigor of manhood, left all his children in a state of
comparative independence. Confiding in the prudence of the mother, he directed that
all the proceeds of the property of her children should be at her disposal, till they should
respectively come of age.

"This weighty charge of five children, the eldest of whom was eleven years old, the
superintendence of their education, and the management of complicated affairs, demanded
no common share of resolution, resource of mind, and strength of character.
In these important duties Mrs. Washington acquitted herself with great fidelity to her
trust, and with entire success. Her good sense, assiduity, tenderness, and vigilance,
overcame every obstacle; and as the richest reward of a mother's solicitude and toil,
she had the happiness to see all her children come forward with a fair promise into life,
filling the sphere allotted to them in a manner equally honorable to themselves and to
the parent who had been the only guide of their principles, conduct, and habits. She
lived to witness the noble career of her illustrious son, till, by his own rare merits, he was
raised to the head of a nation, and applauded and revered by the whole world. It has
been said, that there never was a great man, the elements of whose greatness might
not be traced to the original characteristics or early influence of his mother. If this
be true, how much do mankind owe to the mother of Washington."

The maiden name of the mother of Washington was Mary Ball, and she was the
second wife of her husband. Her father, Col. Ball, resided in Lancaster county. The
dwelling alluded to in the succeeding extract from Alden's Collection is now standing
in Fredericksburg, on the SE. corner of Charles and Lewis streets, and is at present the
residence of Richard Sterling, Esq. It is a plain, substantial two-story dwelling, of the
ordinary architecture, and painted white.

She died in this house, in the autumn of 1789, at the age of 85 years. She was
buried on a beautiful swell of land which belonged to her son-in-law, Col. Fielding Lewis,
on a spot which she had selected for her grave. "Within a few steps from the place
where she lies interred is a romantic ledge of rocks, to which she used often to resort
for private meditation and devotion. She was a lady of uncommon excellence, and was
greatly endeared to all who had the happiness of her acquaintance. She was truly estimable
in all the relations of life; but among the distinguished traits of her character,
none was more remarkable than her constant and generous attentions to the necessities
of the poor. She for years was expecting the approach of death from a deep-rooted
cancer in her breast; and was long desirous to lay aside her clayey tabernacle to depart
and be with Christ, in whom was all her hope; yet she was enabled to exercise a becoming
resignation to the will of God under all the sufferings she endured from her excruciating
disorder." There is now over her grave a beautiful, though unfinished monument.

In the grave-yard at Fredericksburg lie the remains of Lewis Littlepage, who was
born in Hanover co., Dec. 19, 1762, and died in this place, July 19, 1802, in the 40th
year of his age. He lost his father when young. At the request of his uncle, Benjamin
Lewis, Mr. Jay, minister at Madrid, was induced to patronise him, and received him
into his family. He volunteered in the expedition against Minorca, under the Duke de
Crillon, in 1781; and afterwards accompanied the Count Nassau to the siege of Gibraltar,
and thence to Constantinople and Warsaw. He was "honored for many years
with the esteem and confidence of the unfortunate Stanislaus Augustus, king of Poland,
he held under that monarch, until he lost his throne, the most distinguished offices, among
which was that of ambassador to Russia. He was by him created Knight of the Order
of St. Stanislaus, chamberlain and confidential secretary in his cabinet, and acted as
his special envoy among the most important negotiations. Of talents, military as well

as civil, he served with credit as an officer of high rank, in different armies. In privaté
life he was charitable, generous, and just, and in various public offices which he filled,
he acted with uniform magnanimity, fidelity, and honor."[2] When he was in New York
in 1785, Mr. Jay arrested him for a debt of $1,000, without interest, for money
lent him years before. In consequence, Littlepage challenged him. The correspondence
between them was published, in which Mr. Jay "complained not only of the pecuniary
imposition, but also of other abuse, as he expresses himself, from the young man,
`with my money in his pocket, and my meat still sticking in his teeth.' "

John Forsyth of Georgia, "a man of talents and eloquence, who had been long distinguished
in public life, and held many important offices, was born at Fredericksburg,
in 1781. He was graduated at New Jersey College in 1799; was member of Congress
from Georgia in 1813-18, and in 1827-29; United States senator in 1818-19, and in
1829-35; governor of Georgia in 1827-29; minister to Spain 1819-22; and was appointed
secretary of state by Gen. Jackson in 1835, which office he held till the end of
Mr. Van Buren's administration. `The high offices which, during a great portion of
his life, he successfully filled, both in his own particular state and the general government,
attest at once the superiority of his abilities and the public estimation of them. To
the high advantage of superior talents, he added, also, that of elegance and dignity of
manners, which shed a grace on the exalted stations which he filled.' " He died at
Washington city, Oct. 22, 1841, at the age of 61 years.