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I shall esteem it a favour if you wou'd lose no time in paying your Congratulatory Compliments to him on his Arrival. Wishing perfect unanimity and Concord may prevail during his administration,

I remain with Great regard,

Dear Sir, Your M't Obed't Serv't,

SAM'L ATHAWES.

TO EDW'D AMBLER Esq'r in James Town Virginia.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO COL. BASSETT.

[We are indebted to H. A. Claiborne, Esq., of this city, for the following copy of a Letter from General Washington to Colonel Burwell Bassett, of Eltham, in New Kent county; the original of which is in his possession.]

CAMBRIDGE, 28TH FEB., 1776.

Dear Sir,It was with great pleasure I received your favor of the 27th ult., thereby learning that all our friends at Eltham are well.

I thank you heartily for the attention you have kindly paid to my landed affairs on the Ohio, my interest in which I shall be more careful of, as in the worst event, they will serve for an asylum.

Few things of importance have occurred here of late, and to trouble you with my own difficulties and the distresses which occur for want of such articles as are necessary in military operations, can answer no good purpose, and therefore I shall decline it.

We are preparing to take possession of a post (which I hope to do in a few days, if we can get provided with the means) which will, it is generally thought, bring on a rumpus between us and the enemy,,-but whether it will or not, time only can shew. It is believed by many, that the troops

are preparing for a removal from Boston-it being certain that they are watering and fitting up their vessels-for the reception of the crew, and have actually put some of their heavy ordnance on board; but whether this is for deception or to prepare against orders that may arrive, I know

not.

Mrs. Washington says that she has wrote all the news she could get, (and ladies you know are never at a loss,) to Mrs. Bassett-to her letter therefore I refer you, and with sincere regard for her-the children-Mr. and Mrs. Dandridge, &c. I remain, with every sentiment of esteem and affection,

Dear Sir,

Your most ob'd't and obliged,

G. WASHINGTON.

GEORGE MASON TO MARTIN COCKBURN.

[We copy this letter from the Alexandria Gazette, where it appears with a statement that the original is in the Alexandria Museum, and was presented to it for preservation, by the late R. J. Taylor of that city.]

WILLIAMSBURG, May 26th, 1774.

Dear Sir,I arrived here on Sunday morning last, but found every body's attention so entirely engrossed by the Boston affair, that I have as yet done nothing respecting my charter-rights and, I am afraid, shall not this week.

A dissolution of the House of Burgesses is generally expected; but I think will not happen before the House has gone through the public business, which will be late in June,

Whatever resolves or measures are intended for the preservation of our rights and liberties, will be reserved for the conclusion of the session. Matters of that sort here are conducted and prepared with a great deal of privacy, and by very few members; of whom Patrick Henry is the prin cipal.

At the request of the gentlemen concerned, I have spent an evening with them upon the subject, where I had an opportunity of conversing with Mr. Henry, and knowing his sentiments; as well as hearing him speak in the house since, on different occasions. He is by far the most powerful speaker I ever heard. Every word he says not only engages but commands the attention; and your passions are no longer your own when he addresses them. But his eloquence is the smallest part of his merit. He is in my opinion the first man upon this continent, as well in abilities as public virtues, and had he lived in Rome about the time of the first Punic war, when the Roman people had arrived at their meridian glory, and their virtue not tarnished, Mr. Henry's talents must have put him at the head of that glorious Commonwealth.

Inclosed you have the Boston Trade Act, and a resolve of our House of Burgesses. You will observe it is confined to the members of their own House: but they would wish to see the example followed through the country; for which purpose the members, at their own private expense, are sending expresses with the resolve to their respective counties. Mr. Massey will receive a copy of the resolve from Col. Washington; and should a day of prayer and fasting be appointed in our county, please to tell my dear little family that I charge them to pay strict attention to it, and that I desire my three eldest sons, and my two eldest daughters, may attend church in mourning, if they have it, as I believe they have.

I begin to grow heartily tired of this town and hope to be able to leave it some time next week, but of this, I can't yet be certain. I beg to be tenderly remembered to my children, and am, with my compliments to my cousins. and yourself,

Dear Sir,

Your affectionate and obedient servant,

To MR. COCkburn.

G. MASON.

MR. SLAUGHTER'S SPEECH.

[We are indebted to the Rev. P. Slaughter, of Petersburg, for the following sketch of the substance of his Speech before the Virginia Historical Society, at the late Annual Meeting, on the evening of the 10th inst., and only regret that we cannot publish the handsome manner of the speaker, and the sympathetic favor of the audience, along with it, to enhance its effect.]

Mr. President,-I am glad of an opportunity of making my acknowledgments for the honor you have done me in appointing me a Corresponding Member of your society. The acceptance of this office has placed me under an obligation to contribute, occasionally, to the advancement of the objects of your interesting institution. The gentleman who called me out, has been pleased to allude to my late visit to Europe. His allusion may, perhaps, justify me in making some little incidents of travel, in themselves of no value, the subject of a brief address.

I regret, sir, that the duties growing out of the circumstances under which I went abroad, did not allow me leisure

for exploring the sources of intelligence which were kindly thrown open to me by British hospitality. I therefore should not have presumed to have responded to the call which has been made upon me, but that I have a chord in my bosom that vibrates at the name of Virginia, like the strings of a harp at the breathings of the wind, and it is only with the hope that the hearts of the Virginians here present can be moved by the same touch, that I have ventured to answer the appeal, when I have really no important matter to communicate.

In the Spring of 1849, I set out, in company with some gallant young Virginians and other Americans, to make the tour of Europe, and never (I may be excused for saying) did a party cross the Atlantic who more thoroughly exemplified the sentiment coelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt. It is only this morning, sir, that I read in the Historical Register a sentiment to which I most heartily subscribe. The idea is, that the Creator has implanted in our bosoms an instinctive love of our native land, which is the foundation of the virtue of patriotism. This virtue, nurtured by unnumbered nameless associations, grows with our growth and strengthens with our strength, until it swells into that sublime enthusiasm, which often enables the Patriot to exclaim, with perfect sincerity, "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."

When we were in Scotland, exploring the sights of Glasgow, its great commercial metropolis-it was not her vast factories, with their columns of smoke mingling with the clouds-it was not the busy Bromielaw, vocal with the hum of commerce, nor her broad avenues of polished stone -the mansions of her merchant princes, that had the greatest attraction for us. There was a short and narrow street, on whose walls were incribed, "Virginia," and no Virginian who has not been in a foreign land, can tell what

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