USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 26
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In Dec., 1793. Jefferson resigned his office and retired to Monticello. The Duke de Liancourt, a French traveller, has given in his work a pleasing narrative of the manner in which the life of the retired statesman was passed. " His conversation," he says, 22
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" is of the most agreeable kind, and he possesses a stock of information not inferior to any other man. In Europe he would hold a distinguished rank among men of letters, and as such he has already appeared there. At present. he is employed with activity and perseverance in the management of his farms and buildings ; and he orders, directs, and pursues, in the minutest detail, every branch of business relating to them. I found him in the midst of harvest, from which the scorching heat of the sun does not prevent his attendance. His negroes are nourished, clothed, and treated as well as white servants could be. Every article is made on his farm; his negrocs being cabinet-makers, car- penters, and masons. The children he employs in a nail factory ; and the young and old negresses spin for the clothing of the rest. He animates them all by rewards and distinctions. In fine, his superior mind directs the management of his domestic con- cerns with the same abilities, activity, and regularity, which he evinced in the conduct of public affairs, and which he is calculated to display in every situation of life." I was at this period of retirement that he was unanimously elected president of the American Philosophical Society.
Jefferson was not, however, long permitted to enjoy the tranquillity of private life. On the retirement of Washington from the presidency, Mr. Jefferson was selected by the democratic party as their candidate for that office, and Mr. Adams by the federal party. The highest number of votes appearing for the litter, he was declared president and Jefferson vice-president. For the succeeding four years most of his time was passed tranquilly at Monticello. When the period for another election arrived he was again a candidate for the presidential chair. On canvassing the votes of the electors, it was found that Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr had each seventy-three votes, Mr. Adams sixty- five, and C. C. Finckney sixty-four. As the constitution provided that the person having the greatest number of votes should be president, and Mi. Jefferson and Mr. Burr, having an equal number, it became the daty of the House of Representatives, voting by states, to decide between these two gentlemen. The ballot was taken several days in succession. The federal party, generally, supported Mr. Barr ; the democratic party Mr. Jefferson. On the thirty-sixth ballot Mr. Jefferson was elected president, and Mr. Burr vice-president.
On the 4th of March, 1801, Mr. Jefferson entered on his first presidential term. In his inaugural address, he stated, with great eloquence of language and admirable clearness and precision, the political principles by which he intended to be governed in the administration of public affairs.
His administration embraces a long and interesting period in the history of our coun- try, and measures of lasting importance were carried through. The aggressions of the Tripolitans were promptly chastised ; the encroachments of the agents of the Spanish government to deprive us of the right of navigating the Mississippi, were repelled ; Louisiana was purchased; the internal policy of the Union underwent important changes ; measures were adopted for the speedy discharge of the public debt ; the judi- ciary was restored to the original plan ; strict economy was observed in carrying on the government, and useless offices suppressed.
So much was his administration approved, that when his term of service expired, he was again elected by a very large majority. He had scarcely entered on his office when the conspiracy of Burr was discovered. The foreign relations of the Union, however, assumed an importance exceeding all domestic affairs. The aggressions of Great Britain and France upon our commerce left no honorable course but that of retaliation. On the 22d of December, 1807, the Embargo.Act was passed. on the recommendation of Mr. Jefferson. In January, 1809, overtures were made by the British government in- dicative of a disposition to recede from the ground they had assumed ; and these were preceded by a repeal of their most objectionable measures. In this situation were the foreign relations of the United States when Mr. Jefferson's second term of office expired, on the 3d of March. 1809, and his political career closed.
He had been engaged, almost without interruption, for forty years, in the most ardu- ous public duties. From this time, until his death, he resided at Monticello. His home was the abode of hospitality, and the seat of dignified retirement : he forgot the busy times of his political existence, in the calm and congenial pleasures of science, and his mind, clear and penetrating, wandered with Gesh activity and delight through all the regions of thought. Among the plans for the public welfare in which he was engaged, the establishment of the University of Virginia was with him a favorite scheme. The legislature approved of his plan, and appointed him rector. Until the time of his death, his most cherished hopes and endeavors were for its success.
Mr. Jefferson died July 4th, 1826, at the age of 83 years. His family and servants were called around his dying bed. After deciaring himself gratified by their affectionate
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solicitude, and having distinctly articulated these words, "I resign myself to my God "and my child to my country," he expired without a groan.
The neighborhood of Monticello affords innumerable monuments of the benevolearo and liberality of Mr. Jefferson ; and on his own estate, such was the condition of his slaves, that in their comfort, his own interest was too often entirely forgotten. His at. tachinent to his friends was unvarying, and few public men have had warmer. His do. mestic habits were simple, his application was excessive, and he conducted all his bu. siness with great exactness and method. His correspondence was wonderfully exten SIVE.
In person, Mr. Jefferson was six feet two inches in height, erect and well formed, though thin ; bis eyes were light, and full of intelligence ; bis bair, originally of-a yel. lowish red, was in his latter years silvered with age ; his complexion was fais, his fore- head broad, and the whole face square and expressive of deep thinking ; his countenance was remarkably intelligent, and open as das, its general expression full of go .i will and kindness, and when the occasion excited it, beaming with enthusiasm ; his address was cordial, confirming the good will of his lips ; his motions were flexible and easy, his step firm and sprightly ; and such were his strength and agility, that he was accustomed in the society of children, of which he was fond, to practise feats that few could imitate. His manner was simple, mingled with native dignity, but cheerful, unassuming, frank, and kind ; his language was remarkable for vivacity and correctness ; and in his con- versation, which was without apparent effort, he poared forth knowledge, the most va- rious, from an exhaustless fountuin, yet so modestly and engagingly that he seemed rather to seek than to impart information.
He lias buried in a small burying, near the road, which winds around it to Monti- cello. It has a slight enclosure, and is surrounded by the native wood. In it lie the remains of members of the family, some two or three of whom have tablets of marble. On his own grave, his executor has erected a granite obelisk, eight feet high, and on a piece of marble, inserted on its southern face, are inscribed the three acts for which ha thought he best deserved to be remembered by posterity. This inscription was found among his papers after his death, in his own handwriting, and it is in these words :
HERE LIES BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA,
" Mr. Jefferson's religious creed," says Tucker, " as described in his correspondence, cannot perhaps be classed with that of any particular sect, but was nearer the Socinian than any other. In the last years of his life, when questioned by any friends on this subject, he used to say he was a Unitarian."
Meriwether Lewis, the son of a wealthy farmer, was born near Charlottesville, in 1774. At 13 years of age, he relinquished his academic studies and engaged in agricul. ture. Two years after, he acted as a volunteer, to suppress the whiskey insurrection, from which situation he was removed to the regular service. From about 1801 to 1803, he was the private secretary of Mr. Jefferson, when he, with Wm. Clarke, went in their celebrated exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Jefferson, in recommend- ing him to this duty, gave him a high character, as possessing courage, int'exlule perse- verance, intimate knowledge of the Indian character, fidelity, intelligence, and all those peculiar combinations of qualities that eminently fitted him for so arduous an underta- king. They were absent three years, and were highly successful in the accomplishment of their duties. When, shortly after his return, in 1806. he was appointed governor of the territory of Louisiana, and finding it the seat of internal dissensions, he by his moder- ation, firmness, and impartiality, brought matters into a systematic train. He was sub. ject to constitutional hypochondria, and while under the influence of a severe attack shot himself on the borders of Tennessee, in 1809, at the age of 35. This event was ascribed to the protest of some bills, which he drew on the public account. The account of his expedition, which he wrote, was published in 1814. The mother of Mr. Lewis died in tius county, only a few years since. She possessed very strong powers of mind.
WILLIAM WIRT. the distinguished author of the British Spy, who was born at Bladens- burg, for a time resided in this county. In 1792, when 20 years of age, he commenced the practice of law at Fairfax, in the neighboring county of Culpeper.
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" In 1795, he married the eldest daughter of Dr. George Gilmer, a distinguished physi- cian, and took up his residence at Pen Park, the scat of his father-in-law, near Char- lottesville ; and here he was introduced to the acquaintance of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and other persons of celebrity.
" In 1799 his wife died, and he was soon after elected clerk of the House of Delegates. Having performed the duties of his office two years, he was in 1802 appointed chancellor of the Eastern District of Virginia, and then took up his residence at Williamsburg ; and the same year he married the daughter of Col. Gamble, of Richmond. He soon after resigned his chancellorship, and at the close of the year 1803 removed to Norfolk, and entered upon the assiduous practice of his profession. Just before he removed to Norfolk, he wrote the letters published in the Richmond Argus, under the title of ' the British Spy,' which were afterwards collected in a small volume, and have passed through many editions. In 1806 he took up his residence in Richmond, and in the following year he greatly distinguished himself in the trial of Col. Burr. In 1812 he wrote the greater part of a series of essays, which were originally published in the Richmond Enquirer,. under the title of . The Old Bachelor,' and have since, in a collected form, passed through several editions. The 'Life of Patrick Henry,' his largest literary production, was first published in lol ?. In 1816 he was appointed, by Mr Madison, the U. S. Attorney for Virgina ; and in 1817, by Mr. Monroe, attorney general of the United States, a post. which he occupied with distinguished reputation until 1829, through the entire adminis- trations of Monroe and Adains. in 1530, he took up his residence in Baltimore for the remainder of his life. He died Feb. 18th, 1834, at Washington City, in his 62d year. As a public and professional man, Mr. Wirt ranked among the first of his time ; and in all the relations of private life, as a man and a Christian, he was most exemplary, and was regarded with singular affection and veneration."
ALLEGHANY.
ALLEGHANY was formed in 1822, from Bath, Bottetourt, and Monroe. Its mean length is twenty-six, mean breadth twenty miles. Most of this county is a high mountain valley, drained by the head waters of the James. The main Alleghany chain forms its boundary on the west ; Peter's mountain and Warm Spring mountain divide the county into two nearly equal parts, having only a narrow gap at Covington, and Middle Mountain and Rich Patch form its southeastern boundary. The passage of Jackson's River through Waite's mountain, is a sublime feature of the natural scenery of the county. Population in 1830, 2,816; 1840, whites 2,142, slaves 517, free colored 60; total, 2,749.
Covington, the county-seat, lies one hundred and ninety-six miles west of Richmond, at the head of the James River navigation, on Jackson's River, fifteen above its confluence with the Cow-Pasture, both of which by their union constitute the James. It contains, at present, about fifty dwellings. At some future period, it is con- templated that the James River Canal will be continued to here ; in which case, it will be the depôt between the land and water communication in the chain of the James River and Kanawha improvements. and will then command the trade of a large and fertile region of country. Near Covington, a fort, called Fort Young, was built in the early settlement of the country, as a pro- tection against the Indians,
Peter's Mountain derived its name from Peter Wright, a famous hunter at the time of the first settlement, who was accustomed to hunt upon it. He resided near the
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present site of Covington. Near the house of Mr. John Lewis, there is, on the roadside, a large shelving rock, called Peter's Rock, where, says tradition, he sought shelter in a snow storm. There he lay for several days, until the snow was four fect deep, when he was obliged to eat his moccasins to prevent starving. He at length discovered and shot a deer, which furnished him with food. He left, at his death, two sons, both of whom emigrated to the west many years since.
There was an eccentric female, who lived in this section of the country towards the latter part of the last century. Her name was Ann Boiley. She was born in Liver- pool, and had been the wife of an English soldier. She generally went by the cogno- men of Mad Ann. During the wars with the Indians, she very often acted as a messenger, and conveyed letters from the fort, at Covington, to Point Pleasant. On these occasions she was mounted on a favorite horse of great sagacity, and rode like a man, with a rifle over her shoulder, and a tomahawk and a butcher's-knife in her belt. At night she slept in the woods. Her custom was to let her horse go free, and then walk some distance back on his trail, to escape being discovered by the Indians. Atter the Indian wars she spent some time in hunting. She pursued and shot deer and bears with the skill of a backwoodsmian. She was a short, stout woman, very masculine and coarse in her appearance, and seldom or never wore a gown, but usually had on a petti- coat, with a man's coat over it, and buckskin breeches. The services che rendered in the wars with the Indians, endeared her to the people. Mad Ann, and her black pory Liverpool, were always welcome at every house. Often, she gathered the honest, sim- pie-hearted mountaineers around, and related her adventures and trials, while the sympathetic tear would course down their cheeks. She was profane, often becanic in- toxicated, and could box with the skill of one of the fancy. Mad Ann possessed considerable intelligence, and could read and write. She died in Ohio many years since.
In 1764, a party of about fifty Indians came into this region, and then dividing into two, one went towards the Roanoke and Catawba settlements, and the other in the direc- tion of Jackson's River, where each committed murders and depredations, Captain Paul, who commanded at Fort Dinwiddie, went in pursuit of the latter party, and acci- dentally came upon the other, about midnight, encamped on New River, at the mont !. of Indian Creek. In an instant after firing upon them, Captain Paul and his men rushed forward to secure the wounded and prevent further escapes, as most of them had ran. One of the party raised his tomahawk to strike, as be supposed. a squaw, who sat composedly awaiting the result. As the tomahawk was descending. Captain Paul threw himself between the assailant and his victim, and received the blow on his arm, exclaiming : " It is a shame to hurt a woman, even a squaw !" She proved to be Mrs. Catharine Gunn, an English woman, an acquaintance of Captain Paul, taken prisonet on the Catawba a few days before, when her husband and two children were killed. On being asked why she had not made known she was a prisoner, by crying out, she re- plied : "I had as soon be killed as not-my husband is murdered --- my children are slain -- my parents are dead. I have not a relation in America -- every thing dear to me here is gone-I have no wishes, no hopes, no febre-1 would not have risen to my feet to have saved my life."
AMELIA.
AMELIA was formed in 1734, from part of Prince George. Its length is about 30, mean breadth 10 miles. It is drained by the Appomattox. The surface is agreeably diversified ; the soil on the Hills poor and usually much worn, on the bottoms fertile, and it has generally much deteriorated from its original fertility, owing to the injudicious modes of cultivation pursued by its early cot- tlers. Pop. 1830, 11,031; in 1840, whites 3,074, slaves 7,023; free colored, 223 ; total, 10.320,
There are no villages in the county of any note. Amelia. C. H., which is centrally situated, 45 miles sw. of Richmond, contains but a few dwellings.
WILLIAM ARCHER, Col .- commandant of the county, made himself so conspicuous by his zeal in the revolutionary cause, that he was made prisoner by Tadetom, on his retura
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from his excursion to New London. He was conveyed to one of the prison-ships at Nor- . folk, so well known for the sufferings of which they were the scenes. There he was re- tained until he became a victim of the small-pox. Ile was finally permitted to land, hut in so advanced a stage of the disease that he died in a few days, without restora- tion to his family. One of his sons, Ilcut. Joseph Archer, was killed at the battle of Brandywine. Another of his sons, Major John Archer -- the father of the present medi- ber of the U. S. Senate, the Hon. Wm. S. Archer -- was an aid to one of the American generals. He was sent to remove public stores, when a detachment from the army of Lord Cornwallis made the celebrated dash on Charlottesville. Delaying too long in the discharge of his duty, he was overtaken in the rapid advance of the enemy. The Eng- lish officer to whom be surrendered his sword, received and passed it entirely through his body. The speedy retreat of the enemy permitting immediate assistance, he had the good fortune to recover, and lived many years.
Major JOSEPH EGGLESTON was a native of Amelia. He was a highly meritorions of- ficer of Lee's legion, and served through the whole of the southern campaigns At the conclusion of the war he turned his attention to literature. IIe was a member of Con- gress in 1798-9, where he served with credit. He was cut off in the flower of his age, by the effects of an amputation of a disordered limb.
The residence of the late distinguished WILLIAM BRANCH GILES, was near the margin of the Appomattox, in this county. He sprang from humble, but respectable parentage, and was educated at Princeton. He was for many years a member of Congress from Virginia, both in the Senate and House of Representatives, where he arrived, as a debater, to very high rank.
" He resigned his seat in the Senate, in 1815. He was governor of Virginia from 1826 to 1829, and died in 1830, at an advanced age. He published a speech on the embargo laws in 1808; political letters to the people of Virginia. in 1813 ; a series of letters, signed a Constituent, in the Richmond Enquirer of Jan. 1818, against the plan for a general education ; in April, 1821, a letter of invective against President Mouree and Henry Clay, for their 'hobbies,' the South American cause, the Greek cause, Io- ternal Improvements, and the Tariff in Nov. 1825; he addressed a letter to Judge Marshall, disclaiming the expressions, not the general sentiments in regard to Washing- ton, ascribed to hin in the Life of Washington. He has also appeared before the public as the correspondent of John Quincy Adams." Mr. Giles was also one of the nu st die. tinguished members of the convention that revised the constitution of Virginia, in 1830.
In 1843, there died in this county, at an advanced age, a negro preacher of considera- ble local celebrity, who went by the name of UNCLE JACK. He was kidnapped, and brought from Africa at seven years of age, and landed at Osborne's, on James River, from what it is supposed was the last slave-ship which deposited its cargo in Virginia. Such was his worth of character, that, on the death of his master, several benevolent individuals by their contributions purchased his freedom. Ore, who knew him well, said, " I regard this old African as a burning light, raised up by Christian principles alone, to a degree of moral purity seldom equalled and never exceeded in any country." The late Rev. Dr. Rice also remarked, " The old man's acquaintance with the scriptures is wonderful. Many of his interpretations of obscure passages of scripture are singularly just and striking. In many respects, indeed, he is the most remarkable man I ever kuew."
His views of the leading doctrines of Christianity were thorough and evangelical. His preaching abounded with quotations surprisingly minute, and his illustrations were vivid and correct. His knowledge of human nature was profound; and hence his extensive usefulness among the African population, as well as an extensive circle of whites. His language was pare English, without the volparties of the blacks. In his intercourse with all classes be was governed by Christian humility, and he abberred cant and grimace. " He uniformly opposed, both in public and private, every thing like noise . and disorder in the house of God. His colored audience were very prone to indulge themselves in this way. Bat, whenever they did, he uniforinly suspended the exercises until they became silent. On one of these occasions, he rebuked his hearers substan. tially, as follows : ' You noisy Christians remind me of the little branches after a heavy rain. They are soon full -- then noisy-and as soon empty. I had a great deal rather see you like the broad, deep river, which is quiet because it is broad and deep.'"
Of this worthy and strong-minded old man, we take the liberty of annexing a few
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anecdotes, drawn from his memoir in the Watchman of the South. In speaking of the excitement and noise at a protracted meeting, he remarked, ") was reminded of what I have noticed in the woods : when the wind blows hard, the dry leaves make a great deal more noise than the green ones." When persons scoffed at his religion, his usual diffidence and reserve would give way to a firm and dignified defence, and most happily would he " answer a fool according to his fully " A person addicted to horse racing und card-playing stopped him one day on the road, and sani -- " Old man, you Christians say a great deal about the way to heaven being very narrow. Now, if this be so, a great many who profess to be travelling it will not find it half wide enough." " That's very true," was the reply, " of all who have merely a name to live, and all like you." " Why refer to me?" asked the man ; " if the road is wide enough for any, it is for me." "By no means," replied Unele Jack ; " when you set out you will want to take along a card-table, and a race horse or two. Now, there's no room along this way for such things, and what would you do, even in heaven, without them ?" An individual aceus- tomed to treat religion rather sportively, and who prided Himself upon bis morality, said to him, " Old man, I am as good as I need be ; i can't help thinking so, because God blesses me as much as he does you Christians, and I don't know what more I want than he gives me." To this the old preacher replied, with great seriousness, " Just so with the hogs. I have often looked at them, roofing among the leaves in the woods, and fading jast as many acorns as they needed ; and yet I never saw one of them look up to the tree from whence the acorns fell." In speaking of the low state of religion, he said, "there seems to be great coldness and deadness on the subject of religion every- where ; the fire has almost gone out, and nothing is left hat a few smoking cbumps, lying about in places."
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