building, "with dormer windows, two wooden belfries, chimneys studded with swallow and martin coops, and a roof sloping down in the old Virginia fashion into low projecting eaves that formed a veranda the whole length of the house," was his residence. In this, however, he never slept, but lodged in a wooden outbuilding, twelve feet square. Servants, horses, hounds, and game were abundant. Hospitality and style of living were of the ancient English fashion. Here Washington accompanied his lordship

in the chase, and listened to his conversation, which was full of interest and instruction. His character, culture, literary taste, former intercourse with the best society of Europe and its most distinguished authors, imparted exceptional advantages to the richly endowed youth whom he delighted to honor. Books, including Histories of England and volumes of the "Spectator," were numerous.

In 1755 Lord Fairfax organized a troop of horse, called the militia of

Prince William and Fairfax counties to arms for the defense of Winchester, and aided Washington,-then a rising commander,—with his counsels and his sword. In 1756, although the Indians longed to take his scalp, as that of a great chief, the high-spirited old soldier decided to remain at Greenway Court, and do what in him lay for the defense of the country. The danger passed away. Hunting, planning, toiling for the good of the settlers, Lord Fairfax was one of the most beneficent of official magnates. The lives of all flowed on until 1774, unmarked by any disturbance of mutual friendship. The political clouds which had then been gathering for several years were portentous of a destructive hurricane of civil war. George William Fairfax repaired to England in order to take possession of the Toulston and other estates which had fallen to him. Toulston he was obliged to sell in consequence of the Revolutionary War. Belvoir, left in charge of a steward, was accidentally burned to the ground. The owner, as a Royalist, never returned to his old home. The friendly correspondence between himself and Washington was kept up until after American independence was acknowledged. At heart he was a true friend to the Americans, and his resources were always under contribution to mitigate the sufferings of those who were detained as prisoners in England. He died at Bath, April 3d, 1787.

Brian Fairfax, the younger brother of George William, remained in Virginia. Thoroughly liberal in political sentiment, but deeply attached to the ancient rule, he in 1774 advised the presentation of a petition to the king, and thus of affording to the Parliament an opportunity of repealing its offensive acts in relation to America. While fully sharing in the opinions of Washington that, "as Englishmen," the colonists could not be constitutionally taxed without their own consent, he yet objected to any appeal to the dread arbitrament of arms, and wished to remain a faithful subject to the crown. Tidings of the conflict at Lexington found him and Gates at Mount Vernon. He foresaw and deplored the inevitable effects of the collision; that it would break up his most pleasant relations, and array his dearest friends against the government to which he was resolved to adhere. Visiting Washington at Valley Forge in 1778, he was most cordially received, and furnished with a passport to New York, where he intended to embark for England, and remain there till the end of the war. He had married Elizabeth, another daughter of Colonel Wilson Cary. His position at his home in Monteagle, Virginia, was uncomfortable. In New York, he found himself unable to take the oaths, which he feared might separate him from wife and children, and returned to Virginia.

Throughout the Revolutionary war Lord Fairfax lived in his sylvan retreat in the valley of the Shenandoah, popular with his neighbors, unmolested by the Whigs, and frank and outspoken in his adherence to Great Britain. News of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown reached him in his ninety-second year. His national pride was pierced to the core. "Come, Joe!" he called to his black servant, carry me to bed, for it is high time for me to die." "Thy will, O Lord, be done," he mournfully added, and spake no more.

Robert, seventh Lord Fairfax, succeeded to the title on the death of his brother, and died in 1793, leaving no heir of his body. The title then descended to Brian, the eighth Lord Fairfax, the friend of Washington, and one of the chief mourners at his funeral. Entering holy orders in 1789, he became a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church. His claim to the peerage was recognized by the House of Lords in 1800, but he never assumed it. Brian Fairfax died at Monteagle, in August,

1802.

Thomas, ninth Lord Fairfax, of Belvoir and Vaucluse, Fairfax County, was born in 1762; superintended his paternal estate on the Potomac, where he exercised genuine old English hospitality, and declined all deference to his rank, preferring to be regarded as simply a gentleman of the county which bears his name. He was thrice married, and died at Vaucluse, April 21st, 1846, aged 84. His son, Charles Snowden, tenth Lord Fairfax, was born March 8th, 1829, was Speaker of the California House of Delegates in 1854, and Clerk of the Supreme Court of California from 1857 to 1862. He died at Baltimore, April 7th, 1869. John John Contee, his brother, eleventh Lord Fairfax, was born September 13th, 1830; married October 8th, 1857, to Mary, daughter of Colonel Edward Kirby, of the United States Army; is an M.D., and a resident of Northampton, near Bladensburg, in Prince George's County, Maryland. Raymond Fairfax, his cousin, is heir presumptive to the title.

During the Great Rebellion against the National Government, the Fairfaxes were more or less conspicuous on both sides of that memorable struggle. Deeds demonstrated that they had not degenerated, and that they had inherited all the chivalrous bravery of the old Yorkshire stock. Donald McNeill Fairfax, great-grandson of Brian, the eighth lord, was the only one of the name who adhered to the National cause. All the others, so far as is known, were identified with the Secessionist movement. Sixteen Fairfaxes, at least, were in the Confederate army. Some were killed, others wounded. The wife of Colonel Burton N. Harrison, formerly Secretary to Jefferson Davis, and now a lawyer in New York, is also a de

VOL. XIII.-No. 3.-16

scendant of this celebrated family. The Rev. Philip Slaughter, in his "Sketch of the Life of Randolph Fairfax," says that when a Senator from New York remarked to that youth that he would not like to have a name already so famous if he could add nothing to it, the boy replied: "It is the name of my ancestors, and if they have made it famous, I at least will try to do nothing to impair its brightness." He did more. He added to its luster, and sacrificed his gallant life at the battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. His cousin Eugene was slain at Williamsburg.

If thoroughly National Americans praise the good qualities of those whose political errors they are constrained to condemn, they certainly can do no less for those whose sentiments and actions have been of purest patriotic character. Such a one is Commodore Donald McN. Fairfax-an American from the Virginian section of our common country. Entering the United States Navy, August 12, 1837, he was commissioned as lieutenant in 1851, commander in 1862, captain in 1866, and commodore in 1873. He commanded the steamer Cayuga on the Mississippi in 1862, and the monitor Nantucket in the first attack on Fort Sumter, on the 7th of April, 1863. Rear-Admiral Dupont's report of that action commended him for "the highest professional capacity and courage." In command of the monitor Montauk he took part in all the fights with the forces and defenses of Charleston harbor in July and August, 1863; and in general orders and official communications to the Navy Department received the thanks of Rear-Admiral Dahlgren for his excellent services.

The fortunes of the English descendants of the gallant knight, who laid the foundations of two houses bearing his own patronymic in 1557, have not been devoid of vicissitude. Gabriel Fairfax, the younger son, to whom the manors of Steeton and Bolton Percy were bequeathed by his father's will, was succeeded by his son, Sir Philip, an extravagant and dissolute man, who sold Bolton Percy to the first Lord Fairfax, and died in 1613, at the age of twenty-seven years. His son, Sir William Fairfax, was the first cousin and chivalrous companion in arms of the great Lord Fairfax. Holding the same political opinions, he was with that brilliant soldier when he presented the petition to King Charles I. on Heworth Moor. Subsequently he raised and commanded as colonel, a regiment of foot for the Parliamentarian army under Lord Essex; fought with singular gallantry in the engagement at Edgehill, the storming of Leeds, the battles of Wakefield and Nantwich, the sieges of Lathom House and York, and the conflict on Marston Moor, where his brigade of Yorkshiremen was broken and routed by the murderous cross fire of the enemy. After that he marched into Lancashire at the head of 1,000 Yorkshire cavalry, took part

in the siege of Liverpool, and met a hero's death in battle with the Royalists before the walls of Montgomery Castle, in Wales. When his men wavered and fell back the third time, "he dashed single-handed into the midst of the enemy's ranks, his good sword flashing right and left, and

the plumes of his beaver waving like a beacon amidst the hostile pikes and steel caps." The example was inspiring. The Yorkshire yeomen charged furiously after him, scattered the Royalists, and rescued their beloved commander, who was literally covered with wounds, more than one of which was mortal. Like Epaminondas and Wolfe, he died in the arms of