CHAPTER XXVII BENEVOLENT AND BUSINESS INTERESTS — AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM GENERAL WASH- The political activities of Charles Carroll of Carrollton ceased in 1801. He had been and remained a firm Federalist; and when the Anti-Federalist wave led by Jefferson swept over the country, he found himself in a hopeless minority in both state and national affairs. Retiring from the activities of a long and most successful career he found ample scope for his efforts and his energies in the management of his great estate and in promoting the interests of his community in many ways. As the banker of his section he was able to advance the interests of his people. He encouraged foreign trade, developed wheat growing, enlarged and modernized the manufacture of iron, developed transportation, encouraged and endowed schools and colleges and supported the first successful effort to make fruit growing a business enterprise. To this end he secured the Manor, on the eastern shore of which Poplar island was the principal part and contained the Manor house. Here Leonard Green, the third Marylander of that name, had come into a great estate, which had been the property of his grandmother, Dorothy Leonard. A series of litigations had followed, one after another, till the property was badly run down. It embraced some two thousand acres, one-third being the island, and the remainder mainland. There was an accepted theory that fruit could thrive best when near the salt water. This, then, was an ideal spot. Mr. Carroll secured the tract and with some people in whom he had confidence began on a large scale the cultivation of fruit. Fruit trees of many kinds were planted, but peaches were made the principal crop because of the quick growth of the trees. Grafting and budding were unknown and the peach trees grew larger and were much longer in maturing than in after years. The effort was undertaken in 1812, and it was 1820 before much in results was shown. But the idea caught and Ridgeway of Delaware quickly followed, and about the year 1815 planted the first orchard of that state. Want of transportation facilities hampered the effort for a good while, but the idea triumphed and fruit growing as outlined in the dreams of Charles Carroll of Carrollton became a reality, and the bases of many fortunes. He insisted on the culture of English walnuts being tried and had twenty trees planted. The growth was slow, but to the present day English walnuts of fine quality are grown all through that section. As the result of this effort many trees now in full bearing were planted during Mr. Carroll's lifetime. Figs were also successfully tried and are still grown in the vicinity, but were never made an article of commerce. Whoever had a practical idea that seemed to promise well for the interest of the section could go to Mr. Carroll for financial aid. Late in life he said, speaking for his father, himself and his immediate associates: "When you consider how many and how varied are the undertakings we fostered it is amazing how little money we ever lost in that way. Surely we must have been very successful in backing the right people." At this time, in the latter years of his life, he had a substantial and handsomely fitted up sailboat in which he delighted to travel. It was nicely equipped with sleeping rooms below and on deck and every comfort for a man of his age and taste was provided. To-day it would be a yacht, but at that time it was just " Mr. Carroll's pungy." And "the pungy 99 was everywhere a welcome visitor and its coming was an event of interest in all regions of watercourses and boat travel. He continued to be deeply interested in religious and educational matters and was a liberal giver to all good causes. St. John's College at Annapolis and Georgetown College in the District of Columbia were both dear to his heart. But he contributed liberally to public benefactions and to educational institutions to the end of his long life. He kept up a friendly correspondence with old friends in many parts of the country and derived great pleasure from the letters he received from these friends. Newspapers were not as numerous or as comprehensive as now, and much interesting information was passed along by letters. To an old friend, Rev. John Sanford, an Episcopal clergyman, he wrote: Doughoregan, October 9, 1827. Reverend and Dear Sir: I was yesterday favored with your friendly letter of the 10th past, and the discourses on the opening of the House of Refuge and on the death of Jefferson and Adams. The former I have read. With the latter I am highly pleased and I sincerely thank you for your pious wishes for my happiness in the life to come. Your sentiments on religious liberty coincide entirely with mine. To obtain religious, as well as civil liberty, I entered zealously into the Revolution, and observing the Christian religion divided into many sects, I founded the hope that no one would be so predominant as to become the religion of the State. That hope was thus early entertained, because all I remain with great respect, Rev. Sir, CHARLES CARROLL OF CARROLLTON. Mr. Carroll always took great pleasure and pride in recalling that his co-religionists of America were on the patriot side during the Revolutionary struggle to a man. Mr. Latrobe related that he used to say, 66 may be there was one Catholic in America that took the British side. But if so he left no record of it, and we are glad he did not." After the inauguration of Washington a committee composed of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Daniel Carroll, Dominick Lynch and Thomas Fitz Simmons, representing the laity, and Bishop John Carroll, representing the clergy, sent an address of congratulation to the President, admirable for its sentiments of exalted patriotism. In reply President Washington sent the following: To Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Daniel Carroll and members of your committee; and through you to the Roman Catholics of the United States. While I now receive with much satisfaction your congratulations on my being called by a unanimous vote to the first station in my country, I cannot but duly notice your politeness in offering an apology for the unavoidable delay. As that delay has given you an opportunity of realizing, instead of anticipating, the benefits of gen |