Viewing page 44 of 85

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[29]
minute was employed in making a profile sketch, Mrs Washington happening to enter the Room at the time, was amused by the circumstance and mentioned it to Mr Stuart.

[[stamp]] ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART [[/stamp]]

At this time the public mind was greatly excited by the republication of certain forged letters attributed to Wilkinson purporting to have been written by Washington, and found on the person of a runaway slave.  Within the two weeks recent agitation no one had dared to question him on the subject.  My Uncle, who was a warm Whig of 76, could not credit the imposition, and at the 3rd sitting at his miniature desk, spoke directly to the point - "General, did you write those letters?" Washington in a decisive tone replied - "I never lost any letters" no servant of mine ever ran away from me" Then, as having said enough on that subject asked by father "What has become of that ingenious man Mr Gram, who lived in your neighborhood?" My Uncle immediately sallied out, and in two hours the whole city was disabused of the Scandal