Potosi Journal

DESCENDANTS OF WASHINGTON
Who Claim to Have Valuable Relics of the Father of His Country and Want a Donation.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Secretary Hoke Smith's mail yesterday morning contained a letter from Virginia Washington and Mary I. Washington, of Portsmouth, O., stating that they had proof that they are descendants of Gen. George Washington and had in their possession several relics that belonged to the father of his country. These include a tortoise shell snuff box given Thomas Jefferson by Washington, and subsequently returned to the Washington family; a toddy spoon, Washington's free mason's apron, Bible, gold cane and cavalry saddle.

It is asserted that they had once a sword and cane belonging to Washington for which congress at one time agreed to make a handsome donation, provided they were presented to the nation. These valuable relics, they say, were entrusted to Congressman "Judge Summers" (presumably of West Virginia), who served in the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth congresses, who, they say, presented them to congress in his own name.

The heirs assert that they afterwards received a letter of thanks from congress, but that the letter was unfortunately lost by their relative Samuel T. Washington, who "died among strangers in Texas," and they have not received the donation. They ask Secretary Smith to obtain for them a copy of the missing letter and to see that justice is done to them. The secretary has not yet taken action in the matter.