NOTES BY MR. ALLEN C. CLARK 'Hallie L. Wright is the author of the Sketch of Elias Boudinot Caldwell. Miss Wright was the postmistress of Bladensburg, Md., during the Civil War. She died at the Presbyterian Home, 1420 M Street Northwest, December 25, 1916. The services were at the Home, the 27th. She was eighty-three years of age. The reception to Marquis de LaFayette was a civic affair on a large scale. That Mr. Caldwell with his youngest daughter went out in the carriage as far as Bladensburg to see the Marquis is altogether likely. Mr. Caldwell was born April 3, 1776. Mr. Caldwell's scope of utilization of talent was remarkably broad-he was lawyer, soldier, minister—and if being a legislator of the corporation of Washington warrants the title-statesman. In the "large" affairs of the young metropolis he had a major part. Mr. Caldwell was in the First Chamber of the local legislature, 1807; in the Second Chamber, 1808, and President; and in the Common Council, 1822. John H. Bayard, of the distinguished Delaware family, was the second Clerk of the U. S. Supreme Court. He held from August 1, 1791, until August 5, 1800. During the greater part of the period the duties were performed by Mr. Caldwell and at the last named date he succeeded as the Clerk. He came to the new seat of government in advance of the first assembling of the Court, February 2, 1801.1 1 WRIGHT-On Monday, December 25, 1916, HALLIE L. WRIGHT, aged eighty-three years. Funeral from Presbyterian Home, 1420 M Street Northwest, on Wednesday, December 27, at 2 P.M. invited to attend. Relatives and friends are At the initial session of the Circuit Court Mr. Caldwell was of those admitted to practice-March 27, 1801. His practice included important cases and he represented large interests. Mr. Caldwell was Captain Caldwell, Captain of the Washington Light Horse. His commission bore date, May 20, 1812. His service was active. He was of the committee to expend five thousand dollars appropriated by the Corporation, May 20, 1812, in measures of defense. Of the Company to construct the eastern section of the canal Mr. Caldwell was president. The ground was broken by President Madison, to whom the spade was handed by Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Latrobe, who had marked the course. It was an occasion of festivity. National Intelligencer, May 10, 1810.* Mr. Caldwell was a charter member and curator of the Columbian Institute, 1816. Mr. Caldwell was the recording secretary and a manager of the Bible Society of the District of Columbia. Its first report appeared in 1816.* With the co-operation of his brother-in-law, Rev. Robert Finley, a Presbyterian, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Mr. Caldwell organized the American Colonization Society, December 21, 1816.* Mr. Caldwell preached at the First Presbyterian Church on South Capitol Street, close to B. It was at the foot of a steep slope, since raised by grading. Apparently Mr. Caldwell overtaxed himself in evangelical work. 123 34History of the National Capital. W. B. Bryan. *"Elias B. Caldwell, Esq., in a speech of considerable length, developed the views of the friends of this project, and offered several resolutions for appointing a committee to draw up a Constitution for the Association; for appointing a Committee to present a Memorial to Congress." Margaret Bayard Smith to her daughter, Miss Susan Harrison, writes, September 20th: "Sidney, Sunday evening. It was "Never did I hear from Mr. Caldwell and seldom from anyone, a more instructive and animating and consoling discourse. on the necessity, benefit and comfort of prayer." 1 To Mrs. Kirkpatrick, October 12, 1822, Saturday: "Mr. Caldwell, they say, is fast wearing himself out, but as his health decreases, his zeal and labours increase. All day he goes from house to house, exhorting and praying, and every night at different meetings. His little daughter, Harriet, is one of the new converts, and with twenty or thirty other young people, made a kind of public confession and were prayed over in church, as they do in Methodist meetings. They are introducing all the habits and hymns of the Methodists into our Presbyterian churches, after the regular service is closed by the clergyman, the congregation rise and strike up a Methodist hymn, sung amidst the groans and sobs of the newly converted, or convicted as they call them, then Mr. Caldwell calls on the mourners to come forward, and he and others pray over them, as they loudly vent their sorrows." 1 A death notice of Mr. Caldwell was not published. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery. Letters of administration, December 17, 1825, were granted to Matthew St. Clair Clarke, William R. Randolph and James Caldwell, with Josiah F. Caldwell and Phineas Bradley as sureties, but there were no assets to administer. 'Forty Years of Washington Society. Margaret Bayard Smith. CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COLUMBIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: May 18, 1920. A few days ago I received a letter containing an inquiry respecting the removal of the body of some distinguished American from its original burial place to another, which I enclosed to Dr. William Tindall, of this Society, with a request for any information or suggestion that he could offer on the subject. Dr. Tindall sent the letter to Mr. Harrison H. Dodge, the Superintendent of the Mount Vernon estate, whose courteous and informing reply and the letter to which it is a response, are herewith submitted, with the suggestion that they be made part of the published proceedings of this Society. MAUD BURR MORRIS, Secretary, Columbia Historical Society. Gentlemen: Could you furnish us with any information concerning the following event: Some months ago some of us read newspaper article telling of leaden casket of some great man which had been opened and examined. We remember that the alcohol was low and that a portion of face we think it was a cheek bone was decayed. We all have different opinions as to who the man was, but the one that seems to prevail is that it was Washington. A large number including teachers are interested and we would be pleased to learn any particulars that you could give us. Any expense incurred in finding the item, we will be glad to pay. Send the bill to me. Dear Harry Dodge: Respectfully yours, C. O. RANNEY. Do you recall any incident at Mount Vernon, which bore any relation to the foregoing newspaper account, or any exhumation that would correspond with it? Sincerely, WILLIAM TINDALL, Room 509 District Building, Washington, D. C. May 7, 1920. MOUNT VERNON, VIRGINIA May 8, 1920. DR. WILLIAM TINDALL, Possibly I may be able to throw a bit of light on the subject mentioned in the communication bearing your postscript. Some years ago, I remember, one of the Washington newspapers published an account of what happened at Mount Vernon, in 1837, when the remains of General Washington and his wife were transferred from the "inner vault" of the Tomb and placed within the marble sarcophagi which had been provided, and which have ever since been in plain sight of visitors standing before the Tomb entrance. On that occasion quite a large party of Senators, Members of Congress, and others, came to witness the transfer to "the last resting place." |