ted by and unknown to Americans. In the
genealogical table appended to the "Life of Washington" by our
distinguished fellow-citizen, Mr. Jared Sparks, it is stated that
Lawrence Washington, the father of John Washington (who emigrated
to Virginia in 1657), was buried at Brington; but though both Mr.
Sparks and Washington Irving visited Sulgrave, an earlier home of
the Washingtons, neither of these learned biographers appear by
their works to have repaired to this quiet parish in
Northamptonshire.

Our fellow-citizen, the Honorable Charles Sumner, on a recent visit
to England, identified certain inscriptions in the parish church of
Brington, near Althorp, as being those of the father and uncle of
John Washington, the emigrant to Virginia, who was the
great-grandfather of the Father of his Country.

Earl Spencer, the proprietor of Althorp, so honorably known as an
early advocate of parliamentary reform, sought out the quarry from
which, more than two centuries ago, these votive tablets were
taken, and caused others to be made which are exact _facsimiles_
of the originals. These he has presented to Mr. Sumner, who has
expressed the desire that memorials so interesting to all Americans
may be placed where they may be seen by the public, and has
authorized me to offer them to the Commonwealth, if it be the
pleasure of the Legislature to order them to be preserved in some
public part of the State House.

I send with this a letter addressed to myself by the learned
historian of Washington, bearing testimony to the great interest of
these memorials, and expressing the desire that they may (Mr.
Sumner assenting) be placed in the Capitol.

A letter from Mr. Sumner to Mr. Sparks also accompanies this
Message, describing the church at Brington, and some of the
associations which cluster around the resting-place of the
ancestors of our Washington.

JOHN A. ANDREW.

* * * * *

MR. SPARKS TO THE GOVERNOR.

CAMBRIDGE, February 22, 1861.

DEAR SIR: I enclose a copy of a highly interesting letter from Mr.
Charles Sumner, describing the church at Brington, near Althorp, in
Northamptonshire. In this church were deposited the remains of
Lawrence Washington, who was the father of John and Lawrence
Washington