id Griffith (1780-1789), Bryan
Fairfax (1790-1792), and Thomas Davis (1792-1802). The last named
officiated at General Washington's funeral. But in the second year of
Davis' ministry, President Washington had received the following
solicitation:

Alexandria. 22^d Feb^y 1793

Sir

The Episcopal Congregation of this Town and Neighborhood, being
extremely pleased with the induction of that Respectable Character
and accomplished Preacher, Mr. Davis, wish to compleat their
satisfaction by the acquisition of an Organ.

As no one can be more desirous of obtaining it than myself, I have
been requested to undertake the Collection of Subscriptions; and I
have been instructed to leave a place at the head of my Paper for a
Name which has always been foremost in every undertaking both of
private and public munificence.

I think it necessary to mention my being only an Agent in this
business, that, should there be any impropriety in the present
application, no more than a due share of it may be imparted to me. I
may have been mislead by the Opinions of others, and seduced by my
own Eagerness to accomplish a favorite purpose, but I beg of you Sir,
to be persuaded that no Earthly consideration should tempt me to
violate, wittingly, those Sentiments of perfect respect with which I
am

Sir
Your most obliged & obedient Servant
Sm Hansen of Sam^l

Docket: From
Col^o Sam^l Hanson
22^d Feb. 1793[126]

The letter was long in passage, but it elicited the desired result the
following April. The President entirely approved this measure and
affixed his name to the paper, regretful at the same time that public
subscriptions of all sorts limited the size of his contribution.

This instrument, now preserved in the Smithsonian Institution, has had
an engaging history. Built in England in 1700, it was first used in the
colonial church at Port Royal and from thence was acquired for
Alexandria. After considerable service at Christ Church, it went to the
Episcopal church at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and about the middle
of the nineteenth century passed to St. Thomas Episcopal Church at
Hancock, Maryland. It was presented to the Smithsonian by the vestry of
the latter church in 1907.

Christ Church is proud of its association with the Reverend William
Meade, afterward the Virgini