Parson Blair's Snack

George Wythe Munford, "Parson Blair's Snack", in The Two Parsons; Cupid's Sports; The Dream; and The Jewels of Virginia, (Richmond, Virginia: J.D.K. Sleight, 1884), 357-365.

Chapter text

Page 357

CHAPTER XXIII.
PARSON BLAIR'S SNACK.—CHANCELLOR WYTHE.

GEORGE WYTHE, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, had removed to Richmond from the old city of Williamsburg, and was Chancellor of the State at this time. He lived in an old two-story framed house immediately in the rear of that large tulip poplar tree at the corner of Grace and Fifth streets, on the handsome lot where Mr. Abraham Warwick formerly resided. He had been intimate with John Blair, who had been president of William and Mary College when he was professor of law, and in consequence of that intimacy sought out our good Parson, John D. Blair, and delighted in his society and friendship, and through his means became equally intimate with Parson Buchanan. They soon became congenial companions and spent many happy hours together, sometimes sitting in the yard under the shade of the poplar, reading the Greek and Latin poets together in the originals, and at other times discussing questions suggested by Eurypides, Sophocles or Homer.

Old Mr. Burwell Bassett, who for many years subsequently represented the Williamsburg district in the Congress of the United States, and was a warm and intimate friend of the Chancellor, sent him a present of a large basket of fresh crabs, packed in ice, to keep, as he said, the kindly regard which each had entertained for the other fresh in their memories. The Chancellor sent the greater portion of them to his

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friend, Parson Blair, and then meeting Parson Buchanan, as he was on his way to court, told him he had better drop in, for Parson Blair had sent a note asking him to come and partake of crabs at twelve o'clock, which, on account of his engagement, he was compelled to decline.

Parson Blair forthwith dispatched the following note to Mr. Munford, which was intended for himself and his brother-in-law, Mr. William Radford:

"DEAR SIR:

"Come over at twelve,
And in a crab delve,
   And put by your books of the law;
Without reading about it,
I can give you, don't doubt it,
   A very substantial good claw.
Could I get a word pat in,
In English or Latin,
About my friend William,
I'd get you to tell him,
I have crabs only two;
But if he'll come with you,
I'll give him 'his fairin','
In a charming 'broiled herrin'.'

"J. D. B."

Without a poetical answer all the amusement would have been lost; therefore Mr. Munford returns the following card:

"DEAR SIR:

" Your Rev'rence is good,
Both in doctrine and food,
   And in neither is ever deficient

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See also

• Chancellor Wythe's Death

References