354 Sniitln ,'ii ///.v/o/'/.v// ,S'or/V/// /'.if,, /*.
were those with John Randolph, of Virginia, Richard Stanford and Nathaniel Macon, of North Carolina, and Edward Lloyd and Francis S. Key, of Maryland, all of whom except the last were his colleagues. These gentlemen called themselves Republicans, in distinction from the Federalists of the day, but they were also known as " The Third Party," as they frequently opposed measures of 'the regular admin- istration, Republican, and they were particularly noted as strong States-rights men. As is well known, the Democratic party of the present day is the successor of the old Republican party. Mr. Gar- nett kept up a constant correspondence with these gentleman, espe- cially with John Randolph and Richard Stanford, and he survived all of his friends above-mentioned. While the Randolph corres- pondence has been preserved, the letters of Stanford have been lost, which is much to be regretted, as they were full of talent and rich humor.
Although Mr. Garnett inherited a considerable amount of prop- erty, he became in advanced age somewhat embarrassed in his cir- cumstances, owing chiefly to his profuse hospitality and personal benevolence.
As a means of partial relief he opened a school for young ladies at his residence, Elm wood, about the year 1821. With the exception of the teachers of drawing and music, this school was taught exclu- sively by his -wife and daughters, who were eminently qualified for such a task, as they possessed a high order of talent and a thor- ough education. Mrs. Garnett was a lady of remarkable mental powers, of high cultivation, and of a character that secured the love and admiration of all who knew her. Mr. Garnett's duties in con- nection with the school were the holding of daily family prayers, morning and evening, and the correction and criticism of the English compositions. But his most serious work was the writing and deliv- ery of lectures to the school once in each quarter.
These lectures on Female Education were published in 1824 and 1825, and rapidly went through four editions.*
Did time permit it would be interesting to quote from the " Gos- sip's Manual, or Maxims of Conversation and Conduct adapted to
- I am the fortunate possessor of a copy of the second edition of the lec-
tures (Richmond, 1824), embellished with a portrait in water colors of Mr. Garnett, drawn by his cousin, Miss Margaret Mercer (daughter of Governor John Francis Mercer, of Maryland), who herself for many years had a school for young ladies at Belmont, near Leesburg, in Loudoun county.
