. The old cannon foundry above Georgetown, and its first owner Henry Foxall . emainedan undivided part of the Mason estate, the operationsof the foundry being superintended by James Mayna-dier Mason, one of the sons and executors of GeneralMason; but in 1854 a sale was made to Spencer B. Eoot,subsequently to John S. Berry, and so on through manyvicissitudes and some litigation, down to its acquisitionin 1888 by the present owner. After the sale to Rootthe foundry was operated for some years under themanagement of Kirkland & Duvall, both members ofthe firm having been employed by General M
. The old cannon foundry above Georgetown, and its first owner Henry Foxall . emainedan undivided part of the Mason estate, the operationsof the foundry being superintended by James Mayna-dier Mason, one of the sons and executors of GeneralMason; but in 1854 a sale was made to Spencer B. Eoot,subsequently to John S. Berry, and so on through manyvicissitudes and some litigation, down to its acquisitionin 1888 by the present owner. After the sale to Rootthe foundry was operated for some years under themanagement of Kirkland & Duvall, both members ofthe firm having been employed by General Mason; butfinding the business unprofitable in so inconvenient alocation—having no government work to rely on—theymoved into Georgetown. Since then the old establish-ment has been used for several purposes—at one time * Since this paper was originally prepared, I have learned from anarticle appearing in the Washington Evening Star that Mr. Craginand his sister have disposed of the property. 5 z • C r z • - — 2 I! :. The Foxall Cannon Foundry. 15 it was a distillery—but it never has been again put toits original use as a foundry. Prior to bis coming to Georgetown Mr. Foxall hadbeen engaged in the iron business in Philadelphia,where he formed the acquaintance of nearly all theprominent officers of the government, his partner beingRobert Morris, Jr., son of the celebrated financier ofthe Eevolution. The designation of the concern wasthe Eagle Iron Works, and its business was principallythe manufacture of cannon for the War and Navy De-partments. Several writers have asserted that Foxallspartner in Philadelphia, and even in Georgetown, wasRobert Morris, the father;* but this is probably a mis-take, for in the early part of 1798 that great man—whohad been financially embarrassed even before the timeof Foxalls emigration to the United States, which issaid to have been in 1797—was committed to a debtorsprison, from which he was not released until August26, Assu
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