So close was his friendship with Lafayette that they exchanged swords. The sword Lafayette gave Barber is now in the Washington headquarters at Newburgh, N. Y., while the one Barber gave in exchange is preserved in Paris. Speaking of men noted in the military world, a few years ago, General Stryker, president of the Society of the Cincinnati, at the meeting of that organization, which was attended by William P. Barber, said that he considered Colonel Barber an ideal soldier. W. P. Barber is a great great-grandson of Colonel Barber. Colonel Barber was the tutor of Alexander Hamilton. [Illustration: GEN. PHELPS MONTGOMERY. New Haven, Conn. A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. ] After having escaped the dangers of the many military campaigns, Colonel Barber was finally killed, 1783, by a most peculiar accident. Just after peace had been declared, General Washington summoned all his officers to meet him at his headquarters in Newburgh. Colonel Barber was on his way there, and but a few miles distant, when he came upon a gang of men chopping down trees in a piece of woods. One of the men called to him in a warning tone to stop his horse, just as a tree had started to topple over in his path. The chopper thought the tree was going to fall another way, but it struck and killed the unsuspecting officer, who realized his danger too late to save himself. Had he been allowed to go on without stopping, a life of such inestimable value to his country would without doubt have been saved. He was a fine scholar, a skillful and brave officer and rendered great and important services to his country. CONCERNING THE IRISH MONTGOMERYS. In the _New York Herald_, September 10, 1905, is a statement by “L. W., London, England,” giving many details of interest concerning the ancestry and family of Gen. Richard Montgomery. The statement appears in the genealogical department of the _Herald_, of that date, which department is conducted by Mrs. Clara H. Manning. The statement is in answer to a correspondent and is as follows: “H. W. N.’s family tradition is at fault. Gen. Richard Montgomery had no sister Elizabeth. His only sister was Sarah, wife of Charles Jones, fourth Viscount Planelagh, and mother of thirteen children. General Montgomery had brothers, John and Alexander. John died unmarried in Lisbon, 1786. His administration is in the Prerogative Court of Ireland. Alexander, the brother, was captain in the Forty-third Regiment and member of the Irish Parliament for County Donegal; died unmarried September 29, 1800. His will is in the Prerogative Court of Ireland. Lady Planelagh and her three brothers were the children of Thomas Montgomery, of Swords, near Dublin, eldest son of Alexander Montgomery, of Ballyleek, who married Mary Francklyn.