able sensations.

I hope that you and my sister, although the distance is great, will find so much time this summer, as to spend a little of it at Mount Vernon."

In October he wrote again to the same brother-John A. Washington.

"I am obliged to you for your advice to my wife, and for your intention of visiting her. Seeing no great prospect of returning to my family and friends this winter, I have sent an invitation to Mrs. Washington to come to me, although I fear the season is too far advanced to admit this with any tolerable degree of convenience, especially if she should, when my letters get home, be in New Kent, as I believe the case will be. I have laid before her a statement of the difficulties, however, which must attend the journey, and left it to her own choice." Some weeks after the above, he writes to Joseph Reed, from the Camp at Cambridge:

"I thank you for your frequent mention of Mrs. Washington. I expect that she will be in Philadelphia about the time this letter may reach you, on her way hither. As she and her conductor, who I suppose will be Mr. Custis, her son, are perfect strangers to the road, the stages, and the proper place to cross Hudson's River, by all means avoiding New-York, I shall be much obliged by your particular instructions, and advice to her. I imagine, as the roads are bad and the weather cold, her stages must be short, especially as I presume her horses will be fatigued; as when they get to Philadelphia, they will have performed a journey of at least four hundred and fifty miles, my express having found her

among her friends near Williamsburg, one hundred and fifty miles below my own house."

He writes to the same December 15th, "75.

"Since my last, I have had the pleasure of receiving your favours of the 28th ultimo, and the 2d instant. I must again express my gratitude for the attention shown to Mrs. Washington at Philadelphia. It cannot but be pleasing, although it did, in some measure, impede the progress of her journey."

To the same, he writes, December 25th, 1775.

"I am so much indebted for the civilities shown to Mrs. Washington on her journey hither, that I hardly know how to acknowledge them. Some of the enclosed (all of which I beg the favour of you to put into the post-office) are directed to that end, and I shall be obliged to you for presenting my thanks to the command

"Mrs. Washington arrived in camp on the 11th of December, accompanied by her son, Mr. Custis, and his wife.-It seems that some persons thought her in danger at Mount Vernon, which stands on the bank of the Potomac River, and is accessible to armed ships of the largest size. Lund Washington had written to the General.--“ Many people have made a stir about Mrs. W. continuing at Mount Vernon, but I cannot think there is any danger. The thought I believe originated in Alexandria; from thence it got to Loudoun, and I am told the people of Loudoun talk of sending a guard to conduct her up to Berkley, with some of their principal men, to persuade her to leave this place and accept their offer. Mr. John A. Washington wrote, pressing her to leave Mount Vernon. She does not believe herself in danger. Lord Dunmore will hardly himself venture up this river; nor do I believe he will send on that errand. Surely, her old acquaintance, the attorney, who, with his family, is on board his ship, would prevent his doing an act of that kind. You may depend I will be watchful, and upon the least alarm persuade her to remove."

ing officer of the two battalions of Philadelphia, for the honour done to her and me, as also to any others equally entitled. I very sincerely offer you the compliments of the season, and wish you and Mrs. Reed, and your fire-side, the happy return of many of them, being, dear sir, yours," &c. To John Augustine Washington, he writes, under date of New-York, April 29, 1776.

"Mrs. Washington is still here, and talks of taking the small-pox; but I doubt her resolution. Mr. and Mrs. Custis will set out in a few days for Maryland."

In May he wrote to the same:

"Mrs. Washington is now under inoculation in this city; and will, I expect, have the small-pox favourably. This is the thirteenth day, and she has very few pustules. She would have written to my sister, but thought it prudent not to do so, notwithstanding there could be but little danger of conveying the infection in this manner. She joins me in love to you and all the little ones. I am with every sentiment of regard, dear sir, your most affectionate brother.”

Addressing the Marquis De La Fayette, then in Paris, 30th September, 1779, he says:

"Mrs. Washington, who set out for Virginia when we took the field in June, has often in her letters to me inquired if I had heard from you, and will be much pleased at hearing that you are well and happy. In her name, as she is not here, I thank you for your polite attention to her, and shall speak her sense of the honour conferred on her by the Marchioness."

The following is found in his last Will and Testa

ment:

" Item. To my dearly beloved wife, Martha

Washington, I give and bequeath the use, profit, and benefit of my whole estate, real and personal, for the term of her natural life, except such parts thereof as are specially disposed of hereafter. My improved lot in the town of Alexandria, situated on Pitt and Cameron streets, I give to her and her heirs forever; as I also do my household and kitchen furniture of every sort and kind, with the liquors and groceries which may be on hand at the time of my decease, to be used and disposed of as she may think proper.

"And whereas, it has always been my intention, since my expectation of having issue has ceased, to consider the grand-children of my wife in the same light as I do my own relations, and to act a friendly part by them, more especially by the two who we have raised from their earliest infancy: Wherefore, I give and bequeath," &c.

To these strong proofs of the warm and devoted attachment of Washington to his excellent wife, we only add the following touching incident, :

On the sad night of his dissolution, when attend ants were about to prepare his body for the grave, a miniature likeness of Mrs. Washington was found on his breast, where it had hung, suspended by a ribbon from his neck, for more than forty years.

CHAPTER X.

HIS RESPECT FOR SUPERIORS.

THERE are few dispositions of the human heart of more worth, than that which inclines us to pay a due respect to properly constituted authority, and render a willing obedience to its legitimate commands. Without this important virtue in cheerful exercise, it is manifest that the ends of society cannot be attained. All that is precious in the social state, would soon fall a sacrifice to the opposite spirit. Where there was once peace, quiet, comfort and prosperity, "wild uproar now lording it wide," would convert the grateful scene into one of universal confusion, distress and misery.

That the tendency of our age is to an abuse of liberty, and the sacrifice of its blessings at the shrine of an exaggerated equality among men, is obvious to the most superficial observation. There is abroad a morbid dread of power, which scarcely admits of the existence of any kind or degree of government. Rulers are regarded in the light of mere automata, elevated, not to govern, but to be governed; so that every thing like free and intelligent action on their part, is considered an offence