Object of the Memorials-Washington joins Braddock-Early discouragementsMary Phillipse-Rochambeau at Mount Vernon-English description of Washington-Rebukes Lund Washington-Labour in founding the City of Washington-Visits his mother at Fredericksburg-Declines State money aid-Course of life at Mount Vernon-Organization of CongressWashington elected President-Proceeds to New York-Ovations en routeSworn in as President-Seat of Government removed to PhiladelphiaThe Philadelphia Mansion-Washington's English carriage describedalso his presentation china-Equipages and plate described-Loss of valuable correspondence between Sharples and Robert Fulton greatly to be deplored-Eventful occurrences of 1794 and 1795-Jefferson's retirementand requested resumption of office-Vaughan, a London merchant, presents chimney-piece at Mount Vernon.

THE design of this volume being to place before the world much deeply interesting matter in the lives of Washington and his mother never before made known, and which the writer feels will help to make valuable history, as additional evidences of the grandeur of their characters, it has been a necessitous duty to weave into the narrative of these important revelations much that has come down through the biographies by the many writers honoured in contributing each a stone towards building up the edifice of Washington's life. So far as the main facts are concerned, much is found to be a repetition of preceding writers. To such an extent is this with records of the Great Patriot's life, as to render it frequently difficult to trace and quote the original author. Without these narratives, however, his work would be even less connected than he fears it will with such helps prove. Far be it from the writer's wish to adopt as original that which has emanated from others. It is, however, difficult to say who was the author of much even of the most interesting and ably recorded materials forming the life of

242 GRATIFICATION IN PRESENTING MARY'S PORTRAIT.

Washington. The writer of this volume aspires to no merit whatever in his work. His duty has been to present facts coming down through one deservedly honoured in Washington's confidence, and to combine with this labour of love the high privilege of gratifying his readers in possessing them with the only known portrait of Mary Washington. In itself, this is enough; apology for unworthy matter of the surrounding frame will not be required. The additional honour of giving through this volume worthily executed presentments of the Sharples portraits of Washington himself, his wife, and the many remarkable women whose characteristics, beauty, and grace throw such additional charms on the eventful period and life of him of undying fame, will, he feels, be allowed to atone for his own shortcomings in these Memorials.

The

Examination of Cary's papers proves that, like Martha Washington, Cary had been requested to destroy all letters having reference to the events in which he had so faithfully served his friend. These letters were very numerous. worthy London merchant construed the command more literally than was necessary. Every scrap of his own having reference to the Patriot is couched in terms of deepest affection and respect. One passage fairly illustrates all-thus: "Who can fail to see in Washington a creation vouchsafed for purposes which only future generations can realize. May not the follies of the old world at some distant day inter all the pride of its power and the pomp of its civilization, and may not human nature find her destined renovation in the Empire created by Washington! May not the glory of past great ones prove to be legendary traditions! The monumental record of natural rise and natural ruin proclaims that no splendour of achievement, no solidity of success, can ensure to Empire the permanence of its possession. Troy thought so once,

WASHINGTON INVITED TO ALEXANDRIA.

243

yet the land of Priam lives only in song! Thebes thought so once, yet her hundred gates have crumbled, and her tombs are as the dust they were destined to commemorate. So thought Palmyra! Where is she? So thought Demosthenes and the Spartans, but Leonidas is trampled by the timid slave. The rays of their glory are as if they never had been, and the island that was then a mere speck, rude and neglected in the barren ocean, now rivals all the wealth of their commerce, the glory of their names, the fame of their philosophy, the eloquence of their senate, and the inspiration of their bards."

During the war between the French and English, that commenced in 1755, when Braddock served as commanderin-chief of the British forces in America, until the close of the campaign of 1758, Washington was almost continually in the public service. He had been promoted to colonel in 1754, but on account of new military arrangements by a narrowminded governor he had left the service with disgust, and retired to Mount Vernon, with a determination to spend his life there in his loved pursuits of agriculture.

General Braddock came to America in 1758 to arrange a campaign against the French. Braddock soon heard encomiums of the character of Colonel Washington, and invited him to Alexandria. Mount Vernon was little more than an hour's ride distant, and Washington's military ardour was aroused to obey the summons. From Mount Vernon he looked upon the ships-of-war on the bosom of the Potomac that bore Braddock and his troops, and the thought that close to his dwelling preparations were in progress for a brilliant campaign, under the command of an experienced general of the British army, stirred the depths of his soul, and made him yearn to go again to the field. At Jonathan Carey's residence, Braddock's headquarters, the young provincial colonel and the veteran general

244 WASHINGTON ON THE FIELD OF MONONGAHELA.

first met, at the close of March. Carey's was then the finest house in Alexandria, surrounded by a noble lawn that was shaded by lofty forest trees, and its gardens extending down a gentle slope to the shore of the Potomac. Now it stands within the city, hemmed in by buildings and paved streets, a conversion natural to New World cities. The convention of governors met in it in April, and there the ensuing campaign was planned.

Braddock invited Washington to join his military family, as aide, with the rank he had lately borne. The mother of the young colonel hastened to Mount Vernon to persuade him not to accept it. She urged the claims of his and her own affairs upon his attention, as strong reasons for him not to enter the army again, and for two days she held his decision in abeyance, for filial obedience was one of the strongest sentiments of his nature. But it was not strong enough to restrain him on this occasion-or rather God's will must be obeyed-and he left Mount Vernon for Alexandria, after her departure for the Rappahannock, and was welcomed into Braddock's family with joy by Captains Orme and Morris.

On the 9th of July following, we behold him upon the bloody field of the Monongahela, shielded by God's providence, untouched by ball or bayonet, arrow or javelin, while carnage was laying its scores of victims around him, and his commander was borne mortally wounded from the field -we behold him riding from point to point, bringing order out of confusion, and leading away from that aceldama the shattered battalions of the proud army of the morning to a place of safety and repose. Then he returned to Mount Vernon, weak from recent sickness and exposure in the field. In his little library there, he wrote to his brother, then a member of the House of Burgesses at Williamsburg, and thus summed up his military career :

EARLY DISCOURAGEMENTS IN MILITARY LIFE. 245

"I was employed to go a journey in the winter, when I believe few or none would have undertaken it, and what did I get by it? My expenses borne! I was then appointed, with trifling pay, to conduct a handful of men to the Ohio. What did I get by that? Why, after putting myself to a considerable expense in equipping and providing necessaries for the campaign, I went out, was soundly beaten, and lost all! Came in, and had my commission taken from me; or, in other words, my command reduced, under pretence of an order from home. I then went out a volunteer with General Braddock, and lost all my horses, and many other things. But this being a voluntary act, I ought not to have mentioned it; nor should I have done it, were it not to show that I have been on the losing order ever since I entered the service, which is now nearly two years."

But what wonderful and necessary lessons for the future had Washington learned during that time!

Mount Vernon saw but little of its master during the next four years; for the flame of war lighted up the land from Acadia and along the St. Lawrence, away down to the beautiful Cherookee country, in Western Georgia and Carolina, and Washington was most of the time in camp, except from December, 1757, until March, 1758, when he was an invalid at home.

In February, 1756, we find him, accompanied by two aides, journeying to Boston, to confer with General Shirley concerning military rank in Virginia. Little did he then think that twenty years later he would again be there, directing a siege against the New England capital, in command of rebels against the crown he was then serving! The life even of Washington had its share of romance.

On his return,

We find him lingering in New York. writers of the time record how the young soldier, apparently invincible to the mortal weapons of war, was sorely smitten