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preserved, shows the same habits of minute observation for which he was always distinguished.

Large estates were left by his brother, which required his immediate attention. Mount Vernon was bequeathed to the surviving daughter, and in case of her death, was to descend to Washington, together with other lands, and he was also named in the will as one of the executors. His time and thoughts were, for several months, much occupied with the business which these new duties devolved upon him, but it did not absorb so much of his attention as to induce any neglect of his military office. On the other hand, as a collision with the French was becoming every day more probable, the consequent preparation continued to increase, and his command was enlarged, and rendered more active and responsible.

It was thus that Providence was preparing him, by useful studies, responsible duties, and constant exercise of both body and mind, for that career of usefulness which opened before him, step by step, in slow and painful labours, through anxieties and disasters, triumphs and reverses, till he reached the summit of imperishable fame. We have hitherto contemplated him only as a boy, or, at most, an enterprising youth: we are now to behold him in more active and trying situations, where all his patience, fortitude, and perseverance were called into action, by duties which might well have weighed down a man of much greater years and experience.

But his genius always proved equal to the emergency, and new trials only served to develope more and more the superiour qualities of his mind.

T CHAPTER III.

Plan of the French to secure the valley of the Mississippi-Governor Dinwiddie resolves to send a commissioner to the commander of the French posts-Washington is selected-Difficulties encountered in the performance of the duty -Meets an Indian council at Logtown-Makes accurate observations of the enemies' position and strength-Encounters perils and hardships on his return-Publishes his journal-Is applauded, &c.

Ar the period of which we are now treating, the vast and fertile region lying west of the Allegany mountains, and stretching from the great lakes on the north to the gulf of Mexico on the south, was a wild, dense, and almost interminable forest. Its importance, however, began to be appreciated; and the French and English were alike anxious to appropriate to themselves these extensive and valuable lands. The young reader must remember that the French were already in possession of the two extremes, Canada and Louisiana, and their design was to erect a line of forts along the Mississippi, by which these extremes would be united, secure the aid of the Indians, and thus keep the British colonies within the boundaries of the Alleganies. The English, suspicious that this was their plan, were on the alert to

preserved, shows the same habits of minute observation for which he was always distinguished.

Large estates were left by his brother, which required his immediate attention. Mount Vernon was bequeathed to the surviving daughter, and in case of her death, was to descend to Washington, together with other lands, and he was also named in the will as one of the executors. His time and thoughts were, for several months, much occupied with the business which these new duties devolved upon him, but it did not absorb so much of his attention as to induce any neglect of his military office. On the other hand, as a collision with the French was becoming every day more probable, the consequent preparation continued to increase, and his command was enlarged, and rendered more active and responsible.

It was thus that Providence was preparing him, by useful studies, responsible duties, and constant exercise of both body and mind, for that career of usefulness which opened before him, step by step, in slow and painful labours, through anxieties and disasters, triumphs and reverses, till he reached the summit of imperishable fame. We have hitherto contemplated him only as a boy, or, at most, an enterprising youth: we are now to behold him in more active and trying situations, where all his patience, fortitude, and perseverance were called into action, by duties which might well have weighed down a man of much greater years and experience.

But his genius always proved equal to the > emergency, and new trials only served to develope more and more the superiour qualities of his mind.

CHAPTER III.

Plan of the French to secure the valley of the Mississippi-Governor Dinwiddie resolves to send a commissioner to the commander of the French posts-Washington is selected-Difficulties encountered in the performance of the duty -Meets an Indian council at Logtown-Makes accurate observations of the enemies' position and strength-Encounters perils and hardships on his return-Publishes his journal-Is applauded, &c.

Ar the period of which we are now treating, the vast and fertile region lying west of the Allegany mountains, and stretching from the great lakes on the north to the gulf of Mexico on the south, was a wild, dense, and almost interminable forest. Its importance, however, began to be appreciated; and the French and English were alike anxious to appropriate to themselves these extensive and valuable lands. The young reader must remember that the French were already in possession of the two extremes, Canada and Louisiana, and their design was to erect a line of forts along the Mississippi, by which these extremes would be united, secure the aid of the Indians, and thus keep the British colonies within the boundaries of the Alleganies. The English, suspicious, that this was their plan, were on the alert to

counteract it, and the ministry, anticipating, from the political aspect of the times, a rupture with France, despatched orders to the governor of Virginia to build two forts on the Ohio river, for the purpose of securing prior possession, and forwarded thirty pieces of light cannon, and eighty barrels of powder to supply them. These preparations, however, were made too late. The governor of Canada had anticipated them, by pushing forward troops across the lakes into the heart of the disputed territory, while others had ascended from New-Orleans, with the intention of uniting their forces, and had strongly posted themselves in such advantageous positions, as to secure the temporary possession of the country.

When the news of these steps, on the part of the French, reached Governor Dinwiddie, he resolved to send a commissioner, in due form, and invested with suitable powers, to confer with the officer commanding the French forces, and inquire what were his designs in invading the king's dominions. This mission was one of great delicacy as well as difficulty, and could be executed only by a person who combined a knowledge of travelling in the woods with the wisdom and discretion which the importance of the measure demanded.

Washington was, at this time, only twentyone years of age, but his occupation of surveyor had made him familiar with the wilderness, and such was the soundness and discretion of his mind, even at this early age, that he was select

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