One of these, by the name of Dagworthy, was particularly obstinate. Washington applied for the positive order of the governor to bring him to obedience; but the matter was too delicate for his interference, and he gave him no satisfaction. He then determined to make application to the commander-in-chief, General Shirly, who was at Boston; and his designs being favoured by the governor, he set out on his journey February 4, 1756, performing the whole distance, about five hundred miles, on horseback. By this promptness and energy he secured his object. Dagworthy was reduced to submission.

While on this journey, the youthful colonel met with a lady who is said to have greatly attracted his attention. He met her at the house of Mr. Beverly Robinson, in New-York, where he was entertained with great hospitality, both on his way out and on his return. It was Miss Mary Phillips, a sister of Mrs. Robinson, and a young lady of rare personal attractions. Washington lingered at Mr. Robinson's till he was called away by duty; but, it would seem, entered into no engagement; and it is probable that his subsequent cares prevented him from renewing his acquaintance. He never saw her again until she was married to one of his companions in arms, Captain Morris, one of General Braddock's aids.

This and the following campaign were entirely defensive, and spent in skirmishing with the Indians, repairing the old forts, and building

new ones. Washington urged the raising of a sufficient force to attack Fort Duquesne, as the only way of putting an end to the predatory warfare of the Indians; but the government could not be brought to second his views. The campaign of 1758 opened with better prospects; and from this time to the termination of the war he had the gratification to receive the hearty co-operation of the provincial government. The accession of Mr. Pitt to the British ministry had infused a new energy into the national councils; and, to the great joy of Washington, an expedition was at last planned against Fort Duquesne.

This expedition was placed under the charge of General Forbes; and, during the early part of the season, Washington was diligently engaged in forwarding the preparations. At length, after various delays, the army was assembled at Fort Cumberland; but the health of General Forbes was such as to prevent him from joining it for some time. During this period, Washington was surprised to learn that he was hesitating as to the route he should pursue in crossing the mountains. Braddock's Road, as it was called, had been cut through the wilderness at immense cost and labour, and was the only one that could be used in the transportation of cannon and military stores. Under such circumstances, to think of cutting a new road seemed to Washington, who was well acquainted with the route, as the height of folly, and he used all his efforts with the general to prevail on him

not only to take the old road, but to march immediately, before the enemy could receive accessions to their strength.

But all his representations were in vain. The more he reasoned the more was the general set in his purpose of cutting a new road, and the work was commenced. At the end of six weeks, when the whole army might have been before the fort, had they taken Washington's advice, they had advanced only forty-five miles. in cutting the road, and the main body of the army had not moved.

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This conduct on the part of General Forbes is altogether inexplicable, and was a riddle which Washington was never able to unravel. Behold," says he, in a letter to the speaker of the house," how the golden opportunity has been lost, perhaps never more to be regained! How is it to be accounted for? Can General Forbes have orders for this? Impossible! Will, then, our injured country pass by such abuses? I hope not.'

Still the project was persisted in, and the army toiled with incredible hardships, until the month of November with its frosts and snows reminded the general that it was necessary to provide for winter quarters. They were still more than fifty miles from Fort Duquesne, and their way lay through a pathless and rugged wilderness to advance further seemed impossible, and nothing was therefore left but an encampment among the mountains, or a retreat to the frontier settlements.

Thus far all the anticipations of Washington had been realized, but an accident prevented the disgraceful alternatives which had been presented. Three prisoners were captured, who gave such an account of the weak state of the fort that a council of war, which had just decided on a retreat, was induced to reverse its decision, and to resolve on prosecuting the enterprise. The danger now being considered less, the march was pursued without tents or baggage, and with only a light train of artillery. They advanced more rapidly, and on the 25th of November, 1758, reached the ashes of Fort Duquesne, which had been abandoned the day before, and burned to the ground.

Such was the termination of an expedition which had employed more than six thousand men for five months. It was carried forward merely to see the end of the French power in the west, but not to be instrumental in its destruction. Henceforth the tide of war settled toward the north, and in the following year the great blow was struck by General Wolfe, on the plains of Abraham, near Quebec. A small detachment was left to rebuild and secure the fort, which was now, in compliment to the British minister, named Fort Pitt. The remainder of the army fell back to Virginia, and Washington, deeming the war to be over, so far as that province was concerned, resigned his commission on the last week of December, 1758.

"The events of this war had a more import

ant influence on the life and character of Washington than might at first be supposed. They proved to him and to the world his mental resources, courage, fortitude, and power over the will and actions of others. They were in fact a school of practical knowledge and discipline, qualifying him for the great work in which he was to be engaged at a future day. The duties of his station at the head of the Virginia troops, and the difficulties he had to contend with during an active warfare of five years, bore a strong resemblance to those that devolved on him as commander-in-chief of the American armies in the Revolution. They differed in magnitude, and in the ends to be attained; but it will be seen that they were analogous in many striking particulars, and that the former were an essential preparation for the latter."*

CHAPTER VI.

Mount Vernon-Marriage-Habits of life-AnecdoteHospitality-Conduct as a legislator-Takes an early and decided stand against the course pursued by the British government toward the colonies-Attends the first congress as a member from Virginia-Patrick Henry's opinion of him.

AMONG the great men who have astonished the world by their splendid achievements or high intellectual endowments, how few there are whose private lives correspond in purity and usefulness with their public renown! A Cesar, a Bonaparte, or a Byron may command * Sparks.