ginia troops. The station was one with which he was much gratified, and to which he was successively elected, from the time that he closed his last campaign until he was called to the head of the American army.

"At his retreat at Mount Vernon he put in practice that system of regularity and temperance, in every species of indulgence and labour, which he persevered in, as far as was consistent with his circumstances and situation, during the remainder of his life. His moments were numbered and divided, and devoted to his various objects and pursuits. His hours of rising and going to bed were the same throughout every season of the year. He always rose before the sun, and remained in his library until called to breakfast; and his time for retiring to rest was nine o'clock, whether he had company or not. He breakfasted at seven o'clock in summer, and eight in winter; dined at two, and drank his tea, of which he was very fond, early in the evening, never taking supper. His breakfast always consisted of four small corn cakes, split, buttered, and divided into quarters, with two small sized cups of tea. At dinner he ate with a good appetite, but was not choice of his food. He was very kind, affectionate, and attentive to his family, scrupulously observant of every thing relating to the comfort, as well as the deportment and manners of the younger

members.

"His habits of military command produced a similar system with regard to his servants, of

whom he exacted prompt attention and obedience. These conditions complied with, and they were sure of never being subjected to caprice or passion. Neglect or ill conduct was promptly noticed, for the eye of the master was everywhere, and nothing connected with the economy of his estate escaped him. He knew

the value of independence, and the mode by which it is obtained and preserved. With him idleness was an object of contempt, and prodigality of aversion. He never murdered an hour in wilful indolence, or wasted a dollar in worthless enjoyment. He was as free from extravagance as from meanness or parsimony, and never, in the whole course of his life, did he turn his back on a friend, or trifle with a creditor.+

"His occupation was husbandry, the noblest of all employments; his principal amusement was hunting the deer, which at that time abounded in the forests of the Potomac. Here his skill in horsemanship rendered him conspicuous above all his competitors. He also read much. His custom was to retire to a private room, where no one was permitted to interrupt him. Much curiosity prevailed among the servants to know what he was about, and Jeremy (an old servant of the family) relates that, in order to gratify it, he one morning entered the room under pretence of bringing a pair of boots. Washington, who was reading, raised his eyes from the book, and getting quietly up,—' I tell you,' said Jeremy, I go out of de room faster dan I come in."

* Paulding.

He was wont to keep an almanac interleaved with blank pages, on which he made memoranda of his affairs. One of these, for the year 1762, is still in possession of the family at Mount Vernon, and the records are all entered in the handwriting of Washington. The following may serve as a specimen of the manner in which they were kept :

April 5. Sowed timothy seed in the old apple orchard below the hill.

April 7. Sowed, or rather sprinkled, a little of ditto on the oats.

April 26. Began to plant corn at all my plantations.

May 4. Finished planting corn at all my plantations.

In his sports he was particularly fond of the athletic; hunting, fowling, and the like; and he who interfered with the game upon his estate, without his consent, was sure to incur his displeasure. An instance of this is related by Mr. Sparks, as illustrating his personal courage. A man of reckless character and lawless habits was wont to cross the Potomac in a canoe, and ascending the creeks to an obscure place near the residence at Mount Vernon, shoot ducks and other game in defiance of the owner's injunction to the contrary.

"One day, hearing the discharge of a musket, Washington mounted his horse, and rode in the direction of the sound. The intruder discovered his approach, and had just time to gain the canoe and push it from the shore, when Wash

ington emerged from the bushes at the distance of a few yards. The man raised his gun, cocked it, pointed it at him, and took deliberate aim; but without a moment's hesitation he rode into the water, seized the prow of the canoe, drew it to land, disarmed his antagonist, and inflicted on him a chastisement which he never again chose to run the hazard of encountering."

During the periods of his attendance at the house of burgesses, he met on terms of intimacy the eminent men of Virginia and most of the other colonies, who, at that time, lived in a style of magnificence which has long since passed away; and returned their civilities at Mount Vernon on a scale of hospitality commensurate alike with his generous soul and ample means. This interchange of kind offices strengthened his influence; gave weight to his opinions and character; and assisted in opening the way for his subsequent elevation.

In the house of burgesses he took an early, open, and decided stand in asserting and defending the rights of the colonies against the usurpations of the British government.

He

was in the house when Patrick Henry introduced his celebrated resolutions against the scheme of taxing America, and was a member of the convention when that distinguished orator, with almost superhuman energy, proclaimed the alternative of slavery or war."

"There is," said he, "no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges

for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sirs, we must fight!! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts, is all that is left us! Gentle

men may cry, Peace, peace; but there is no peace. What is it that they wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me," cried he, with both arms extended aloft, his brows knit, every feature marked with the resolute purpose of his soul, and his voice swelled to its boldest note, "give me liberty, or give me death!"

To these strong positions both the heart and the voice of Washington responded; though the habitual prudence which characterized his mind led him to take every measure to prevent the fearful alternative. But he was not the man to give his voice for submission when it implied dishonour or servitude. In a letter to Mr. Fairfax, he says, “If I were in any doubt as to the right which the parliament of Great Britain had to tax us without our consent, I should most heartily coincide with you in opinion that to petition, and petition only, is the proper method to apply for relief; but I have no such doubt. I think the parliament have no more right to