PREFACE. THE life of General Washington presents an example so pre-eminently worthy of being imitated by the youth of our free and happy country, whose prosperity he did so much to establish, and affords so conspicuous an exhibition of the rewards of fidelity, truth, industry, and virtue, that any attempt to spread it more generally before the young cannot fail to meet with public approbation. The author of this little volume, however, makes no pretensions to originality. He has presented to the public nothing which has not been said before; and his object has been merely to compress the voluminous incidents of General Washington's life into such a compass as would best suit the class of readers for whom he has written, and narrate them in such plain and simple language as cannot fail to make them easily understood. In the hope that his work will prove acceptable in these particulars, he presents his labours to the public. Life of Washington. THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON. CHAPTER 1. Remarks Birth and descent of George Washington-Mr. Washington-Mrs. Washington-Her character, and the influence of her instructions-Education of George-Conduct-Character of his mind while at school. GREATNESS is in many respects the creature of circumstances. It is possible for the elements to exist in the mind without producing any extraordinary distinction. It is also possible to acquire fame without those qualities which are requisite to true greatness. But, as fire tries gold, so do adversity, difficulty, and danger, test the principles and powers of the human mind. The vessel that glides gracefully along before the summer breeze may be but little fitted to endure the wild commotion of the ocean tempest; and he who gathers laurels in the sunshine of prosperity may grasp after them in vain during times of danger and trial. To form a truly great character, then, there must be ability, virtue, and opportunity for action. The man must be endowed with those high qualities of mind requisite to give his acts the stamp of wisdom, and to acquire for him the respect of mankind. He must be placed in circumstances which will enable him to produce a powerful action on society. He must bury every selfish feeling, and devote himself, with benevolent zeal, to the glory of his country, or the good of his fellow-men. Such a rare combination of circumstances and virtues can, in the nature of things, but seldom meet; and, hence, in the history of the world, there are few instances of transcendant greatness. But among that few stands forth, brightest and best, GEORGE WASHINGTON, who, by the unanimous judgment of mankind, is styled the FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY. The family from which he descended was of English origin. In the county of Durham, in the thirteenth century, was an estate called the manor of Washington, which fell into the hands of William de Hertburn, who, according to the custom of that age, adopted the name of his estate; and from him have descended the various branches of the Washington family in England and America. In 1538 the manor of Sulgrave, in Northamptonshire, was granted to one of the descendants, Lawrence Washington, who was for some time mayor of the city. His grandson had a large family, two of whom, John and Lawrence, emigrated to America, and in 1657 settled at Bridge's Creek, on the Potomac river, in Westmoreland county, Virginia. Lawrence had three children, John, Augustine, and Mildred. Augustine, the second son, and the father of George, was twice married. By his first wife he had three sons and a daughter, Butler, Lawrence, Augustine, and Jane. After the loss of his first wife, at the age of thirty |