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l i-uii. Cu>ti!>, H collection:!. G£N. WASkxNGTON. ITIS 1.1 I K, IIAm I .AND MANNKUS. lien. Washington, iliirln;; the whU; of l)olli his public and privatulifo, was a very early risfer; indcctl, the ]\Iatf;rnal JVIansion at which his first haliits were formed, abhorred the character of a bliicjgard, as much as natiirc does a va cuum. Whether as Chief Maji;istrate, o. the retired Citizen^ find this man of method and labor seated in his lil)iary from on^to two hours before day, in Winj,ei^ and at day-break in Summer. e'wonder at the amazin«: deal of work \vhicli he performed. Nothini; but a fnethod the most remarkable and exem- ])lary, could have enabled him to ac complish an amount of labour, w'hich xnight have given pretty full employ- jiient to the liv's of half a dozen ordin ary, and not idle men. When we con sider the volume of his ofliciul papers— J]is vast foreign, public, and private, correspondence—we are scarc' ly able to believe that the sj»ace of one maii^s ^ife should have coniprelieiuled the do ing so many things, ami doing tliem so • well. 11 is toilette was soon inaiie. A ?ingle servant prepared his clothes, and til'd hisliair,he sji.ivexl and dressed him- seir, giving but very little of his pre- v-ious time to mailers of that sort, •thoiigii remarkai.'le for the neatness and proj)riety of his ajiparel. Jlisclothcs were maile after, tlio old fashioned cut, (»f tlie be-^t, thougli plainest materials. AVhen President of the United States, the style of his household and equipage corresponded \vith the dignity of his exalted station, though avoiding as ]nui'i> as was possible every thing like ^how or parade. The expenses of his rresirency, over and above the salary of the Government, absorbed the pi o- ceeds of the sale of a very considerable estate. The President never appeared in mil itary costume, unlees to receive his brethren of the Cincinnati, or at re views. lie then wore the old opposi tion colors of England, and the regi mental dress of the Volunteer Corps which he commanded prior to the dev olution. W^ith the exception of the brilliant epaulettes, we b«lieve a pre sent from Gen. J^afayetle, and the dia mond order of the Cincinnati, present ed by Seamen of the French fleet, our allies in the war of Liberty, the uni form of the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, under the Constitu tion, was as plain as blue and buff could make it. The cockade, was the only ■type of the heroic time, which append ed to the Chief, during his Civil Alagis- tracy—in all other respects, lie seemed studiously to merge the military into the civil characteristics of his public life. About sunrise, Gen. W’’ashington in variably visited and inspected his sta bles. He was very fond of horses, and his equipage were always of a su perior order. The horses Which he rode, in the War of Independence, W( re said to be superb. We have a pel feet remembrance of the charger xvliich bore him in the greatest of his triumphs, when liereceived the sword of .the van(piishcd, on the ever memorable 19th October, 17S1. It was a chesnut, ■wi h white face and legs, and was qalled Nelsftn, after the patriotic Governor of Virgiiiia. Far dilferent was the fate of this favorite horse of W’^ashington, from that of “the higii mettled Racer.”— When the Chief had relinquished its 1)ack, it was never mounied more, but cropped the herbage in Summer, was 3ioused Slid well oared for in AVinter, often caressetl by the master’s hand, and died of old age at Mount \'ernon,_ ma ny years after the Kevolution. The Library, and a vi^it to the stables, oc- f'upied the moriiiiig till the hour of breakfast: thi.' meal was without change to him, who‘'U jiabits were regular, e- ven to matters which others are so apt 1o indulge themselves in, to endless va riety. Indian rakes, honey, and tea, formed this temperate repast. On ris ing fiom tal'!e, if there were guests, am' it was seMom otherwise, books and ])apers wereofl’ered fortlieir amusement; ihey were requested to take good rare ot themselves, and the illustrious Far- .n‘iC! proc»-eded to the daily tour of his agricultural concerns, lie rode upon his farms entirely unattended, opening jiis gates, jjulling down and ])utting ii|) Jiis 1‘cnces, as he i)assed, visiting his la- })0H'rs at their v.ork, inspecting all the ojieratious-of his extensive agricultiir.d esla!)li^hmc^ts with a careful eye, di recting u^ei’ul improvenients, and su perintending them in their progress.— Jl(’ inliodr.ced many and valuable for eign, as well as domestic mode> of iin- jiroved hu'^bandry, shewing, by experi- jijeut, tlx'ir jiractical utility, and j)ecu- liar •':l.ij;tatioii, to our system ol rural u2airs: ?.iid. by hits zcul and abilil}’, g.ivc a Sj.eeU lo U:C &inl a geiieious 'Hi|,ul>e to the cause ;»1 Agri culture and domestic Economy—those inq)ortant sources of National V> eallii, Irulustry, and independence. 'I'he tour of the farms migl.t average from ten to lifteen miles j)er day. An anecdote occurs to us this moment, which as it embraces a Revolutionary worthy, a long tried and valued friend of the Chief, pnd is graphic of tVush- ingfon on his far'/n, we shall without apology, ])iesent to our readers. We were accosted, while hunling, by an elderly s‘. a:igov, who iuijuireil \vhcther tiie General was to be found at t!iu Mansion House or whether he had gone to visit his Estate. We replied, that he was abroad, anti gave directions as to the route the stranger was to pursue, observing, at the same time, you will meet, sir, with (/n old ^enfbitian rii- in^ alone, in phiin drah cloUics, a broad hriinnicd white hat, a hikcori/ sivi/ch in his hand, and varn/ini^ an vinhrf'Ua with a lon^ staff which is attached to his saddle ho>n—that jjer- sonngc, Sir, is (itntral n ashin^^lon ! The stranger, much amused at our de scription, observed, with a good hu moured smile, Thank yc, tliank ye, young gentleman-; F think, if I fall in with the General, 1 shall be rather aj)t to know liim. At dinner, we had the pleasure of being introduced to Colonel Meade, who had been Aid-de-camp to the Commander in Chief, in the war of the lievolution. The um!)rella was not used as an articleof luxury ; for luxuries wore to him known only by name. Be ing naturally of a very fair complexion, his skin was liable to be allected by the influence of the sun. 'I’his umbrella, just as it was when last he had it down, never again to re- (]uire its friendly shade, we have had the good fortune to preserve for a quar ter a century, and the happiness to pre sent it to the Patriarchof J^a Grange, in whose possession it will long be treas ured as the relique of thisPaterna! Chief, and as an appropriate memorial of the modern Cincinnatus. Precisely at a quarter before three, the industrious farmer returned, dressed, and dined at three o’clock. At this meal he ate heartil}', but was not particular in his diet, with the exception of fish, of which he was excessively fond, partook spar ingly of dessert, drank a home made beverage, and from four to five glasses of Madeira wine.—W’^hen the cloth was removed, with old-fashioned courtcsy he drank to the health of every person present, and then gave this toast—alt inirriends ;—than which a nobler or a kindlier sentiment never was pledged iit the hoard of social friendship, or “brayed out with the trumpet’s tri umphs,” at the “carousals” of a King. The afternoon was usually devoted to the library. At night, his labours o’er, the venerable citizen would join his family and friends at the tea table, and enjoy their society for several hours —took no sui>perand about nine o’clock retired to bed.—When without compa ny, he frequently read to his family extracts from the new publications of the day, and on Sunday, sermons and other sacred writings. He read w'ith distinctness and precision, though with a voice, the tones of which had been considerably broken by a pulmonary afl'ection in early life, and which, when greatly excitcd, produced a laboring of the chest. He would frequently, w hen sitting with his family, appear absent; his lips would move, his hand be raised, and would evi\lently seem under the influence of thoughts, which had noth ing to do with the quiescent scene a- round him. This pecidiarity is readily accountcd for, since it must be no very easy matter for one who so long had borne the cares of public life, at once to lay aside all thought for others and be come content with individual concerns. In Winter, .when stiess of weather prevented his taking his usual exercise, lie was in the ha^it of walking for an hot:i- in the portico, before retiring to rest. As the ]vi.>tern portico of the Mansion-House is more than ninety feet in length, this walk would com prise several miles. 'i'hus, in the seldom varied routine of uselul industi'V, temperate enjoyment, and tiu! heartfelt gratiiicntions of domes tic felicity, sped tl'ie latter days of the Father of his Country ; ar 1 oh ! it was luxurious to behold this “ time honor ed man,” the race of whose glory was run, who had seized the goal of all his wishes, obtained the rewai'd of all his toils, in th(! freedom and happiness of a ri^ing Empire, resting iVom his mighty labors, amid the tranquil reLiremeiit of Mount N'ernon. 'I'he sedentary occupations of a Pres ident of the I'nited States necosarily liinited the opi)ortuniiios for active ex ercise. 'I’hese were principally enjoy ed in occasional liiles to the counti}', and in frc^ueiit walks to his watcii-nia- kei Ip ^ccond-slrectfor Ihc ))i.jrpo^e of j regulating Ids watch by the time keeper. As he parsed along, often would moth- cis bring their children to look on tiie PiiicrnaiChief, yet not a word was heard of President of the United States ; the little innocents ahme were “taught to lisj) the na'me Washington.” He was rather partial to cliildren ; liieir infantine playfulness appeared to plea>e him, and many are the parents who at this day njoice that his patri archal hands iiavetouciied thciroffsjirng. General W'ashington was always a strict and decorous obser of the Sabbath. He invariably attended divine service once a day, when within reach of a place of worship. Hii respect to the clergy, as a body, was shewn by public entain- ments to tiiem, the same as to the corps legislativeand diplomatic, andamonghis friends were the present venerable bish op of Pennsylvania, and the late excel lent prelate and ardent friend oi Ame rican liberty, Ur. Carroll, Archbishop of lialtimore. On Sunday, no visitors were admit ted to the President’s house, save the immediate relatives of the family, with only one excej:tion; Mr. Speaker Trum bull, since (Governor of Connecticut, and who had been confulential secretary lo the Chief in the war of the Revolu tion, was in the habit of spending an hour with the Pi-esident on Sunday evening. Trumh'e j>ractised the lesson of punctuality, whit h he learned in the service of the olden time, with such accuracy, that the porter, by consulting his clock, could tell when to stand ready to Dj)en to the Speaker’s bell, as it was called in the family, from the circum stance of no hand, other than the Spea ker’s, touching the bell on the evenings of the Sabbath. • Forty years a husband, Gen. Wash ington retained an old fashioned habit of husbands, as he always did the ease and elegance of old fashioned manners. He wore suspended from his neck, by a gold chain, and resting on his bosom, the miniature portrait of his wife, from the time of his marriage until he ceased to live in nature. The letter which he wrote to her, upon his acceptance of the command of the armies, of liberty, (which letter, dated .fune 18th, 177o, is published in this work from the au tograph,) is a proof both of his conjugal tenderness, and diflidence in receiving Iso important.a commission ; also of the purity of his heart, and of his generous and nobly disinterested motives which governed his life and actions. The circumstances attending his first interview with his lady, we shall give from the relation of an aged gentleman now no more. The provincial Colonel was proceeding to Williamsburg, when he fell in with P. Chamberlayne, Esq. one of the ancient, aristocracy ofV'irgin- la, w'ho lived in a style of great hospi tality at h-is seat in the county of New Kent. Cbamberlayne pressed the Col onel to dine with him and stay all night, (as Virginians ofthosedays were not in the hubit of making short or ceremoni ous visits) but was answered that impor tant business at the seat of government made a compliance, however agreeable, quite out of the question. Chamber- layne now returned to the charge, by informing his friend that it was in his jiower to introduce him to a fine, young, and handsome widow, who was spend ing some days at his house. The gallant sdlilier consented to stoj), but it was to dine—only to dine—while his unsad dled horse ate a mouthful, and then to be oil', so as to accomplish tenor lil'tepii miles of his journey by nightfall. Fate ilestined this interview to produce the long and hapjjy union which soon fol lowed the first meeting and mutual at- tachmentof the parties: for tiie enamour ed Colonel, making duty, for this time only, to yield to love, permitted the sun to set and to rise again iipon him, the guesi of Cbamberlayne, while Bishop, his old soldi('r and body servant, tall as his chief, and in this one instance, hiore punctilious, had, in obeying his orders of haste, long stood at his master’s stir- riij), “ready, aye ready, for the field.” The ensuing evening the Colonel de parted, “ nothing loth” to accept tiie kind bidding of his hospitable host to call again. The niarriage took place about IT'IO, at the White House in the county of New Kent. ''I'he ceremony was performed by the Rev. ?»Iosso:i, a rlergyman scntout by the IhsbopofLon- don, in whose diocess the Colony of ^'irginIa then was, to the Rectory of St. Peter's l^ari'^h, New Kent. Soon afier his marriage. Colonel Wa'shington became settled at Mount Vernon, ami waselected frequently from Fairtax to the House of Burgesses. Du ring the reigns of tiie Provincial G(jver- no's Hotetourt and Eden, the Courts of Wi!Iian]^l)UI•g and Ainiapolis displayed as much ol the p(^ishof liigh lile as was to b(,‘ found in the larger cities of Eu- rope,_wilh fur Ic^s cf flicir corruptions and debuucherie^'. It wa.ul.c custon>for genllcmen offorUineto have theii tot^’i. houses during the sessions of the let:,is- lature, where they lived in great spU n- douraiid hospitality. Colonel Washing ton was of this tiumber; his personal attractions, not less than his early re nown in arms, made him a subject of much interest to the Europeans, who were frequent visiters to the Capitals oi Virginia and Maryland. Straight as an Iiidiaa arrow, he was easily distinguish ed in the gay crowds which appeared at the i)alaces of the vice kings, by a something in his air and manner, which besjioke no ordinary man. His lower limbs being I'ornied mathematically straight, he walked, as it were, on par allel lines, while his mode of placing and taking up his feet, resembled the step of precision and care, so remarka ble in the aboriginal'childrc'n oi the for est. He might be termed rather a silent than a speaking member of the House of Burgesses, although he sometimes addressed the chair, and was listened to with attention and respect, while the excellenceof his judgment was put in re- (piisition on all committees, either of important, general, or local policy. When colonel Washington first re sided at Mount V'ernon, both the man sion-house and estate were inconsidera ble. All the embellishments of the house and grounds areo\ying to his cre ative hand. Prior to the W.ar ot Inde pendence he was mucli attached to the pleasures of the chace, and is described nsn bold and fearless rider. He kept hounds for a short time afler the Revo lution, but declined hunting altogether about 17S7 or S8. He was never disposed to convivial ity, but liked the cheerful converse of the cocial board; indulged in no games of chance, except in the ohlen times, when required to make up a party at whist, in playing for a trifle, allhougb, for many years, play of all kinds was unknown in his household. Alter his retirement from public life, all the time which he could sjiare irom his library, was devoted to the elegant and tasteful arrangement of his house and grounds. He was his own surveyor; and the dis position and appearance of his larms, gave evident jiroofs that the genitis of useful improvement had directed its en ergies with beneficial, asw w'ellas orna mental fleets. As a master of slaves, Gen. Washing ton was consistent, as in every other re lation of his meritorious lil’e. They were comfortably lodged,fed, and cloth ed; required to do a full and fair share of duty: well cared for in sickness and old age, and kept in strict and proper disci pline. These, we humbly coneeive, comprise all the charities of slavery.— To his old servants, where long and faithful services rendered them worthy of attachment and estt^em, he was most kind. His huntsman and Revolutiona ry attendant. Will Lee, commonly call ed Bn.LV, was specially provided for, and survived his master a good many years. Will had been a stout, active man, and a famous horseman; but. from accident, was a cripple for many years bet’ore his death, which occurred at a very advanced age. This ancient follower, both in the chace and war, formed a most interesting rclic ot the Chief, and received considerable larges- sesfromthe numerous visiters to Mount Vernon. The slaves were left, to be emancipated at the death of Mrs. Wash ington; but it was found necessary, (for prudential reasons) to give them their freedom in one year after the General’s decease. Although many of them, with a view to their liberation, had been instructed in mechanic trad.es, yet they succeeded very badly aslreemen: so true is the axiom, “ that the hour which makes man a siave, takes half his worth away.” Bishop, an English soldier, formed an interestingreminiseeiiceof war the of ’56. He belonged to Braddock’s own regiment; and, on account of possessing superior intelligence, was detailed as a body servant, to accomjKuiy that ill fat ed commander .on the exj)cdition to Fort du (^uesne. Bishoj) firmly' be lieved in the Providence which shielil- ed the Provincial Major, in tlic memor able battle of Monongahcla, and observ ed, he was the only mounied officer left. The enemy knew him well, from their having felt him severely the year be fore, at the aflair of the Meadows; and the provincial military being far more obnoxious to the French and Indians than the European troops, i'lom the marksmanship of the rangers, and their intimate knowledge of the modes ol lorest warlare, the fire of the enemy became singularly directed against the devoted young warrior, whom they af terwards lermed “the spirit-jirotected man.” destined “to become the Chief ol Natitiiis,'’ and “,inda who could not_die in battle.’’ M'iie Ir worn on that cvcnliiil day, and vrluQh was picrc- ed Ly t\\o lulls, wn? al Moi.i;t Vt!>v; and both seen and handled b^ !-(.vera ])ersons, long Avitlun our remen,’.,,-; yet, strange to say, it was no wl.t.oto be fourHl on the demise of the Cldoi.^, Another and invaluable relic was missing; w'e mean the sword of >crvicr>. which was w'orn in action, in the w.ii of Independence. It was described to us, by one who oft had buckled it to ihr> hero’s side, as being a kind of hangtij and we have an indistinct recollectiou of having been told in the family, that it w as given to Greene at the close of the. war. If so, it surely could not havo been more worthily bestowed. Upon mentioning these circumstances to Gen eral Andrew Jackson, he vvas pleased to say tliat he would make inquiry among the descendants of Greene, who, if they possess, will, no doubt, most dearly |)i'ize, so valued a gift as the Sword (,f the iicvolution. At the commencement of hostilitie! in 177o, Bishop, being too old for a/- tive service, was left at home in chaiC. of the manufacturing establishments of the household, where the veteran vvouKl flourish his cane, exacting as perfect o- bedience'as though he had been on pi- rade. A comfortable house had been built for him; he had married; and, look ing no more toward his native land, he ■was contented to pass the remainder of his days on the domain of his patron, where he rested Irom labor, in the en joyment of every possible ease and in dulgence—the reward of his Ion"- and faithful services. In his comfortable homestead, and hoary with age, he wouhl delight the young with tales of the Indian wars—while, his uwn wars ended, and at peace with the world, he feebly trimmed the lamp of life, which, having burned fi>r more than ei;^!itv years, could but for a little while lon"-u‘ be kept from sinking in its socket. Notwithstanding his perfect revcr^ ence for his patron, this old soldier would sometimes, presuming on the privilege of age and long servico, laic his protector on points of expediei.cy, though never on those of otjedienco.— Tiie General would assume a lofty tori'\ saying, It is very well, sir; if \ (,u aic at length tired of my service, yoci a:e at perfect liberty to depart. The an cient follower of Hraddock, howt viji*, knew his man, and knew exactly u list best to do; he wisely’’ became silent, and the storm which appeared to be brood ing quickly passed away, when a v.;- turning sunshine cheered with the warmth of its kindness the veteran of TURKISH DFVOTION. The roads being execrable, our dri ver, who was quite a boy, endeavoured to avail himseli ot a green sward sutpc by the way side, to conduct the car riage over an easier track. In doing tlii«, however, he exposed us to rather a se rious accident, for being gradually car ried to an elevation atjove the highway, whence there was no visible descent, he became alarmed, and endeavouring; too suddenly to regain the original route, overset the carriage; so that we tell from the top to the bottom of the slope, being thrown out with great vio lence. linfortunately loo, this acci dent happened in the midst of the lonj; train of carriages belonging to Mie em bassy, and the 'furks, who are excocd ingly superstitious, immediately regard ed it as a b'ul omen portending some o- ther disaster. Wc were stunned by the violence of the shock, but sns’aiiicd no other injury. . At sight, however, of this catastrophe, much more f '-riii- dable in aj)f»earance than reality, thf- ambassador ordered all the embassy Id h:ilt, and the persons belonging to it ti> descend trom their carriages and hor ses. Having now recovered from tht etfect of our fall, and wondering whjt they were going to do, we saw ;dl t!;o moslems sedately' withdrawing freniti:'’ side of the road, until they got am: iijs!; some trees; here they spread shawl.^ upon the ground, and imnitHli:il'’* ly beginning to prostrate themsclv^'S fell earnestly to prayers. As socn they had ended their devotions, they came kindly inquiring after our safety, and assisted us in raising the carrii'ir' and in setting eveiy thing to ri;:‘l‘t- There is something afTecting in trail of simjile and sincere devotion ii- these Mohommedans. worshij)pcil tin* true God, but he only knew and ap pi’oached hirn through a lalse mediator. This good Turk carried a beautiful ot the Koran in a gold case slung roiin“ his shoulders. If he had known it, ho'-'* would we have reverenced the triis word of God ! » » 'I'he N. York pajiers say, there i""* gang of boys in the Bowery, princii'"‘l' ly butchers, that for a long time h.i\c been the dread of the neigldiorhond.^ "I'hey call themselves the “ H—H 1'’*^ f lub,” and bully and abuse every son thev meet: several luivc been cd. ■
The Journal (Salisbury, N.C.)
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March 20, 1827, edition 1
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