died, and was beginning to be a very wayward boy. He was sent to an
Episcopal school at Annapolis, Maryland, where he attended to
fox-hunting and other amusements more than he did to his studies. He
fell in love, also, with Eleanor Calvert, daughter of Benedict Calvert
of Mount Airy, and he entered into a matrimonial engagement with her.
Mrs. Washington was very much tried by the course of the young man, and,
after canvassing the whole subject carefully with her husband, he
addressed a letter to Miss Calvert's father, which was a compliment
alike to his head and heart. It was a very long letter, and we have
space for brief extracts only:
MOUNT VERNON, April 3, 1773.
"DEAR SIR,--I am now set down to write to you on a subject of
importance, and of no small embarrassment to me. My son-in-law
and ward, Mr. Custis, has paid his addresses to your second
daughter, and, having made some progress in her affections, has
solicited her in marriage. How far a union of this sort may be
agreeable to you, you best can tell; but I should think myself
wanting in candor were I not to confess that Miss Nelly's
amiable qualities are acknowledged on all hands, and that an
alliance with your family will be pleasing to his.
"This acknowledgment being made, you must permit me to add sir,
that at this, or in any short time, his youth, inexperience, and
unripened education, are, and will be, insuperable obstacles, in
my opinion, to the completion of the marriage. As his guardian,
I consider it my indispensable duty to endeavor to carry him
through a regular course of education, and to guard his youth to
a more advanced age, before an event on which his own peace and
the happiness of another are to depend, takes place....
"If the affection which they have avowed for each other is fixed
upon a solid basis, it will receive no diminution in the course
of two or three years, in which time he may prosecute his
studies, and thereby render himself more deserving of the lady
and useful to society. If, unfortunately, as they are both
young, there should be an abatement of affection on either side,
or both, it had better precede, than follow, marriage.
"Delivering my sentiments thus freely will not, I hope, lead you
into a belief that I am desirous of breaking off the match. To
postpone it is all I have in view; for I shall recommend to the
young gentleman, with the warmth that becomes a man of honor, to
consider himself as much engaged to your daughter as if the
indissoluble knot was tied; and, as the surest means of
affecting this, to apply himself closely to his studies, by
which he will, in a great measure, avoid those little
flirtations with other young ladies, that may, by dividing the
attention, contribute not a little to divide the affections."
The result of this correspondence was that Washington took young Custis
to King's (now Columbia) College, New York City, and entered him for two
years. But love had so much more control of his heart than learning had
of his head, that he remained there only a few months, when he returned
to Mount Vernon, and was married to Miss Calvert on Feb. 3, 1774. The
couple were nineteen and seventeen years of age, respectively, and their
marriage proved a very fortunate event for themselves, and the families
on both sides.
The following incident, illustrative of Washington's fine personal
appearance, transpired when he accompanied his step-son to New York. It
is from the pen of Mr. Custis:
"It was boasted at the table of the British governor that a regiment,
just landed from England, contained among its officers some of the
finest specimens of martial elegance in his Majesty's service; in fact,
the most superb-looking fellows ever landed upon the shores of the new
World. 'I wager your excellency a pair of gloves,' said Mrs. Morris, an
American lady, 'that I will show you a finer man in the procession
to-morrow than your excellency can select from your famous
regiment;'--'Done, madam!' replied the governor. The morrow came (the
fourth of June), and the procession, in honor of the birthday of the
king, advanced through Broadway to the strains of military music. As the
troops filed before the governor, he pointed out to the lady several
officers by name, claiming her admiration for their superior persons and
brilliant equipments. In rear of the troops came a band of officers not
on duty, colonial officers, and strangers of distinction. Immediately,
on their approach, the attention of the governor was seen to be directed
toward a tall and martial figure, that marched with grave and measured
tread, apparently indifferent to the scene around him. The lady now
archly observed, 'I perceive that your excellency's eyes are turned to
the right object; what say you to your wager now, sir?'--'Lost, madam,'
replied the gallant governor; 'when I laid my wager I was not aware that
Colonel Washington was in New York.'"
Washington kept his own books at the same time that he attended to the
business of his vast estates. The same neatness, method, and accuracy
characterized his accounts at Mount Vernon that characterized his
writing books at Mr. Williams' school. They were models.
When Mrs. Washington went to Mount Vernon to live, the mansion contained
only four square rooms on the ground. In this condition it remained
until the close of the Revolution.
During the Revolution she was wont to spend the winter with her husband
in his winter quarters. The accommodations were always meagre. One of
these winters he occupied a small frame house, unfurnished in the second
story. The general could get along with the meagre comforts, but he
desired better accommodations for his wife. So he sent for a young
mechanic and fellow-apprentice.
"Mrs. Washington will tell you what she wants, and you will make the
changes under her direction," he said to them.
Soon Mrs. Washington was in their presence.
"Now, young men," she said, "I care for nothing but comfort here, and
should like you to fit me up a beaufet on one side of the room, and some
shelves and places for hanging clothes on the other."
The mechanic said afterwards that "every morning Mrs. Washington came
up-stairs to see us; and after she and the general had dined, she always
called us down to eat at her table. We worked very hard, nailing smooth
boards over the rough and worm-eaten planks, and stopping the crevices
in the walls made by time and hard usage. We studied to do everything to
please so pleasant a lady, and to make some return in our humble way for
the kindness of the general."
When the work was completed, Mrs. Washington was surveying it, when the
mechanic said, "Madam, we have endeavored to do the best we could. I
hope we have suited you."
"I am astonished," Mrs. Washington replied. "Your work would do honor to
an old master, and you are mere lads. I am not only satisfied, but
highly gratified with what you have done for my comfort."
She was accustomed to say, after the Revolution, "I heard the first
cannon at the opening, and the last at the closing, of all the campaigns
of the Revolutionary war."
She survived her husband by two years. As death drew near, with mind
clear and heart staid on God, she awaited the final summons with
calmness and sweet resignation. She called her grandchildren to her
bedside, "discoursed to them of their respective duties, spoke of the
happy influence of religion, and then triumphantly resigned her spirit
into the hands of her Saviour," and expired.
Mount Vernon is now in a good state of preservation. A national
association of women have charge of the place, that it may be kept in
repair, and the relics--furniture, pictures, account books, library,
etc.--be preserved for coming generations to see.
XVI.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
During the fifteen years of Washington's peaceful abode at Mount Vernon,
public affairs were hastening to a crisis. The "Seven Years' War,"
beginning with Washington's attack upon De Jumonville, and ending with
the surrender of Montreal and all Canada, and the signing of the treaty
of peace at Fontainbleau, in 1763, had closed; but greater things
awaited the colonists in the future.
Scarcely had the people settled down in the enjoyment of peace when an
insurrection broke out among the Indian tribes, including the Delawares,
Shawnees, and other tribes on the Ohio, with whom Washington had
mingled. It was called "Pontiac's War," because Pontiac, a famous Indian
chief, was its master-spirit. He induced the tribes to take up the
hatchet against the English.
An attack was made upon all the English posts, from Detroit to Fort Pitt
(late Duquesne). "Several of the small stockaded forts, the places of
refuge of woodland neighbors, were surprised and sacked with remorseless
butchery. The frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia were
laid waste; traders in the wilderness were plundered and slain; hamlets
and farm-houses were wrapped in flames, and their inhabitants
massacred."
Washington was not engaged in this Indian war, which was short in
duration. At the time he was pushing his project of draining the Dismal
Swamp.
Other things, however, of a public nature enlisted his attention, as the
following interview with Mr. George Mason will show:
"It appears that the British Government propose to tax the Colonies to
help pay its debts," remarked Mr. Mason. "At least, the subject is
before Parliament for discussion."
"Yes," answered Washington, "and the proposition is as unjust as it is
impolitic. After we have helped the king maintain his authority in this
country, we must not only pay our own bills, but help him pay his. The
Colonists will never submit to that."
"They never should, whether they will or not," replied Mason. "I
understand that the British officers have represented to the government
that the colonists are rich, and abundantly able to assist in paying the
debt of England."
"And that comes from entertaining them in an extravagant way, as our
leaders did. A few rich families furnished the silver plate and luxuries
that dazzled the eyes of British officers." Here Washington referred to
what he never approved, "borrowing silver and begging luxuries" to treat
British officers with.
"But suppose Parliament actually imposes a tax upon us, and sends agents
to collect it, what can be done?"
"Resist the tax," Washington replied.
"How resist?"
"There is but one way to resist; resort to arms." "And there will be a
poor show for us against the king's armies," said Mason.
"And the king's temper," added Washington, alluding to the fact that
King George the Third, then ruling England, was an ambitious,
unprincipled, and tyrannical ruler.
"The king will not be very merciful towards _rebels_."
"No, of course not. I suppose that resistance to the tax will be
rebellion."
"It cannot be anything else. Nevertheless, we can never submit to
taxation without representation," added Washington, referring to the
fact that the Colonists had neither voice nor vote in the administration
of the British Government.
"Never! Even loyalty cannot approve so base an act of injustice."
"Especially after Parliament has gone to the verge of extortion by
previous acts," remarked Washington. "Our ports are now shut against
foreign vessels; we can export our productions only to countries
belonging to the British Crown, and must import goods only from England,
and in English ships. Neither can we manufacture anything that will
interfere with the manufactures of England. These are intolerant
measures."
"That is so; and I do not wonder that the New England Colonies,
particularly, should remonstrate against these arbitrary restraints,
since their interests are chiefly commercial, and, therefore, more
seriously affected by them."
"I doubt whether Parliament will venture upon so hazardous an
experiment," continued Washington. "Walpole and Pitt, not to mention
others, are opposed to this measure of deriving a revenue by taxation
from the Colonies. Walpole said, 'It must be a bolder man than myself,
and one less friendly to commerce, who should venture on such an
expedient. For my part, I would encourage the trade of the Colonists to
the utmost.' Such sentiments must have weight with the government."
Contrary to Washington's expectations, Parliament voted, in 1764, that
England had a right to tax America; and Grenville, then at the head of
the government, proceeded to preparations for taxing the Colonies.
Through his influence, also, the "Stamp Act" was passed in March, 1765,
whereby "all instruments in writing were to be executed on stamped
paper, to be purchased from the agents of the British Government."
Other oppressive measures, also, were adopted subsequently, such as the
appointment of judges by the English commissioners; that offenders
should be tried in England for offences committed in America; with acts
of lesser importance that infringed upon the rights of the people.
These things aroused the indignation of the Colonists, and the
excitement grew to the highest pitch. In New England violent measures
were adopted to express the indignant remonstrance of the people.
Two months after the passage of the "Stamp Act" in England, the Virginia
Legislature convened at Williamsburg. Few of the members sympathized
with the British Government. A large majority denounced the aforesaid
measures as oppressive and tyrannical. Among the new members was Patrick
Henry, a young lawyer of fearless courage and fervid eloquence. Rising
in his seat, he presented a series of resolutions, which declared that
the House of Burgesses of Virginia alone possessed the right to tax the
people of that Colony, and whoever maintained the contrary should be
deemed an enemy to the Colony.
He supported these resolutions by a speech of surpassing eloquence,
surprising his associates by his boldness and powerful oratory.
"The resolutions are inflammatory," objected the speaker, Mr. Robinson.
"We can maintain our rights without challenging the arms of the
mother-country."
"The resolutions are right in principle, but intemperate in spirit,"
remarked another.
"Our self-respect demands that we indignantly repel such invasion of our
rights as taxation imposes!" exclaimed a third, in full accord with the
resolutions.
After the discussion had proceeded for a while, a timid spirit being
manifested by a few, and indignant remonstrance against British tyranny
by the many, Patrick Henry rose to reply to objections advanced.
He vindicated colonial rights under the English Constitution by an
argument of great power, showing how often and causelessly they had been
assailed; and he justified the resolutions by the "cool deliberation" of
Parliament in fastening the chains of slavery upon them. Warming with
his theme, he advanced to matchless eloquence, and closed his philippic
with such a daring burst of patriotism as startled the Assembly.
"Caesar had his Brutus!" he shouted; "Charles his Cromwell, and George
the Third"--
"Treason! Treason!" cried the speaker.
"And George the Third may profit by their examples!" finishing the
sentence in thunder tones.
"Sir," he continued, after running his eye over the Assembly, "if this
be treason (bowing to the speaker) make the most of it!"
Lieutenant-governor Fauquier was alarmed at this disloyal demonstration,
and proceeded to dissolve the Assembly, though not until the resolutions
were adopted in a modified form, still retaining, however, their
patriotic spirit.
Washington supported the resolutions, and condemned the governor for
dissolving the Assembly; and, as the governor ordered a new election,
hoping thereby to secure a Legislature of truly loyal members, he
recommended the re-election of those who voted for the resolutions, and
the non-election of those who voted against them. The people were so
impregnated with the spirit of Patrick Henry, that nearly every man who
voted for the resolutions was returned to the next Assembly, and nearly
all the others were left at home.
"Patrick Henry's course was treasonable," said Lord Fairfax to
Washington. "A petition to the king, expressing our grievances, and
praying for the removal of these oppressive measures would accomplish
far more for us in my judgment."
"And yet Patrick Henry had right, justice, and patriotism on his side,"
replied Washington. "Without his spirit we should bend our necks to the
British yoke, and become a nation of slaves."
"Yes; but appeal to the government should precede opposition," suggested
Fairfax.
"We have appealed,--vainly appealed," answered Washington. "The New
England Colonies have remonstrated again and again; but their
remonstrances have been spurned. The British Government must understand
the patriotic spirit that animates our people."
"All that is true; but it is not necessary to arouse the wrath of the
British lion in order to accomplish that," remarked Fairfax.
"That is a matter which should not trouble us," replied Washington. "Our
rights and liberties should be maintained at all hazards. And I am
heartily in favor of the New England plan to cease using importations on
which taxes are imposed."
"I am with you in that," said Fairfax.
"I confess that my sympathies are with the inhabitants of Boston, even
in their violent demonstrations against the enforcement of these unjust
measures."
"To what do you particularly refer?" inquired Lord Fairfax.
"The citizens of Boston hung the stamp distributor in effigy, broke the
windows of his office, and finally tore his office down and made a
bonfire of the fragments. They closed their demonstration by pelting the
officials, who interfered, with stones. The stamp distributor resigned
his office at once."
"That is insurrection," remarked Fairfax.
"Very true, and I would not recommend a resort to such extreme measures;
certainly not at this stage of affairs. Yet I really sympathize with the
patriotic spirit that has aroused the people of Boston to repel acts of
usurpation and tyranny."
Benjamin Franklin had been sent to England as an agent of the Colonies
to intercede for their rights. He was summoned before a committee of
Parliament, where the following colloquy occurred:
"What was the temper of America towards Great Britain before the year
1763?" That was the year of the treaty between England and France, as we
have seen.
"The best in the world," Dr. Franklin answered. "They submitted
willingly to the government of the Crown, and paid, in all their courts,
obedience to the acts of Parliament. Numerous as the people are in the
several old provinces, they cost you nothing in forts, citadels,
garrisons, or armies, to keep them in subjection. They were governed by
this country at the expense only of a little pen, ink, and paper. They
were led by a thread.... Natives of Great Britain were always treated
with particular regard; to be an Old England man was, of itself, a
character of some respect, and gave a kind of rank among us."
"And what is their temper now?"
"Oh, very much altered!"
"If the Stamp Act is not repealed, what do you think will be the
consequences?"
"A total loss of the respect and affection the people of America bear to
this country, and of all the commerce that depends on that respect and
affection."
"Do you think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty
if it was moderated?"
"No, never, unless compelled by force of arms."
This was stating the case without reserve; and, no doubt, it had much to
do with the repeal of the Stamp Act in March, 1766.
It should not be overlooked that the Colonies had some strong friends in
Parliament. Charles Townsend advocated the enforcement of the Stamp Act.
"Who are these Americans?" he cried. "Are they not our children, planted
by our care, nourished by our indulgence, and protected by our arms?"
The brave Colonel Barre, with cheeks all inflamed with virtuous
indignation, replied:
"They planted by your care? No, sir; your oppressions planted them in
America! They fled from your tyranny to a then uncultivated and
inhospitable country, where they exposed themselves to all the evils
which a wilderness, filled with blood-thirsty savages, could threaten.
And yet, actuated by true English love of liberty, they thought all
these evils light in comparison with what they suffered in their own
country, and from you, who ought to have been their friends.
"They nourished by your indulgence? No, sir; they grew by your neglect!
As soon as you began to indulge them, that boasted indulgence was to
send them hungry packs of your own creatures to spy out their liberties,
to misrepresent their actions, and to prey upon their substance! Yes,
sir; you sent them men, whose behavior has often caused the blood of
those Sons of Liberty to recoil within them--men promoted by you to the
highest seats of justice in that country, who, to my knowledge, had good
cause to dread a court of justice in their own! They protected by your
arms? No, sir! They have nobly taken up arms in your defence--have
exerted a most heroic valor, amidst their daily labors, for the defence
of a country whose frontier was drenched in blood, while its interior
parts gave up all their savings to our emolument!"
These words of Barre were as just as they were heroic; for, in the
"Seven Years' War" the Americans lost about thirty thousand men; and
Massachusetts alone spent about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
in defence of the country.
The next session of the House of Burgesses occurred after a Congress of
delegates from the several Colonies met in New York City. The doings of
that Congress were not suited to make the action of the Virginia
Legislature more conciliatory, for that Congressional body denounced the
acts of the British Parliament, and declared that Americans could never
submit to such assaults upon their liberties.
The Virginia Assembly was more insurrectionary at the next session,
startling the new governor (Lord Botetourt) to such a degree that he
appeared in the council chamber personally, and said:
"Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of the House of Burgesses, I have heard of
your resolves, and augur ill of their effects. You have made it my duty
to dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly."
The Burgesses adjourned to a private house, and made Peyton Randolph
moderator. Here Washington presented "a draft of the articles of
association, concerted between him and George Mason. They formed the
ground-work of an instrument signed by all present, pledging themselves
neither to import nor use any goods, merchandise, or manufactures taxed
by Parliament to raise a revenue in America."
This plan had been adopted by the New England Colonies, and now measures
were taken to make it universal.
Washington adhered scrupulously to the plan, and allowed nothing to come
into his house with the tax of England upon it. He wrote to his London
agent:
"You will perceive, in looking over the several invoices, that some of
the goods there required are upon condition that the act of Parliament,
imposing a duty on tea, paper, etc., for the purpose of raising a
revenue in America, is totally repealed; and I beg the favor of you to
be governed strictly thereby, as it will not be in my power to receive
any articles contrary to our non-importation agreement, which I have
subscribed and shall religiously adhere to, and should, if it were as I
could wish it to be, ten times as strict."
He wrote to George Mason:
"Our all is at stake, and the little conveniences and comforts of life,
when set in competition with our liberty, ought to be rejected not with
reluctance, but with pleasure.... It is amazing how much this practice,
if adopted in all the Colonies, would lessen the American imports, and
distress the various traders and manufacturers in Great Britain."
Washington's prediction was fulfilled. The traders of England were
embarrassed by non-importation, and appealed to the government for
relief. The tax was removed from all articles except tea. It was
retained on tea in order "to show the Colonies that England claimed the
right of taxation."