WASHINGTON'S HABITS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
Washington, as we have observed in the earlier portion of this work, was
passionately fond of field-sports; and during the first years of his
married life, and even to the kindling of the Revolution, he frequently
indulged in the pleasures of the chase. He was an admirable equestrian,
but was not a successful sportsman. He engaged in the chase more for the
pleasure produced by the excitement, than for the honors of success. He
had quite a large kennel of hounds, and a fine stud of horses. Of these
he kept, with his own hand, a careful register, in which might be found
the names, ages, and marks of each. With these, his companions of the
chase, he was as carefully punctual in his attentions as to any other
business of his life. Among the names of his horses were those of
Chinkling, Valiant, Ajax, Magnolia, Blueskin, etc. Magnolia was a
full-blooded Arabian, and was used for the saddle upon the road. Among
the names of his hounds were Vulcan, Ringwood, Singer, Truelove, Music,
Sweetlips, Forester, Rockwood, etc. It was his pride (and a proof of his
skill in hunting) to have his pack so critically drafted, as to speed
and bottom, that in running, if one leading dog should lose the scent,
another was at hand immediately to recover it; and thus, when in full
cry, to use a racing-phrase, you might "cover the pack with a blanket."
Mr. Custis, in his _Recollections of Washington_, has given some
interesting incidents of his life as a sportsman. "During the season,"
he says, "Mount Vernon had many sporting guests from the neighborhood,
from Maryland, and elsewhere. Their visits were not of days, but weeks;
and they were entertained in the good old style of Virginia's ancient
hospitality. Washington, always superbly mounted, in true sporting
costume, of blue coat, scarlet waistcoat, buckskin breeches, top-boots,
velvet cap, and whip with long thong, took the field at daybreak, with
his huntsman, Will Lee, his friends and neighbors." They usually hunted
three times a week, if the weather was favorable.
On the hunting-mornings, breakfast was served at candlelight. Washington
seldom partook of anything but Indian-corn cakes and milk. At dawn the
whole cavalcade would leave Mount Vernon, and frequently before sunrise
the dogs would be in full cry after a fox, Washington usually rode a
horse named _Blueskin_, a fiery animal, of great endurance, and of a
dark, iron-gray color. Billy (who was Washington's body-servant during
the war) always kept with the hounds; "and, mounted on _Chinkling_," says
Custis, "a French horn at his back, throwing himself almost at length on
the animal, with his spurs in flank, this fearless horseman would rush
at full speed, through brake and tangled wood, in a style at which
modern huntsmen would stand aghast." When the chase was ended, the party
would return to Mount Vernon to dinner, where other than sporting guests
were frequently assembled to greet them. The table was always furnished
generously; and the expensive style in which Washington kept up his
establishment before the Revolution may be inferred from an entry in his
diary, in 1768, in which he says, "Would any one believe that, with a
_hundred and one cows_, actually reported at a late enumeration of the
cattle, I should still be obliged to buy butter for my family?" During
the war, these pleasures were suspended, nor was the sporting
establishment ever revived, to any great extent. Lafayette sent
Washington some hounds in 1785, but increasing private and public duties
caused the master of Mount Vernon to neglect the pleasures in which he
once took such delight.
It must not be supposed that, during those years of social enjoyment,
Washington neglected any duties. As a member of the Virginia house of
burgesses, he was assiduous, punctual, and faithful. As a farmer, he was
careful, prudent, and skilful; and he managed his estate of eight
thousand acres with such signal industry and ability, that he was
considered a model agriculturist. He did not leave his farms to the
entire care of his overseers. He continually exercised a general
supervision of his affairs, except when absent on public business; and
even then, through weekly reports, which he required his manager to
transmit to him regularly, he had a perfect knowledge of all operations,
and sometimes gave lengthy and minute directions.
While Washington's table was always bountifully supplied for his guests,
he seldom partook of those preparations of the cook which specially
please the appetite. He was very abstemious, and never indulged to
excess in eating or drinking. His breakfast-hour was seven o'clock in
summer, and eight in winter. He usually made a frugal meal of Indian
cakes, honey, and tea or coffee, then mounted his horse and visited
every part of his estate, where the current operations seemed to require
his presence, leaving his guests to enjoy themselves with books and
papers, or otherwise, according to their choice. He rode upon his farms
entirely unattended, opening the gates, pulling down and putting up the
"bars," and inspecting with careful eye every agricultural operation.
Sometimes the tour of his farms in the course of the morning might
average, in distance, twelve or fifteen miles. The late Mr. Custis has
left on record a description of his appearance on one of these
occasions, in the latter years of his life, which he gave to a gentleman
who was out in search of Washington. "You will meet, sir" said young
Custis to the inquirer, "with an old gentleman riding alone, in plain
drab clothes, a broad-brimmed white hat, a hickory switch in his hand,
and carrying an umbrella with a long staff, which is attached to his
saddle-bow--that person, sir, is General Washington."
He dined at three o'clock, when he always ate heartily, but of simple
food. His usual beverage was small-beer and cider, and Madeira wine. Of
the latter he often drank several small glasses at a sitting. He took
tea and toast, or a little well-baked bread, early in the evening;
conversed with or read to his family when there were no guests; and
usually, whether there was company or not, retired for the night at
about nine o'clock. He was an early riser, and might be found in his
library from one to two hours before daylight in winter, and at dawn in
summer. His toilet, plain and simple, was soon made. A single servant
prepared his clothes, and laid them in a proper place at night, for use
in the morning. He always dressed and shaved himself, and a servant
combed and tied his hair. Always neat in his dress and appearance, yet
he never wasted precious moments upon his toilet; for he regarded time,
not as a gift, but a loan, for which he must account to the Great
Master.
The economy practised at Mount Vernon was always exercised by Washington
while in public office. He had engaged Samuel Fraunces, the noted
innkeeper in New York, as the steward of his household when he was
president of the United States. "We are happy to inform our readers,"
said Fenno's _Gazette_, "that the president is determined to pursue that
system of regularity and economy in his household which has always
marked his public and private life. As a proof of this, we learn that
the steward is obliged, by his articles of agreement, to exhibit weekly
a fair statement of the receipts and expenditures of moneys by him, for
and on account of the president's household, to such person as the
president may appoint to inspect the same; together with the several
bills and receipts of payment for those articles which may be purchased
by him, when such bills and receipts can be obtained. And it is likewise
strongly inculcated on the steward to guard against any waste or
extravagance that might be committed by the servants of the family."[152]
The late Reverend Ashbel Green has left on record the following
personal reminiscences of Washington during his residence in
Philadelphia as chief magistrate of the nation: "After a great deal of
talking, and writing, and controversy, about the permanent seat of
Congress, under the present constitution, it was determined that
Philadelphia should be honored with its presence for ten years, and that
afterward its permanent location should be in the city of Washington,
where it now is. In the meantime, the federal city was in building; and
the legislature of Pennsylvania voted a sum of money to build a house
for the president--perhaps with some hope that this might help to keep
the seat of the general government in the capital, for Philadelphia was
then considered as the capital of the state. What was lately the
University of Pennsylvania, was the structure erected for this purpose.
But as soon as General Washington saw its dimensions, and a good while
before it was finished, he let it be known that he would not occupy
it--that he should certainly not go to the expense of purchasing
suitable furniture for such a dwelling; for it is to be understood, in
those days of stern republicanism, nobody thought of Congress
_furnishing_ the president's house; or, if perchance such a thought did
enter into some aristocratic head, it was too unpopular to be uttered.
"President Washington, therefore, rented a house of Mr. Robert Morris,
in Market street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, on the south side,
and furnished it handsomely, but not gorgeously. There he lived, with
Mrs. Washington; Mr. Lear (his private secretary) and his wife, and Mrs.
Washington's grandchildren, making a part of the family. Young Custis
had a private tutor, employed by the president, who was engaged to
attend on his pupil one hour in the winter mornings, before breakfast;
and who, then, commonly breakfasted with the president and his family.
The president ate Indian-cakes for breakfast, after the Virginia
fashion, although buckwheat-cakes were generally on the table.
Washington's dining parties were entertained in a very handsome style.
His weekly dining-day, for company, was Thursday, and his dining-hour
was always four o'clock in the afternoon. His rule was, to allow five
minutes for the variation of clocks and watches, and then go to the
table, be present or absent whoever might. He kept his own clock in the
hall, just within the outward door, and always exactly regulated. When
lagging members of Congress came in, as they often did, after the guests
had sat down to dinner, the president's only apology was, 'Gentlemen (or
sir), we are too punctual for you. I have a cook who never asks whether
the company has come, but whether the hour has come,' The company
usually assembled in the drawing-room, about fifteen or twenty minutes
before dinner, and the president spoke to every guest personally on
entering the room.
"He was always dressed in a suit of black, his hair powdered and tied in
a black queue behind, with a very elegant dress-sword, which he wore
with inimitable grace. Mrs. Washington often, but not always, dined with
the company, sat at the head of the table, and if, as was occasionally
the case, there were other ladies present, they sat each side of her.
The private secretary sat at the foot of the table, and was expected to
be quietly attentive to all the guests. The president himself sat half
way from the head to the foot of the table, and on that side he would
place Mrs. Washington, though distant from him, on his right hand. He
always, unless a clergyman was present, at his own table, asked a
blessing, in a standing posture. If a clergyman were present, he was
requested both to ask a blessing, and to return thanks after dinner. The
centre of the table contained five or six large silver or plated
waiters, those of the ends circular or rather oval on one side, so as to
make the arrangement correspond with the oval shape of the table. The
waiters between the end-pieces were in the form of parallelograms, the
ends about one third part of the length of the sides; and the whole of
these waiters were filled with alabaster figures, taken from the ancient
mythology, but none of them such as to offend, in the smallest degree,
against delicacy. On the outside of the oval, formed by the waiters,
were placed the various dishes, always without covers; and outside the
dishes were the plates. A small roll of bread, enclosed in a napkin, was
laid by the side of each plate. The president, it is believed, generally
dined on one dish, and that of a very simple-kind. If offered something,
either in the first or second course, which was very rich, his usual
reply was, 'That is too good for me.' He had a silver pint cup or mug of
beer placed by his plate, which he drank while dining. He took one glass
of wine during dinner, and commonly one after. He then retired (the
ladies having gone a little before him), and left his secretary to
superintend the table till the wine-bibbers of Congress had satisfied
themselves with drinking. His wines were always the best that could be
obtained. Nothing could exceed the order with which his table was
served. Every servant knew what he was to do, and did it in the most
quiet and yet rapid manner. The dishes and plates were removed and
changed with a silence and speed that seemed like enchantment."
Washington's personal appearance, and deportment in public and private
life, have often been the theme of description. In the year 1790, an
English gentleman, of intelligence and culture, was a guest at the
presidential mansion, in New York, after Washington had left Franklin
square, and taken up his abode in "M'Comb's house," on the west side of
Broadway, near Trinity church. The following account of that visit,
supposed to be from the pen of Hazlitt, appeared in the London _New
Monthly Magazine_: "I remember my father telling me he was introduced to
Washington, in 1790, by an American friend. A servant, well looking and
well dressed, received the visitants at the door, and by him they were
delivered over to an officer of the United States service, who ushered
them into the drawing-room, in which Mrs. Washington and several ladies
were seated. There was nothing remarkable in the person of the lady of
the president; she was matronly and kind, with perfect good breeding.
She at once entered into easy conversation, asked how long he had been
in America, how he liked the country, and such other familiar but
general questions. In a few minutes the general was in the room. It was
not necessary to announce his name, for his peculiar appearance, his
firm forehead, Roman nose, and a projection of the lower jaw, his height
and figure, could not be mistaken by any one who had seen a full-length
picture of him, and yet no picture accurately resembled him in the
minute traits of his person. His features, however, were so marked by
prominent characteristics, which appear in all likenesses of him, that
a stranger could not be mistaken in the man. He was remarkably dignified
in his manners, and had an air of benignity over his features which his
visitant did not expect, being rather prepared for sternness of
countenance.
"After an introduction by Mrs. Washington, without more form than common
good manners prescribes, 'he requested me,' said my father, 'to be
seated; and, taking a chair himself, entered at once into conversation.
His manner was full of affability. He asked how I liked the country, the
city of New York; talked of the infant institutions of America, and the
advantages she offered, by her intercourse, for benefiting other
nations. He was grave in manner, but perfectly easy. His dress was of
purple satin. There was a commanding air in his appearance which excited
respect, and forbade too great a freedom toward him, independently of
that species of awe which is always felt in the moral influence of a
great character. In every movement, too, there was a polite gracefulness
equal to any met with in the most polished individuals in Europe, and
his smile was extraordinarily attractive. It was observed to me that
there was an expression in Washington's face that no painter had
succeeded in taking. It struck me no man could be better formed for
command. A stature of six feet, a robust but well-proportioned frame,
calculated to sustain fatigue, without that heaviness which generally
attends great muscular strength and abates active exertion, displayed
bodily power of no mean standard. A light eye and full--the very eye of
genius and reflection, rather than of blind, passionate impulse. His
nose appeared thick, and, though it befitted his other features, was too
coarsely and strongly formed to be the handsomest of its class. His
mouth was like no other that I ever saw; the lips firm, and the under
jaw seeming to grasp the upper with force, as if its muscles were in
full action when he sat still. Neither with the general nor with Mrs.
Washington was there the slightest restraint of ceremony. There was less
of it than I ever recollect to have met with where perfect good breeding
and manners were at the same time observed. To many remarks Washington
assented with a smile or inclination of the head, as if he were by
nature sparing in his conversation, and I am inclined to think this was
the case. An allusion was made to a serious fit of illness he had
recently suffered; but he took no notice of it. I could not help
remarking that America must have looked with anxiety to the termination
of his indisposition. He made no reply to my compliment but by an
inclination of the head. His bow at my taking leave I shall never
forget. It was the last movement which I saw that illustrious character
make, as my eyes took their leave of him for ever, and it hangs a
perfect picture upon my recollection. The house of Washington was in the
Broadway, and the street front was handsome. The drawing-room in which I
sat was lofty and spacious; but the furniture was not beyond that found
in dwellings of opulent Americans in general, and might be called plain
for its situation. The upper end of the room had glass doors, which
opened upon a balcony, commanding an extensive view of the Hudson river,
interspersed with islands, and the Jersey shore on the opposite side. A
grandson and daughter resided constantly in the house with the general,
and a nephew of the general's, married to a niece of Mrs. Washington,
resided at Mount Vernon, the general's family-seat in Virginia; his
residence, as president, keeping him at the seat of government.' The
levees held by Washington, as president, were generally crowded, and
held on Tuesday, between three and four o'clock. The president stood,
and received the bow of the person presented, who retired to make way
for another. At the drawing-room, Mrs. Washington received the ladies,
who courtesied, and passed aside without exchanging a word. Tea and
coffee, with refreshments of all kinds, were laid in one part of the
rooms; and, before the individuals of the company retired, each lady was
a second time led up to the lady-president, made her second silent
obeisance, and departed. Nothing could be more simple, yet it was
enough."
The late Mr. Custis, in his _Recollections of Washington_, says: "With
all its developments of muscular power, the form of Washington had no
appearance of bulkiness; and so harmonious were its proportions, that he
did not appear so passing tall as his portraits have represented. He
was rather spare than full during his whole life; this is readily
ascertained from his weight. The last time he weighed was in the summer
of 1799, when, having made the tour of his farms, accompanied by an
English gentleman, he called at his mill and was weighed. The writer
placed the weight in the scales. The Englishman, not so tall, but stout,
square built, and fleshy, weighed heavily, and expressed much surprise
that the general had not outweighed him, when Washington observed that
the best weight of his best days never exceeded from two hundred and ten
to two hundred and twenty pounds. In the instance alluded to, he weighed
a little rising two hundred and ten. In the prime of life, Washington
stood six feet two inches, and measured precisely six feet when attired
for the grave.
"The power of Washington's arm was displayed in several memorable
instances: in his throwing a stone from the bed of the stream to the top
of the Natural Bridge; another over the Palisades into the Hudson; and
yet another across the Rappahannock, at Fredericksburg. Of the article
with which he spanned this noble and navigable stream, there are various
accounts. We are assured that it was a piece of slate, fashioned to
about the size and shape of a dollar, and which, sent by an arm so
strong, not only spanned the river, but took the ground at least thirty
yards on the other side. Numbers have since tried this feat, but none
have cleared the water. 'Tis the 'Douglas cast,' made in the days when
Virginia's men were strong, as her maids are fair; when the hardy sports
of the gymnasium prepared the body to answer the 'trumpet-call to war,'
and gave vigor and elevation to the mind; while our modern habits would
rather fit the youth 'to caper nimbly in a lady's chamber.'
"While the late and venerable Charles Willson Peale was at Mount Vernon,
in 1772, engaged in painting the portrait of the provincial colonel,
some young men were contending in the exercise of pitching the bar.
Washington looked on for a time, then grasping the missile in his
master-hand, whirled the iron through the air, which took the ground
far, very far, beyond any of its former limits; the colonel observing,
with a smile, 'You perceive, young gentlemen, that my arm yet retains
some portion of the vigor of my earlier days.' He was then in his
fortieth year, and probably in the full meridian of his physical powers;
but those powers became rather mellowed than decayed by time, for 'his
age was like a lusty winter, frosty yet kindly;' and, up to his
sixty-eighth year, he mounted a horse with surprising agility, and rode
with the ease and gracefulness of his better days. His personal prowess,
that elicited the admiration of a people who have nearly all passed from
the stage of life, still serves as a model for the manhood of modern
times.
"In the various exhibitions of Washington's great physical powers, they
were apparently attended by scarcely any effort. On one occasion, when
quite a young man, he was present while others were trying their
strength in wrestling. He had retired to the shade of a tree, intent
upon the perusal of a favorite volume; and it was only when the champion
of the games strode through the ring, calling for nobler competitors,
and taunting the student with the reproach that it was the fear of
encountering so redoubted an antagonist that kept him from the ring,
that Washington closed his book, and, without divesting himself of his
coat, calmly walked into the arena, observing that fear formed no part
of his being. Then, grappling with the champion, the struggle was
fierce, but momentary, 'for,' said the vanquished hero of the arena, 'in
Washington's lion-like grasp, I became powerless, and was hurled to the
ground with a force that seemed to jar the very marrow in my bones;'
while the victor, regardless of the shouts that proclaimed his triumph,
leisurely retired to his shade, and the enjoyment of his favorite
volume.
"Washington's powers were chiefly in his limbs: they were long, large,
and sinewy. His frame was of equal breadth from the shoulders to the
hips. His chest, though broad and expansive, was not prominent, but
rather hollowed in the centre. He had suffered from a pulmonary
affection in early life, from which he never entirely recovered. His
frame showed an extraordinary development of bone and muscle; his joints
were large, as were his feet; and could a cast have been preserved of
his hand, to be exhibited in these degenerate days, it would be said to
have belonged to the being of a fabulous age. During Lafayette's visit
to Mount Vernon in 1825, he said to the writer: 'I never saw so large a
hand on any human being, as the general's. It was in this portico, in
1784, that you were introduced to me by the general. You were a very
little gentleman, with a feather in your hat, and holding fast to _one
finger_ of the good general's remarkable hand, which was all you could
do, my dear sir, at that time.'"
A late anonymous writer says: "I saw this remarkable man four times. It
was in the month of November, 1798, I first beheld the Father of his
Country. It was very cold, the northwest wind blowing hard down the
Potomac, at Georgetown, D. C. A troop of light-horse, from Alexandria,
escorted him to the western bank of the river. The waves ran high, and
the boat which brought him over seemed to labor considerably. Several
thousand people greeted his arrival with swelling hearts and joyful
countenances. The military were drawn up in a long line to receive him;
the officers, pressed in regimentals, did him homage. I was so fortunate
as to walk by his side, and had a full view of him. Although only about
ten years of age, the impression his person and manner then made on me
is now perfectly revived. He was six feet and one inch high, broad and
athletic, with very large limbs, entirely erect, and without the
slightest tendency to stooping; his hair was white, and tied with a silk
string; his countenance lofty, masculine, and contemplative; his eye
light gray. He was dressed in the clothes of a citizen, and over these a
blue surtout of the finest cloth. His weight must have been two hundred
and thirty pounds, with no superfluous flesh; all was bone and sinew;
and he walked like a soldier. Whoever has seen, in the patent-office at
Washington, the dress he wore when resigning his commission as
commander-in-chief, in December, 1783, at once perceives how large and
magnificent was his frame. During the parade, something at a distance
suddenly attracted his attention; his eye was instantaneously lighted up
as with the lightning's flash. At this moment I see its marvellous
animation, its glowing fire, exhibiting strong passion, controlled by
deliberate reason.
"In the summer of 1799, I again saw the chief. He rode a purely white
horse, seventeen hands high, well proportioned, of high spirit: he
almost seemed conscious that he bore on his back the Father of his
Country. He reminded me of the war-horse whose 'neck is clothed with
thunder.' I have seen some highly-accomplished riders, but not one of
them approached Washington; he was perfect in this respect. Behind him,
at the distance of perhaps forty yards, came Billy Lee, his
body-servant, who had perilled his life in many a field, beginning on
the heights of Boston, in 1775, and ending in 1781, when Cornwallis
surrendered, and the captive army, with inexpressible chagrin, laid down
their arms at Yorktown. Billy rode a cream-colored horse, of the finest
form; and his old Revolutionary cocked hat indicated that its owner had
often heard the roar of cannon and small-arms, and had encountered many
trying scenes. Billy was a dark mulatto. His master speaks highly of him
in his will, and provides for his support.
"Some time during this year, perhaps, I saw him at Seeme's tavern, in
Georgetown. The steps, porch, and street, were crowded with persons
desirous of beholding the man. I viewed him through a window. The most
venerable, dignified, and wealthy men of the town were there, some
conversing with him. Washington seemed almost a different being from any
of them, and, indeed, from any other person ever reared in this country.
His countenance was not so animated as when I first saw him, for then
his complexion was as ruddy as if he were only twenty years old.
"A few months before his death, I beheld this extraordinary man for the
last time. He stopped at the tavern opposite the Presbyterian church, in
Bridge street, Georgetown. At that time, a regiment of soldiers was
stationed in their tents, on the banks of Rock creek, and frequently
attended Doctor Balch's church, dressed in their costume, and powdered
after the Revolutionary fashion. I attended their parade almost every
day; and, on one of these occasions, I recognised Washington riding on
horseback, unaccompanied by any one. He was going out to see his houses
on Capitol hill, as I supposed. They were burnt by the British, in 1814.
My youthful eye was riveted on him until he disappeared, and that for
ever. I was surprised that he did not once look at the parade, so far as
I could discover; on the contrary, he appeared indifferent to the whole
scene."
"Of the remarkable degree of awe and reverence that the presence of
Washington always inspired," says Mr. Custis, "we shall give one out of
a thousand instances. During the cantonment of the American army at the
Valley Forge, some officers of the fourth Pennsylvania regiment were
engaged in a game of 'fives.' In the midst of their sport, they
discovered the commander-in-chief leaning upon the enclosure, and
beholding the game with evident satisfaction. In a moment, all things
were changed. The ball was suffered to roll idly away; the gay laugh and
joyous shout of excitement were hushed into a profound silence, and the
officers were gravely grouped together. It was in vain the chief begged
of the players that they would proceed with their game; declared the
pleasure he had experienced from witnessing their skill; spoke of a
proficiency in the manly exercise that he himself could have boasted of
in other days. All would not do. Not a man could be induced to move,
till the general, finding that his presence hindered the officers from
continuing the amusement, bowed, and, wishing them good sport, retired."
A writer in the _National Intelligencer_, a few years ago, gave the
following sketch of the personal appearance of Washington:--
"The description given by 'R' [a correspondent of the _Intelligencer_]
of Washington's approach to the hall of Congress in Philadelphia,
has freshly awakened my own reminiscences of the same scene.
Its vivid truth can not be surpassed. I stood with him on that
same stone platform, before the door of the hall, elevated by a
few steps from the pavement, when the carriage of the president drew
up. It was, as he describes it, white, or rather of a light
cream-color, painted on the panels with beautiful groups, by
Cipriani, representing the four seasons. The horses, according to
my recollection, were white, in unison with the carriage, 'R.' says
they were bays; perhaps he is more correct. As he alighted, and,
ascending the steps, paused upon the platform, looking over his
shoulder, in an attitude that would have furnished an admirable
subject for the pencil, he was preceded by two gentlemen bearing
long white wands, who kept back the eager crowd that pressed on
every side to get a nearer view. At that moment I stood so near,
that I might have touched his clothes; but I should as soon have
thought of touching an electric battery. I was penetrated with a
veneration amounting to the deepest awe. Nor was this the feeling of
a schoolboy only; it pervaded, I believe, every human being that
approached Washington; and I have been told that, even in his social
and convivial hours, this feeling in those who were honored to share
them never suffered intermission. I saw him a hundred times
afterward, but never with any other than that same feeling. The
Almighty, who raised up for our hour of need a man so peculiarly
prepared for its whole dread responsibility, seems to have put an
impress of sacredness upon his own instrument. The first sight of
the man struck the heart with involuntary homage, and prepared
everything around him to obey, When he 'addressed himself to speak,'
there was an unconscious suspension of the breath, while every eye
was raised in expectation.
"At the time I speak of, he stood in profound silence, and had that
statue-like air which mental greatness alone can bestow. As he
turned to enter the building, and was ascending the staircase
leading to the Congressional hall, I glided along unperceived,
almost tinder cover of the skirts of his dress, and entered
instantly after him into the lobby of the house, which was of course
in session to receive him. On either hand, from the entrance, stood
a large cast-iron stove; and, resolved to secure the unhoped-for
privilege I had so unexpectedly obtained, I clambered, boy-like, on
this stove (fortunately then not much heated), and from that
favorable elevation enjoyed, for the first time (what I have since
so many thousands of times witnessed with comparative indifference),
an uninterrupted view of the American Congress in full session,
every member in his place. Shall I be pardoned for saying its aspect
was very different from what we now witness? There was an air of
decorum, of composure, of reflection, of gentlemanly and polished
dignity, which has fled, or lingers only with here and there a
'relic of the olden time.'
"The house seemed then as composed as the senate now is when an
impressive speech is in the act of delivery. On Washington's
entrance, the most profound and death-like stillness prevailed.
House, lobbies, gallery, all were wrapped in the deepest attention;
and the souls of that entire assemblage seemed peering from their
eyes on the noble figure which deliberately, and with an unaffected
but surpassing majesty, advanced up the broad aisle of the hall
between ranks of standing senators and members, and slowly ascended
the steps leading to the speaker's chair. I well remember, standing
at the head of the senate, the tall, square, somewhat gaunt form of
Mr. Jefferson; conspicuous from his scarlet waistcoat, bright blue
coat, with broad, bright buttons, as well as by his quick and
penetrating air, and high-boned, Scottish cast of features. There,
too, stood General Knox, then secretary of war, in all the sleek
rotundity of his low stature, with a bold and florid face, open,
firm, and manly, in its expression. But I recollect that my boyish
eye was caught by the appearance of De Yrujo, the Spanish
embassador. He stood in the rear of the chair, a little on one side,
covered with a splendid diplomatic dress, decorated with orders, and
carrying under his arm an immense _chapeau-bras_, edged with white
ostrich-feathers. He was a man totally different in his air and
manner from all around him, and the very antipode especially of the
man on whom all eyes but his seemed fixed as by a spell. I saw many
other very striking figures grouped about and behind the speaker's
chair, but I did not know their names, and had no one to ask:
besides, I dared not open my lips.
"The president, having seated himself, remained in silence, serenely
contemplating the legislature before him, whose members now resumed
their seats, waiting for the speech. No house of worship, in the
most solemn pauses of devotion, was ever more profoundly still than
that large and crowded chamber.
"Washington was dressed precisely as Stuart has painted him in Lord
Lansdowne's full-length portrait--in a full suit of the richest
black velvet, with diamond knee-buckles, and square silver buckles
set upon shoes japanned with the most scrupulous neatness, black
silk stockings, his shirt ruffled at the breast and wrists, a light
dress-sword, his hair profusely powdered, fully dressed, so as to
project at the sides, and gathered behind in a silk bag, ornamented
with a large rose of black ribbon. He held his cocked hat, which had
a large black cockade on one side of it, in his hand, as he advanced
toward the chair, and, when seated, laid it on the table.
"At length, thrusting his hand within the side of his coat, he drew
forth a roll of manuscript, which he opened, and rising, held it in
his hand, while in a rich, deep, full, sonorous voice, he read his
opening address to Congress. His enunciation was deliberate, justly
emphasized, very distinct, and accompanied with an air of deep
solemnity, as being the utterance of a mind profoundly impressed
with the dignity of the act in which it was occupied, conscious of
the whole responsibility of its position and action, but not
oppressed by it. There was ever about the man something which
impressed the observer with a conviction that he was exactly and
fully equal to what he had to do. He was never hurried; never
negligent; but seemed ever prepared for the occasion, be it what it
might. If I could express his character in one word, it would be
appropriateness. In his study, in his parlor, at a _levee_, before
Congress, at the head of the army, he seemed ever to be just what
the situation required him to be. He possessed, in a degree never
equalled by any human being I ever saw, the strongest, most
ever-present sense of propriety. It never forsook him, and deeply
and involuntarily impressed itself upon every beholder. His address
was of moderate length. The topics I have, of course, forgotten;
indeed, I was not of an age to appreciate them: but the air, the
manner, the tones, have never left my mental vision, and even now
seem to vibrate on my ear.
"A scene like this, once beheld, though in earliest youth, is never
to be forgotten. It must be now fifty years ago, but I could this
moment sit down and sketch the chamber, the assembly, and _the_ man.
"Having closed the reading, he laid down the scroll, and, after a
brief pause, retired, as he had entered; when the manuscript was
handed, for a second reading, to Mr. Beckley, then clerk of the
house, whose gentlemanly manner, clear and silver voice, and sharp
articulation, I shall ever associate with the scene. When shall we
again behold such a Congress and such a president?"
To make the picture of the personal appearance of Washington more
complete, the following, from _Sullivan's Familiar Letters_, is added:
"The following are recollections of Washington, derived from
repeated opportunities of seeing him during the last three years of
his public life. He was over six feet in stature; of strong, bony,
muscular frame, without fullness of covering, well formed and
straight. He was a man of most extraordinary physical strength. In
his own house, his action was calm, deliberate, and dignified,
without pretension to gracefulness or peculiar manner, but merely
natural, and such as one would think it should be in such a man. His
habitual motions had been formed before he took command of the
American armies, in the wars of the interior, and in the surveying
of wilderness lands, employments in which grace and elegance were
not likely to be acquired. At the age of sixty-five, time had done
nothing toward bending him out of his natural erectness. His
deportment was invariably grave; it was sobriety that stopped short
of sadness. His presence inspired a veneration and a feeling of awe
rarely experienced in the presence of any man. His mode of speaking
was slow and deliberate, not as though he was in search of fine
words, but that he might utter those only adapted to his purpose. It
was the usage of all persons in good society to attend Mrs.
Washington's _levee_ every Friday evening. He was always present.
The young ladies used to throng around him, and engage him in
conversation. There were some of the well-remembered _belles_ of
that day who imagined themselves to be favorites with him. As these
were the only opportunities which they had of conversing with him,
they were disposed to use them. One would think that a gentleman and
a gallant soldier, if he could ever laugh or dress his countenance
in smiles, would do so when surrounded by young and admiring
beauties. But this was never so: the countenance of Washington never
softened, nor changed its habitual gravity. One, who had lived
always in his family, said that his manner in public life was always
the same. Being asked whether Washington _could_ laugh, this person
said this was a rare occurrence, but one instance was remembered
when he laughed most heartily at her narration of an incident in
which she was a party concerned, and in which he applauded her
agency. The late General Cobb, who was long a member of his family
during the war, and who enjoyed a laugh as much as any man could,
said that he never saw Washington laugh, excepting when Colonel
Scammel (if this was the person) came to dine at headquarters.
Scammel had a fund of ludicrous anecdotes, and a manner of telling
them, which relaxed even the gravity of the commander-in-chief.
"General Cobb also said that the forms of proceeding at
headquarters were exact and precise, orderly and punctual. At the
appointed moment, Washington appeared at the breakfast-table. He
expected to find all the members of his family (Cobb, Hamilton,
Humphreys, were among them) awaiting him. He came dressed for the
day, and brought with him the letters and despatches of the
preceding day, and a short memoranda of the answers to be made; also
the substance of orders to be issued. When breakfast was over, these
papers were distributed among his aids, to be put into form. Soon
afterward he mounted his horse to visit the troops, and expected to
find on his return, before noon, all the papers prepared for his
inspection and signature. There was no familiarity in his presence;
it was all sobriety and business. His mode of life was abstemious
and temperate. He had a decided preference for certain sorts of
food, probably from early associations. Throughout the war, as it
was understood in his military family, he gave a part of every day
to private prayer and devotion.
"While he lived in Philadelphia, as president, he rose at four in
the morning; and the general rule of his house was, that the fires
should be covered and the lights extinguished at a certain hour:
whether this was nine or ten is not recollected.
"In the early part of his administration, great complaints were made
by the opposition of the aristocratic and royal demeanor of the
president. Mr. Jefferson makes some commentaries on this subject,
which do no credit to his heart or his head. These are too _little_
to be transcribed from the works of this '_great and good man_.'
Doctor Stuart, of Virginia, wrote to him of the dissatisfaction
which prevailed on this subject in Virginia. In the fifth volume of
Marshall, page 164, will be found an extract of Washington's
vindication of his conduct, and a most satisfactory one, which shows
the proper character of Mr. Jefferson's 'Anas.' These complaints
related, in particular, to the manner of receiving such visitors as
came from respect or from curiosity, of which there were multitudes.
The purpose of Washington was, that such visitors should accomplish
their objects without a sacrifice of time, which he considered
indispensable to the performance of his public duties.
"He devoted one hour every other Tuesday, from three to four, to
these visits. He understood himself to be visited as the _president_
of the United States, and not on his own account. He was then to be
seen by anybody and everybody; but required that every one who came
should be introduced by his secretary, or by some gentleman whom he
knew himself. He lived on the south side of Chestnut street, just
below Sixth. The place of reception was the dining-room in the rear,
twenty-five or thirty feet in length, including the bow projecting
into the garden. Mrs. Washington received visitors in the two rooms
on the second floor, from front to rear.
"At three o'clock, or at any time within a quarter of an hour
afterward, the visitor was conducted to this dining-room, from which
all seats had been removed for the time. On entering, he saw the
tall figure of Washington, clad in black velvet; his hair in full
dress, powdered and gathered behind in a large silk bag; yellow
gloves on his hands; holding a cocked hat, with a cockade in it, and
the edges adorned with a black feather about an inch deep. He wore
knee and shoe buckles; and a long sword, with a finely-wrought and
polished steel hilt, which appeared at the left hip; the coat worn
over the blade, and appearing from under the folds behind. The
scabbard was white polished leather.
"He stood always in front of the fireplace, with his face toward the
door of entrance. The visitor was conducted to him, and he required
to have the name so distinctly pronounced, that he could hear it. He
had the very uncommon faculty of associating a man's name and
personal appearance so durably in his memory as to be able to call
any one by name who made him a second visit. He received his visitor
with a dignified bow, while his hands were so disposed as to
indicate that the salutation was not to be accompanied with shaking
hands. This ceremony never occurred in these visits, even with the
most near friends, that no distinctions might be made.
"As visitors came in, they formed a circle around the room. At a
quarter past three the door was closed, and the circle was formed
for that day. He then began on the right, and spoke to each visitor,
calling him by name, and exchanging a few words with him. When he
had completed his circuit, he resumed his first position, and the
visitors approached him in succession, bowed, and retired. By four
o'clock this ceremony was over.
"On the evenings when Mrs. Washington received visitors, he did not
consider _himself_ as visited. He was then as a private gentleman,
dressed usually in some colored coat (the only one recollected was
brown, with bright buttons), and black on his lower limbs. He had
then neither hat nor sword; he moved about among the company,
conversing with one and another. He had, once a fortnight, an
official dinner, and select companies on other days. He sat, it is
said, at the side, in a central position; Mrs. Washington opposite;
the two ends were occupied by members of his family, or by his
personal friends."
FOOTNOTES:
[152] Fraunces was a man of taste in his profession, and was fond of
display, regardless of expense. On this account the president had
frequent occasion to reprove him. He desired to live conformably to his
high station, but he naturally abhorred waste and extravagance, and
insisted that his household should be conducted with due regard to
economy and usefulness. An illustrative anecdote is given. The first
shad of the season was bought by Fraunces for the table of Washington,
who was very fond of fish. It was served for breakfast in the best
style, and set before the president, who asked the steward, "What kind
of fish is this?"--"A fine shad," replied Fraunces. "It is very early in
the season for shad," said the president; "how much did you pay for
it?"--"Two dollars," responded the steward. "Two dollars!" exclaimed the
president. "I can never encourage this extravagance at my table; take it
away--I will not touch it." The shad was removed; and the steward, who
felt no repugnance to the fish on account of its cost, made of it a
hearty breakfast for himself.
WASHINGTON MEMORIALS.
In the Doric Hall of the Massachusetts State House, in Boston, near
Chantrey's statue of Washington, may be seen two stones with
inscriptions commemorative of the father and uncle of the two
Washingtons who emigrated to America in 1657, as mentioned on page 20 of
Volume I. The history of these stones is revealed in the following
correspondence:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COUNCIL CHAMBER, BOSTON, March 15, 1861.
_To the Honorable House of Representatives:_
I have the honor to present to the General Court, as a gift to the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts from one of its citizens, certain
memorials of great historic interest.
The home and resting-place of the ancestors of GEORGE WASHINGTON
were until recently unvisited by and unknown to Americans. In the
genealogical table appended to the "Life of Washington" by our
distinguished fellow-citizen, Mr. Jared Sparks, it is stated that
Lawrence Washington, the father of John Washington (who emigrated
to Virginia in 1657), was buried at Brington; but though both Mr.
Sparks and Washington Irving visited Sulgrave, an earlier home of
the Washingtons, neither of these learned biographers appear by
their works to have repaired to this quiet parish in
Northamptonshire.
Our fellow-citizen, the Honorable Charles Sumner, on a recent visit
to England, identified certain inscriptions in the parish church of
Brington, near Althorp, as being those of the father and uncle of
John Washington, the emigrant to Virginia, who was the
great-grandfather of the Father of his Country.
Earl Spencer, the proprietor of Althorp, so honorably known as an
early advocate of parliamentary reform, sought out the quarry from
which, more than two centuries ago, these votive tablets were
taken, and caused others to be made which are exact _facsimiles_
of the originals. These he has presented to Mr. Sumner, who has
expressed the desire that memorials so interesting to all Americans
may be placed where they may be seen by the public, and has
authorized me to offer them to the Commonwealth, if it be the
pleasure of the Legislature to order them to be preserved in some
public part of the State House.
I send with this a letter addressed to myself by the learned
historian of Washington, bearing testimony to the great interest of
these memorials, and expressing the desire that they may (Mr.
Sumner assenting) be placed in the Capitol.
A letter from Mr. Sumner to Mr. Sparks also accompanies this
Message, describing the church at Brington, and some of the
associations which cluster around the resting-place of the
ancestors of our Washington.
JOHN A. ANDREW.
* * * * *
MR. SPARKS TO THE GOVERNOR.
CAMBRIDGE, February 22, 1861.
DEAR SIR: I enclose a copy of a highly interesting letter from Mr.
Charles Sumner, describing the church at Brington, near Althorp, in
Northamptonshire. In this church were deposited the remains of
Lawrence Washington, who was the father of John and Lawrence
Washington, the emigrants to America, and who was therefore the
last English ancestor of George Washington. A copy of the
inscription on the stone which covers the grave of Lawrence
Washington, and also of another inscription over the grave of his
brother Robert Washington, who was buried in the same church, are
given with exactness in Mr. Sumner's letter. As far as I am aware,
these inscriptions are now for the first time made known in this
country.
The Earl Spencer has sent to Mr. Sumner two stones, being from the
same quarry, and having the same form and dimensions as the
originals, and containing a _facsimile_ of the inscriptions. It
has been suggested that these stones ought to be placed in the
State House, where they may be accessible to the public, and my
opinion on the subject has been asked. As they are unquestionably
genuine memorials of the Washington family, and possess on this
account a singular historical interest, I cannot imagine that a
more appropriate disposition of them could be made. I understand
that Mr. Sumner would cheerfully assent to such an arrangement, and
I cannot doubt that your Excellency will be well inclined to take
such measures as may effectually aid in attaining so desirable an
object.
I am, Sir,
Very respectfully yours,
JARED SPARKS.
His Excellency John A. Andrew,
_Governor of Massachusetts._
* * * * *
MR. SUMNER TO MR. SPARKS.
BOSTON, November 22, 1860.
MY DEAR SIR: Since our last conversation, the Earl Spencer has
kindly sent to me precise copies of the two "Memorial Stones" of the
English family of George Washington, which I have already described
to you as harmonizing exactly with the pedigree which has the
sanction of your authority. These are of the same stone and of the
same size with the originals, and have the original
inscriptions--being in all respects _facsimiles_. They will,
therefore, give you an exact idea of these most interesting
memorials in the parish church of Brington, near Althorp, in
Northamptonshire.
The largest is of Lawrence Washington, the father of John
Washington, who emigrated to America. It is a slab of bluish-gray
sandstone, and measures five feet and nine inches long, and two feet
and seven inches broad. Here is the inscription:
HERE LIETH THE BODI OF LAVRENCE
WASHINGTON SONNE AND HEIRE OF
ROBERT WASHINGTON OF SOVLGRAVE
IN THE COUNTIE OF NORTHAMPTON
ESQUIER WHO MARRIED MARGARET
THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM
BUTLER OF TEES IN THE COUNTIE
OF SUSSEXE ESQUIER, WHO HAD ISSU
BY HER 8 SONNS AND 9 DAUGHTERS
WHICH LAVRENCE DECESSED THE 13
OF DECEMBER A. DNI 1616.
THOU THAT BY CHANCE OR CHOYCE
OF THIS HAST SIGHT
KNOW LIFE TO DEATH RESIGNES
AS DAYE TO NIGHT;
BUT AS THE SUNNS RETORNE
REVIVES THE DAY
SO CHRIST SHALL US
THOUGH TURNDE TO DUST & CLAY.
Above the inscription, carved in the stone, are the arms of the
Washingtons, with an additional quartering of another family.
The other is of Robert Washington, and of Elizabeth his wife. Robert
was the uncle of the emigrant. This is a slab of the same sandstone,
and measures three feet and five inches long, and two feet and six
inches broad. The inscription is on a small brass plate set into the
stone, and is as follows:
[Illustration: DECORATION]
HERE LIES INTERRED Y^E BODIES OF ELIZAB. WASHINGTON WIDDOWE WHO
CHANGED THIS LIFE FOR IMORTALITIE Y^E 19^TH OF MARCH 1622. AS
ALSO Y^E BODY OF ROBERT WASHINGTON GENT. HER LATE HUSBAND SECOND
SONNE OF ROBERT WASHINGTON OF SOLGRAVE IN Y^E COUNTY OF NORTH.
ESQ^R. WHO DEPTED THIS LIFE Y^E 10^TH OF MARCH 1622. AFTER THEY
LIVED LOVINGLY TOGETHER MANY YEARS IN THIS PARISH.
On a separate brass, beneath the inscription, are the arms of the
Washingtons without any addition. These, as you are well aware, have
the combination of stars and stripes, and are sometimes supposed to
have suggested our national flag. In heraldic language, there are
bars of gules and argent, with three mullets, or stars.
[Illustration: HERE·LIETH·THE·BODI·OF·LAVRENCE
WASHINGTON·SONNE·&·HEIRE·OF
ROBERT·WASHINGTON·OF·SOVLGRAVE
IN·THE·COVNTIE·OF·NORTHAMPTON
ESQVIER·WHO·MARIED·MARGARET
THE·ELDEST·DAVGHTER·OF·WILLIAM
BVTLER·OF·TEES·IN·THE·COVNTIE
OF·SVSSEXE·ESQVIER·WHO·HAD·ISSV
BY·HER·8·SONNS·&·9·DAVGHTERS
WHICH·LAVRENCE·DECESSED·THE·13
OF·DECEMBER·A: D[^N]I:1616
THOV·THAT·BY·CHANCE·OR·CHOYCE
OF·THIS·HAST·SIGHT
KNOW·LIFE·TO·DEATH·RESIGNES
AS·DAYE·TO·NIGHT
BVT·AS·THE·SVNNS·RETORNE
REVIVES·THE·DAYE
SO·CHRIST·SHALL·VS
THOVGH·TVRNDE·TO·DVST·&·CLAY]
In the interesting chapter on the "Origin and Genealogy of the
Washington Family," which you give in the Appendix to your "Life of
Washington," it appears that Lawrence, the father of the emigrant,
died 13th December, and was buried at Brington, 15th December, 1616.
But the genealogical tables, which you followed, gave no indication
of the locality of this church. Had it appeared that it was the
parish church of the Spencer family in Northamptonshire, the
locality, which I believe has not been heretofore known in our
country, would have been precisely fixed.
In point of fact, the slab which covers Lawrence Washington is in
the chancel of the church, by the side of the monuments of the
Spencer family. These are all in admirable preservation, with
full-length effigies, busts, or other sculptural work, and exhibit
an interesting and connected series of sepulchral memorials from the
reign of Henry VIII. to the present time. Among them is a monument
of the early English sculptor, Nicholas Stone; another from
Nollekins from a design by Cipriani, and another by Flaxman, with
exquisitely beautiful personifications of Faith and Charity. Beneath
repose the successive representatives of this illustrious family,
which has added to its aristocratic claims by services to the state,
and also by the unique and world-famous library collected by one of
its members. In this companionship will be found the last English
ancestor of our Washington.
The other slab, covering Robert, the uncle of the emigrant, is in
one of the aisles of the nave, where it is scraped by the feet of
all who pass.
The parish of Brington is between seven and eight miles from the
town of Northampton, not far from the centre of England. It is
written in Domesday Book "Brinintone" and also "Brintone." It
contains about 2,210 acres, of which about 1,490 acres belong to
Earl Spencer, about 326 acres to the rector in right of the church,
and about 130 acres to other persons. The soil is in general a
dark-colored loam, with a small trace of clay towards the north.
Nearly four-fifths of the whole is pasture and feeding land.
In the village still stands the house said to have been occupied by
the Washingtons when the emigrant brother left them. You will see a
vignette of it on the title-page of the recent English work entitled
"The Washingtons." Over the door are carved the words, "The Lord
giveth; the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord;"
while the Parish Register gives a pathetic commentary by showing
that, in the very year when this house was built, a child had been
born and another had died in this family.
The church, originally dedicated to the Virgin, stands at the
northeast angle of the village, and consists of an embattled tower
with five bells, a nave, north and south aisles, a chancel, a
chapel, and a modern porch; the tower is flanked by buttresses of
two stages. The present fabric goes back in its origin to the
beginning of the 14th century, nearly two hundred years before the
discovery of America. The chancel and chapel, where repose the
Spencers and Lawrence Washington, were rebuilt by Sir John Spencer,
the purchaser of the estate, at the beginning of the 16th century.
They afford one of the latest specimens of the Tudor style of
architecture. The church is beautifully situated on the summit of
the highest ground of Brington, and is surrounded by a stone wall
flanked on the inside by trees. Dibdin says that a more complete
picture of a country churchyard is rarely seen. A well-trimmed walk
encircles the whole of the interior, while the fine Gothic windows
at the end of the chancel fill the scene with picturesque beauty.
The Register of the Parish, which is still preserved, commences in
1560. From this it appears that Wm. Proctor was the rector from 1601
to 1627, covering the period of the last of the Washingtons there.
The following further entries occur relating to this family:
1616. "Mr. Lawrence Washington was buried XVth day of December."
1620. "Mr. Philip Curtis & Mis Amy Washington were married August 8."
1622. "Mr. Robert Washington was buried March ye 11th."
---- "Mrs. Elizabeth Washington, widow, was buried March ye 20th."
Of one of the ministers in this church we have an interesting
glimpse in Evelyn's "Memoirs" (vol. i. p. 612), where the following
entry will be found, under date of July, 1688: "Dr. Jeffreys, the
minister of Althorp, who was my lord's chaplain when Embassador in
France, _preached the shortest discourse I ever heard_; but what was
defective in the amplitude of his sermon, he had supplied in the
largeness and convenience of the parsonage-house."
At a short distance--less than a mile--is Althorp, the seat of the
Spencers, surrounded by a park of five hundred acres, of which one
of the gates opens near the church. There are oak-trees bordering on
the churchyard, which were growing at the time of the purchase of
the estate in the reign of Henry VII. Evelyn was often here a
delighted visitor. On one occasion he speaks of "the house or rather
palace at Althorp" (vol. i. p. 612). In another place he describes
it as "placed in a pretty open bottom, very finely watered, and
flanked with stately woods and groves in a park" (vol. i. p. 451).
Let me add that there is an engraving of Althorp at this time, by
the younger Vosterman, a Dutch artist.
[Illustration: THE WASHINGTON HOUSE, BRINGTON.]
[Illustration: INSCRIPTION OVER THE DOOR OF THE WASHINGTON HOUSE,
BRINGTON.]
There is one feature of the park which excited the admiration of
Evelyn, and at a later day of Mrs. Jameson, who gives to it some
beautiful pages in her "Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad." It
is the record of the time when different plantations of trees was
begun. While recommending this practice in his "Sylva," Evelyn
remarks, "The only instance I know of the like in our country, is in
the park at Althorp." There are six of these commemorative stones.
The first records a wood planted by Sir John Spencer, in 1567 and
1568; the second, a wood planted by Sir John Spencer, son of the
former, in 1589; the third, a wood planted by Robert, Lord Spencer,
in 1602 and 1603; the fourth, a wood planted by Sir William Spencer,
Knight of the Bath, afterwards Lord Spencer, in 1624. The latter
stone is ornamented with the arms of the Spencers, and on the back
is inscribed, "Up and bee doing, and God will prosper." It was in
this scenery and amidst these associations that the Washingtons
lived. When the emigrant left in 1657, these woods must have been
well-grown. It was not long afterwards that they arrested the
attention of Evelyn.
The Household Books at Althorp show that for many years the
Washingtons were frequent guests there. The hospitality of this seat
has been renowned. The Queen of James I. and the Prince Henry, on
their way to London, in 1603, were welcomed there in an
entertainment, memorable for a masque from the vigorous muse of Ben
Jonson (Ben Jonson's Works, vol. vi. p. 475). Charles I. was at
Althorp, in 1647, when he received the first intelligence of the
approach of those pursuers from whom he never escaped until his life
had been laid down upon the scaffold. In 1698, King William was
there for a week, and, according to Evelyn, was "mightily
entertained" (vol. ii. p. 50). At least one of the members of this
family was famous for hospitality of a different character. Evelyn
records that he used to dine with the Countess of Sunderland--the
title then borne by the Spencers--"when she invited _fire-eaters_,
stone-eaters, and opera-singers, after the fashion of the day" (vol.
i. pp. 458, 483, 579).
The family was early and constantly associated with literature.
Spencer, the poet, belonged to it, and to one of its members he has
dedicated his "Tears of the Muses." It was for Alice Spencer that
Milton is said to have written his "Arcades," and Sir John
Harrington has celebrated her memory by an epigram. The Sacharissa
of Waller was the Lady Dorothy Sidney, wife of the first Earl of
Sunderland, the third Lord Spencer, who perished fighting for King
Charles I. at Newbury. I do not dwell on the other associations of a
later day, as my object is simply to allude to those which existed
in the time of the Washingtons.
"The nobility of the Spencers has been illustrated and enriched by
the trophies of Marlborough; but I exhort them to consider the
'Fairy Queen' as the most precious jewel of their coronet." Thus
wrote Gibbon in his memoirs, and all must feel the beauty of the
passage. Perhaps it is not too much to say that this nobility may
claim another illustration from its ties of friendship and
neighborhood with the family of Washington. It cannot doubt that
hereafter the parish church of Brington will be often visited by our
countrymen, who will look with reverence upon a spot so closely
associated with American history.
I trust that this little sketch, suggested by what I saw at Althorp,
during a brief visit last autumn, will not seem irrelevant. Besides
my own personal impressions, and the volumes quoted, I have relied
upon Dibdin's "Ædes Althorpianæ," so interesting to all
bibliographical students, and especially upon Baker's "History of
Northamptonshire"--one of those magnificent local works which
illustrate English history--to which you refer in your Appendix, but
which was not completed till some time after the "Life of
Washington" appeared.
Of course, the Memorial Stones which I have received from Lord
Spencer are of much historic value, and I think that I shall best
carry out the generous idea of the giver by taking care that they
are permanently placed where they can be seen by the public; perhaps
at the State House, near Chantrey's beautiful statue of
Washington--if this should be agreeable to the Commonwealth.
Pray pardon this long letter, and believe me, my dear Sir, with much
regard,
Ever sincerely yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.
JARED SPARKS, Esq.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by its Representatives, thanked Mr.
Sumner, and directed the Memorial Stones to be placed where they now
are.
ANALYTICAL INDEX.
A.
Abercrombie, Major-General, letter of Dinwiddie to, recommending
Washington for promotion into the royal army, i. 216;
on unity in the colonies, i. 230;
dilatory movements of--haughtiness of, toward the provincials, i. 231;
Lord Loudoun superseded by, in 1758, i. 252;
his expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, i. 262;
cowardice of, at Ticonderoga, i. 265;
Fort George erected by, i. 266;
the calumniator of Americans in England, i. 267.
Academy, military, establishment of one urged on Congress by Washington,
iii. 455;
Washington's letter to Hamilton in relation to, iii. 549.
Acadia, early history of, i. 178;
removal of the population of, i. 179.
Acadians, cruelties perpetrated by, on the English frontier settlers,
i. 180.
Accounts of Washington, i. 307, 318, iii. 34.
Ackland, Lady, visit of, to the American camp at Bemis's heights,
ii. 534;
biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 535.
Ackland, Major, wounded at Hubbardton, ii. 467;
death of, at Saratoga (_note_), ii. 535.
Adams, John, prediction of, in 1755, i. 70;
extract from the Autobiography of (_note_), i. 432;
his account of the choice, by Congress, of a commander-in-chief,
i. 533;
his admiration of Washington, i. 538;
movements of Washington on the Schuylkill criticised by, ii. 516;
treaty of peace signed by, in 1782, iii. 15;
liberal commercial offer made by, to the British government, iii. 101;
opinions of, on presidential etiquette, iii. 106;
his "Discourses on Davila," iii. 188;
elected vice-president in 1792, iii. 222;
a candidate for the presidency in 1796, iii. 451;
letters of, to his wife, on learning his election to the presidency,
iii. 468;
inauguration of, iii. 472;
jealous of the popularity of Washington, iii. 475;
special session of Congress convened by, in 1798, iii. 494;
letter of, to Washington, anticipating war with France, iii. 509;
advice of Washington to, respecting the choice of generals, iii. 511;
Washington nominated by, as commander-in-chief, in 1798, iii. 512;
inclination of, to reverse Washington's arrangement of the
major-generals, iii. 522;
anxiety of, to avert a war with France, iii. 528;
feud between, and his cabinet, iii. 530;
message of, to Congress, in relation to Mrs. Washington and funeral
honors to her husband, iii. 565.
Adams, John Quincy, appointed minister to the Hague in 1794, iii. 301.
Adams, Mrs. John, lament of, for the death of Warren, i. 571;
remarks of, on the personal appearance of Washington, i. 586;
her description of the cannonade of Boston, ii. 63.
Adams, Samuel, integrity of, i. 345;
active in throwing the tea overboard in Boston harbor, i. 388;
noble sentiments expressed by, i. 437;
outlawed by a proclamation of General Gage, i. 552;
not concerned in _Conway's Cabal_ (_note_), ii. 589;
part taken by, in celebrating the French victories in Holland,
iii. 237.
Addresses of the second continental Congress to the people of Great
Britain and Ireland, i. 606, 610.
Address, Washington's Farewell, iii. 427.
Adet, M., colors of France presented to Washington by, iii. 385;
reply of Washington to the speech of, iii. 386;
attempts of, to influence the American people, iii. 451;
extraordinary letter addressed by, to the _Aurora_ and to the state
department, iii. 452;
pamphlet issued by, from the press of the _Aurora_, iii. 463.
Agriculture, Congress urged by Washington to foster, iii. 455.
Aix-la-Chapelle, boundaries in America left unsettled by the treaty of,
i. 59;
violation of the treaty of, by the French, i. 176.
Albany, congress of delegates from the colonies assembled at, in 1754,
i. 127.
Alexandria, Washington stationed at, in 1754, i. 94;
Washington introduced to the assembled governors at, in 1755, i. 145;
bequest of Washington to the academy in, iii. 536;
lots owned by Washington in, at the time of his death, iii. 543.
Algiers, attention of Congress called by Washington to relations
with--Colonel Humphreys appointed to treat with the dey of, iii. 293;
payment of tribute to, advocated in Congress in 1794, iii. 294;
treaty adjusted with, in 1795, iii. 379.
Aliquippa, Queen, interview of Washington with, i. 91.
Allen, Colonel Ethan, expedition of, against Ticonderoga, i. 524;
disappointed in his desire to invade Canada, i. 531;
retreat of, from St. John on the Sorel, i. 647;
letter of, to the provincial congress of New York, urging the invasion
of Canada, i. 650;
an outlaw by act of the New York legislature--admitted to the floor of
the provincial congress of New York, i. 653;
letter of thanks from, to the provincial congress of New York, i. 654;
letter of, to Governor Trumbull, in relation to the invasion of
Canada--disappointment of, at his rejection by the Green Mountain
Boys, i. 658;
remark of Montgomery respecting, i. 659;
body of Canadians raised by--unauthorized attempt upon Montreal made
by, i. 672;
defeated and made prisoner, i. 673;
brutal treatment of, by Prescott, i. 674;
his letter of remonstrance to Prescott, i. 675;
subsequent history of (_note_), i. 675;
Schuyler and Washington on the insubordination of, i. 675, 676;
letter of Washington to Howe, in relation to the harsh treatment
of--lenient treatment of, in England, ii. 28.
"American Association," articles of, i. 441;
the signers of (_note_), i. 445;
the Quakers adverse to, i. 457;
measures for the enforcement of, adopted in all the colonies in 1775,
i. 464;
popularity of, in New York, i. 515.
"American Continental Army" constituted, i. 531.
Ames, Fisher, letter of, in relation to the Congressional debates on
Jay's treaty, iii. 393;
speech of, in the house of representatives, on the subject of Jay's
treaty, iii. 405;
extracts from the speech of, iii. 405-416;
powerful impression produced by the speech of, iii 416.
Amherst, Major-General Sir Jeffery, expedition of, against Louisburg,
in 1758, i. 260;
biographical notice of (_note_), i. 262;
appointed to the chief command in America in 1759, i. 290;
Ticonderoga taken possession of by, i. 292;
fortifications built at Crown Point by, i. 292.
Ancestry of Washington traceable for six hundred years, i. 18.
Anderson, Captain Ephraim, fire-ships constructed by, ii. 236.
Anderson, James, Washington's farm manager, letter of Washington to,
iii. 548.
André, Major John, among the prisoners taken at St. John on the Sorel,
i. 680;
correspondence of Mrs. Arnold with, ii. 689;
sent by Sir Henry Clinton to confer with Arnold--arrest of, at
Tarrytown, ii. 690;
condemned to the death of a spy, ii. 693;
execution of, ii 694;
names of the captors of, ii. 695.
Annapolis, Irving's description of fashionable society in, before the
Revolution, i. 307;
first theatrical performance in America at, in 1752, i. 308;
journey of Washington to, from New York, in 1783--ball given at, in
honor of Washington, iii. 35;
short stay of young Custis at the college at (_note_), iii. 533.
Anthrax, malignant, Washington attacked by, in 1789, iii. 116.
Appearance, personal, of Washington, i. 46, iii. 584, 590, 595, 597, 601.
Arbuthnot, Admiral, arrival of, in New York, with troops, ii. 661;
fleet of, damaged off Cape Hatteras, ii. 671;
French blockaded by, in Newport, ii. 681.
Armstrong, Colonel John, Kittanning destroyed by, in 1756, i. 226;
medal presented to, i. 227.
Armstrong, Major John, addresses to the continental army written by, in
1783, iii. 16, 18.
Arnold, Benedict, expedition undertaken by, against
Ticonderoga--disappointment of, at finding Allen in the field
before him, i. 524;
a volunteer in Allen's expedition, i. 525;
protest sent by, to the provincial congress of Massachusetts, i. 526;
St. John on the Sorel captured and afterward abandoned by, i. 646;
experience of, at sea in early life, i. 647;
proposition of, to the continental Congress, for the invasion of
Canada, i. 648;
dislike of, for Allen (_notes_), i. 648, 652;
commission thrown up by, i. 649;
friendly reception of, by Washington, i. 682;
letter of General Gates to, at Watertown (_note_), i. 682;
expedition against Quebec intrusted to, i. 683;
instructions of Washington to, on his departure for Quebec, i. 683;
address of, to the inhabitants of Canada (_note_), i. 684;
private letter of Washington to, i. 687;
departure of, from Newburyport, i. 688;
army of, reduced by sickness and desertion, i. 689;
treachery of Indian messengers of, i. 690;
desertion of, by Colonel Enos, with his whole division--unparalleled
hardships endured by the troops of, i. 692;
encampment of, on the eastern shore of Lake Megantic, i. 693;
destruction of vessels of, while descending the Chaudière--message of,
to Montgomery, carried by young Aaron Burr, i. 694;
joined at Sertignan by Norridgewock Indians, i. 695;
friendly reception of, by the _habitans_ of the valley of the
Chaudière--approach of, known in Quebec through Indian
treachery--fears excited in Quebec by the arrival of the troops of,
at Point Levi, i. 696;
names of men in the expedition of, afterward distinguished, i. 697;
operations of, at Quebec, delayed by a snowstorm--Heights of Abraham
scaled by, i. 701;
reliance of, on the friendliness of the people of Quebec, i. 702;
retirement of, from before Quebec--communication of, with Montgomery,
i. 703;
commendation of, by Washington for his conduct in the Quebec
expedition, i. 713;
wounded in the attempt to storm the fortifications of Quebec, i. 720;
withdrawal of, to an entrenched camp--attempts of, to cut off supplies
from the garrison of Quebec, i. 723;
made brigadier-general, ii. 95;
his urgent request of reinforcements from Wooster--letter of, to
Congress, urging further efforts for the conquest of Canada, ii. 98;
sorties from Quebec repelled by--compelled to resort to continental
money for the purchase of supplies, ii. 99;
ineffective fire opened by, upon Quebec--small-pox in the camp
of--arrival of General Wooster at the camp of--departure of, for
Montreal, ii. 100;
letter of Schuyler to, expressing regret at the conduct of Wooster,
ii. 101;
efforts of, to obtain a surrender of prisoners, from Captain Forster,
ii. 149;
warning given to, at Montreal, of the approach of the British, ii. 164;
goods of Montreal merchants seized by (_note_), ii. 165;
retreat of, from Montreal, ii. 165;
narrow escape of, from the British at Longueuil, ii. 166;
the last man that left the shores of Canada, ii. 167;
flotilla constructed by, at Ticonderoga--post taken by, with his
flotilla, at _Isle-aux-Têtes_, ii. 255;
great intrepidity displayed by, in a naval engagement on Lake
Champlain, ii. 334;
destruction of the vessels of--Crown Point abandoned by, ii. 336;
complaints of, ii. 403;
Washington's concern at the neglect of, by Congress, ii. 429;
letter of, to Washington, in relation to his claims to promotion,
ii. 480;
wonderful escape of, while harassing Tryon's retreat from Danbury,
ii. 436, 437;
made major-general by Congress--appointed by Washington to the command
at Peekskill, ii. 438;
recommended by Washington to take the place of St. Clair, ii. 470;
boldness and activity of, at Bemis's Heights, ii. 524;
jealousy of General Gates excited against, ii. 526;
deprived of his command by Gates, ii. 527;
letters of, to Gates, urging him to attack Burgoyne, ii. 528, 529;
activity of, at the second battle near Bemis's Heights, ii. 531;
wounded at Bemis's Heights in the leg maimed at Quebec, ii. 533;
Philadelphia taken possession of by, on the departure of Clinton,
ii. 618;
expensive habits of, in Philadelphia--marriage of, to Miss
Shippen--charges preferred against, by the people of
Philadelphia--sentenced by a court-martial to a reprimand, ii. 688;
cautious advances made by, to Clinton, ii. 689;
command at West Point solicited by, ii. 689;
price of the treason of, ii. 690;
letter of Jameson received by, while at breakfast--escape of, from
West Point, ii. 692;
attempt to abduct, made by Sergeant Champe, ii. 694;
hated and despised by the British, ii. 695;
persons suspected of complicity with, ii. 697;
predatory excursion of, to Virginia--efforts of, to capture Governor
Jefferson, ii. 711;
ravaging expedition of, on the shores of Connecticut, ii. 727.
Arnold, Mrs., early correspondence of, with Major André, ii. 689, 695;
ordered by the executive council of Pennsylvania to leave the state,
ii. 695.
_Articles of Confederation_, adoption of, ii. 710;
substance of (_note_), ii. 710;
considered defective by Washington as a system of government--letter
of Washington to James Warren, in relation to, iii. 54;
letters of Washington and Jay in relation to a revision of, iii. 56;
convention to amend, proposed by commissioners at Annapolis, iii. 59.
Asgill, Captain, selected by lot for execution--sympathies of Washington
excited for, iii. 14.
Ashe, General, surprised by Prevost, at Brier creek, ii. 651.
Asses, sent to Washington by the king of Spain and by Lafayette, iii. 51.
Atlee, Colonel Samuel J., made prisoner at the battle of Long
Island--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 274.
_Aurora_, abstract of Jay's treaty sent to the editor of, by
Senator Mason, iii. 347;
libel of Washington published in, iii. 369;
confidential questions of Washington to his cabinet relating to the
reception of Genet, published in, iii. 420;
extraordinary letter of Adet addressed to, in 1796, iii. 452;
malignant language of, in 1796, in relation to Washington--malignant
letter of Paine to Washington issued from the press of, iii 461;
a pamphlet issued from the press of, by Adet, iii. 463;
virulent attacks upon the character of Washington, published in, in
1797, iii. 477;
public indignation excited against--editor of, severely beaten,
iii. 478;
American government criminated by, in defence of France, iii. 505.
Awe, inspired by the presence of Washington, iii. 597, 598.
B.
Bache, editor of the _Aurora_, Washington's opinion of his journal,
iii. 268;
severely beaten, iii. 478.
Baker, Captain Remember, prisoners made by, i. 645.
Baird, Sir James, his brutal treatment of General Woodhull when a
prisoner (_note_), ii. 277.
Ball in honor of Washington's inauguration, iii. 109;
in celebration of the birthday of Washington in 1797, iii. 469.
Baltimore, effect of the news of the battle of Lexington at, i. 517;
Continental Congress adjourned to, ii. 362;
reception of Washington at, on his way to Mount Vernon, in 1797,
iii. 480.
Bank, national, advocated by Hamilton, iii. 171;
popularity of Hamilton's plan for--opposition of Jefferson to,
iii. 172;
bill creating, signed by Washington, iii. 173.
Barbados, visit of Lawrence and George Washington to, in 1751, i. 62.
Barbary powers, impunity of their piracies in 1789, iii. 100.
Bard, Doctor, assiduous attention of, to Washington, during his illness
in 1789, iii. 116.
Barney, Commodore, bad conduct of, in the West Indies, iii. 467.
Barnsfare, Captain, death of Montgomery in the attempt to surprise the
battery of, i. 718.
Barré, Isaac, Wolfe's adjutant-general at Quebec, i. 293;
"conciliatory bill" of Lord North denounced by, i. 498.
Barren Hill, escape of Lafayette from the British at, ii. 615.
Barrett, Colonel, militia assembled under, at Concord, i. 506.
Barry, William T., placed at the head of the post-office department in
1829, iii. 123.
Barton, Lieutenant-Colonel William, General Prescott made prisoner by,
ii. 474.
Baskingridge, surprise and capture of General Lee at, ii. 358.
Bassett, Colonel, death of J. P. Custis at the house of, at Eltham,
iii. 5.
Bastile, in France, destruction of, iii. 136;
key of, sent to Washington by Lafayette, iii. 163.
Bath, buildings owned by Washington in, at the time of his death,
iii. 543.
Baume, Colonel, sent by Burgoyne to seize provisions at Bennington,
ii. 486;
death of, at the battle of Bennington, ii. 487.
Baylor, Colonel, party of horse under, surprised by General Grey,
ii. 643.
Beckwith, Major, mission of, to the United States, in 1790, iii. 158;
Washington's opinion of the mission of--action of Washington's cabinet
with regard to, iii. 159.
Bedell, Colonel, fort at Chamblée captured by a party under the command
of, i. 677;
stationed at the Cedars with New Hampshire troops, ii. 148;
cowardice of, ii. 148, 149.
Beekman, James, headquarters of General Howe in New York, at the house
of, ii. 297.
Belvoir, seat of Honorable William Fairfax, i. 43;
mansion of, destroyed by fire, i. 454;
regret of Washington for the destruction of, iii. 490.
Bellamy, Mr., agent of Talleyrand in the attempt to extort money from
American envoys, iii. 502;
astonishment of, at the boldness of the envoys, iii. 503.
Beman, Nathan, Ethan Allen's guide at Ticonderoga, surviving in 1846
(_note_), i. 525.
Bemis's Heights, entrenched camp established on, by Gates, by the advice
of Kosciuszko, ii. 522;
force and position of the army of Gates at--arrival of Burgoyne in the
neighborhood of, ii. 523;
inactivity of Gates at, ii. 524;
anxiety of Arnold to renew the battle at--comparative loss of the
British and Americans in the battle at, ii. 525;
retirement of Burgoyne from, ii. 526;
second battle near, begun by Morgan and his riflemen, ii. 530.
Bennington, Colonel Baume sent by Burgoyne to seize provisions at,
ii. 486;
disastrous consequences to Burgoyne, of Colonel Baume's defeat at,
ii. 487.
Bequests left by Washington to various persons as mementoes, iii. 539.
Bernard, Governor, attempts of, to bribe the leading men of Boston,
i. 345;
petitioned by the Massachusetts assembly to remove the troops from
Boston--departure of, for England, in 1769, i. 367.
Beverage of Washington, iii. 586.
Beverly, skirmish of the _Nautilus_ with a privateer at, i. 732.
Bigelow, Major, mountain ascended by, in expectation of a distant view
of Quebec, i. 691.
Billy, body-servant of Washington, spurious letters of Washington alleged
to have been found in the possession of, iii. 448.
Bingham, Mr., Jay's treaty burned in front of the house of, in
Philadelphia, iii. 353.
Binney, Horace, conclusions arrived at by, respecting the authorship of
Washington's Farewell Address (_note_), iii. 434.
Birthday of Washington, acrimonious debate in Congress respecting the
celebration of, in 1793, iii. 322;
celebration of, in 1797, iii. 469.
Birthplace of Washington, i. 17, 23.
Bishop, the body-servant of Washington, transferred to him by Braddock,
i. 277.
Blair, John, appointed associate judge of the supreme court in 1789,
iii. 122.
"Blockade of Boston," a farce composed by the British officers during
the siege--not written by Burgoyne (_note_), ii. 49;
turned into a tragedy by Knowlton's attack on Charlestown, ii. 50.
Blount, resolutions offered in Congress by, respecting the treaty-making
power, iii. 397;
resolutions of, adopted, iii. 398.
Board of Trade and Plantations, attempts of, to control the colonies,
i. 314.
Bonaparte, Napoleon, treaty concluded by, with the American envoys,
iii. 530;
honors paid to the memory of Washington by, iii. 570.
Bond, British _chargé_, threat and complaint of, in relation to
Jay's treaty, iii. 401.
Boquet, Colonel, letter of Washington to, in relation to a proposed
new road to Fort Duquesne, i. 271.
Boscawen, _Alcide_ and _Lys_ taken by, i. 177;
at the siege of Louisburg in 1758--biographical notice of (_note_),
i. 260.
Boston, reception of Washington in, in 1756--population of, in 1756,
i. 200;
troops landed at, in 1768, under cover of cannon from the ships-of-war,
i. 346;
"massacre" at, i. 366;
troops removed from, after the "massacre"--vengeance threatened
against, for the destruction of tea in the harbor, i. 388;
port of, closed by act of Parliament, i. 389;
sympathy with, in Virginia, i. 392, 395;
money sent from London to assist the suffering poor of, i. 397;
the only spot in Massachusetts in 1774 where the king's government was
obeyed, i. 417;
rumored bombardment of, i. 426;
removal of troops from, advocated by Lord Chatham, i. 489;
intercourse of, with the country, cut off by General Gage, i. 514;
position of the British and American forces at the siege of, i. 619;
scarcity and sickness in the British army in, i. 636;
sufferings of the patriots in, during the siege, i. 637;
a portion of the inhabitants of, sent away by General Gage--number of
residents and troops in, during the siege (_note_), i. 638;
question as to the bombardment of, submitted by Washington to the
committee of Congress, i. 736;
desecration of churches in, by British troops during the siege, i. 745;
oppressive measures of General Howe toward the people of, i. 746;
secret expedition fitted out by General Howe in the harbor of, ii. 29;
anxiety of Washington to drive the British out of, ii. 29, 32, 47;
the small-pox in the British army in--ammunition expended by the
British in the defence of (_note_), ii. 48;
anxiety of Washington for a direct assault upon--council of war adverse
to an attack upon, ii. 53;
cannonade and bombardment of, in anticipation of the attempt upon
Dorchester Heights--cannonade of, heard at the distance of a hundred
miles, ii. 62;
resolution of General Howe to evacuate, ii. 67;
consternation of the tories of, at Howe's preparations for departure
from, ii. 68;
spared by General Howe on condition of his being allowed to depart
unmolested, ii. 69;
outrages committed by Howe's troops at the evacuation of, ii. 70;
scene presented at the evacuation of--prizes taken at sea by the
Americans during the siege of (_note_), ii. 71:
sorrow of the tories on leaving--troops glad to get away from, ii. 72;
entrance of the Americans into, ii. 73;
visitors prohibited from entering without passes, ii. 74;
damage done to buildings in--"Liberty-tree" at, cut down (_note_),
ii. 75;
large amount of property left behind by Howe at the evacuation
of--efforts of Washington to establish order in, ii. 76;
address of the selectmen of, to Washington--congratulatory letters, in
relation to the evacuation of, addressed to Washington (_note_),
ii. 77;
measures of Washington for the defence of, ii. 81;
apprehensions of the people of, of the return of Howe--operations for
the defence of, carried on by Colonel Gridley, ii. 82;
plan of General Lincoln for driving the British fleet from the harbor
of--British store-ships captured in the harbor of, ii. 83;
effect in England of the news of the flight of the army from, ii. 84;
speech of the duke of Manchester on the abandonment of, ii. 86;
the ministry attacked by Barré and Burke in relation to the abandonment
of, ii. 86;
reception of Washington in, on his tour in 1789--dispute between the
selectmen of, and Governor Hancock, in relation to the reception of
Washington, iii. 127;
influenza prevalent at, a few days after Washington's visit (_note_),
iii. 128;
reminiscences of Samuel Breck, of Washington's visit to, in 1789
(_note_), iii. 130;
letter of Washington to the selectmen of, in relation to Jay's treaty,
iii. 356.
_Boston_, French frigate _L'Embuscade_ challenged by, iii. 277.
"Boston Massacre," history of, i. 366-368;
anniversary of, fixed upon for taking possession of Dorchester Heights,
ii. 61;
anniversaries of, observed in Boston (_note_), ii. 65.
Boston Neck, defence of, by Colonel Robinson, i. 513;
fortifications erected on, by Howe, i. 745;
fortifications on, demolished by order of Washington, ii. 81.
Botetourt, Lord, arrival of, in Virginia, in 1768--Junius's description
of--remark of Walpole respecting--his erroneous impressions of the
colonists, i. 351;
palace of, at Williamsburg--parade of, on opening the Virginia
assembly, i. 352;
illusions of, rapidly dispelled, i. 353;
Virginia assembly dissolved by, i. 354;
good faith and justice of--statue erected to the memory of, i 356;
death of, followed by a change of public sentiment in Virginia, i. 374.
Botta, Charles, eloquent remarks of, on the achievements of Washington in
the Jerseys, ii. 394.
Boudinot, Elias, commissary general of prisoners, in the summer of 1777,
ii. 412.
Bowdoin, James, characteristic letter of General Lee to, ii. 342.
Boyd, Colonel, defeated by Colonel Pickens, ii. 651.
Braddock, Edward, father of General Braddock--daughters of, i. 135.
Braddock, General, Walpole's description of, i. 135;
heartlessness of--in the battle of Fontenoy--stationed at Gibraltar in
1753, i. 136;
anecdote of Anne Bellamy, illustrating the character of--arrival of, in
Hampton roads, i. 137;
conference of, with Governor Dinwiddie at Williamsburg--first general
orders of, issued from Alexandria--anxiety of, to procure the
services of Washington, i. 138;
invitation of, to Washington to become one of his family--Washington's
reasons for joining, i. 139;
meeting of, with the colonial governors, at Alexandria, i. 140;
three distinct expeditions planned by, i. 141;
letter of, to Lord Halifax, in relation to Pennsylvania and Maryland,
i. 144;
disappointments and difficulties of--appoints Washington his
aid-de-camp, i. 146;
irritation of, at the indifference of the colonies, i. 147;
Franklin in the camp of, at Fredericktown--his extreme confidence of
success--conversation of Franklin with, in relation to his
expedition, i. 148;
Franklin urged by, to procure wagons for the use of the army, i. 149;
his commendation of Washington and Franklin, i. 150;
war-dance of Indians in the camp of, at Will's Creek--effective force
of, at Will's Creek, i. 151;
names of men afterward distinguished, in the camp of, i. 152;
delay at Will's Creek fatal to, i. 156;
slow march of the army of, i. 157;
advice of Washington to, to press forward rapidly, i. 158;
illness of Washington on his march with--Washington left at the
Youghiogany by the orders of, i. 159;
continued fears of ambuscades in the army of, i. 160;
son of Monacatoocha killed by grenadiers of, by mistake, i. 161;
funeral honors paid by, to the son of Monacatoocha, i. 162;
his fatal rejection of Indian aid--forces of, greatly exaggerated in
the French camp, i. 163;
location of the camp of, on the eve of his defeat, i. 165;
details of the defeat of, i. 166-170;
bravery displayed by, on the field of battle, i. 168;
mortal wound received by, i. 169;
death of, near Great Meadows, on the 14th of July, 1755--funeral
service at the grave of, read by Washington--grave of, still to be
seen (_note_), i. 171;
depressing influence of the memory of the defeat of, i. 205.
Bradford, a leader in the Whiskey Insurrection, iii. 310;
in favor of forming an independent western state, iii. 316.
Bradford, William, successor of Randolph as attorney-general, iii. 289;
lines written by, on the sufferings of Lafayette, iii. 373.
Bradstreet, Colonel, expedition of, against Fort Frontenac--assistance
lent to, by General Stanwix--joined by Red Head and his Indian
warriors, i. 267;
surrender of the fort to--malignant fever among the troops of, i. 268;
Detroit relieved by, in 1764, i. 320.
Brand, bishop of Quebec, refusal of, to issue a _mandement_ in the
interest of the British government, i. 644.
Brandywine, movements of the American and British armies in the
neighborhood of, ii. 501;
battle of--Lafayette a volunteer in the battle of, ii. 505;
Lafayette wounded at the battle of, ii. 506;
skilful movement of General Greene at the battle of--retreat of the
American army from, to Chester, ii. 507;
opinion of General Knox in regard to the battle of--Sullivan censured
for allowing himself to be surprised at--killed and wounded at the
battle of--letter of Washington to Congress, in relation to the
battle at, ii. 508;
conspicuous bravery of Count Pulaski at the battle of, ii. 510.
Brant, Joseph, biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 106.
Brant, and Walter Butler, Cherry Valley desolated by, ii. 642.
Breadstuffs, neutral vessels carrying, seized by the cruisers of England
and France in 1793, iii. 272.
Breakfast-hour of Washington, iii. 586.
Breck, Samuel, his reminiscences of Washington's visit to Boston in 1789
(_note_), iii. 130.
Breed's hill, fortified by Colonel Prescott, instead of Bunker's hill,
i. 556;
Neal's lines on the fortification of--fire opened upon, from
ships-of-war, i. 557;
excitement in Boston during the cannonade upon, i. 558:
troops at, reinforced by Stark's regiment--New England flag hoisted at
(_note_), i. 559;
preparations for the attack upon, i. 560;
suspicion of treachery among the defenders of--arrival of Doctor Warren
and General Pomeroy at, i. 561;
arrival of Colonel Stark at the rail-fence breastwork at--British plan
of attack upon, i. 563;
carnage among the British at, i. 564;
second attack upon, under General Howe, i. 565;
second retreat of the British from--numerous spectators of the battle
on, i. 560;
watched by Sir Henry Clinton from Copp's hill--failure of ammunition of
Americans at, i. 567;
rapid retreat of the Americans from, i. 569;
terrible price paid by the British for their victory at--immense gain
of the Americans by the battle of--British loss at, according to
General Gage (_note_), i. 570.
Bridport, Lord, flags of the fleet of, at Torbay, lowered to half-mast,
at the death of Washington, iii. 570.
Brienne, Marchioness de, ball in honor of Washington directed by,
iii. 110.
Brier Creek, General Ashe surprised by Prevost at, ii. 651.
Brooke, Governor, letter of Washington to, in relation to education,
iii. 333.
Brooklyn, defensive works prepared by General Greene at, ii. 171;
appeal made by Washington to the troops at (_note_), ii. 203;
Sullivan superseded in command at, by Putnam--disorderly conduct of the
troops at, on the approach of the British, ii. 264;
description of the defensive works in the neighborhood of--roads in the
rear of--minute description of the defensive works near, where to be
found (_note_), ii. 265;
plan of the British march upon, ii. 266;
Putnam's camp at, visited by Washington, ii. 267;
American works at, taken possession of by the British, ii. 285.
Brougham, Lord, panegyric pronounced by, upon the character of
Washington, iii. 581.
Broughton, Captain, the first naval commission granted to, by Washington,
in 1795, i. 740.
Brown, Doctor, of Port Tobacco, Washington attended by, in his last
illness, iii. 554.
Brown, Major John, sent by General Schuyler into Canada as confidential
agent, i. 659;
letter of, to Governor Trumbull, in relation to the invasion of
Canada--report of, as to the defenceless condition of Canada, i. 660;
unauthorized attempt made upon Montreal by, in concert with Ethan
Allen, i. 672.
Brunswick, duke of, mercenaries furnished by, ii. 6.
Brunswick, one bed occupied by Franklin and Adams at, ii. 290;
critical position of the American army at, ii. 346;
disappointment of Cornwallis in not finding Washington at, ii. 392;
headquarters of Sir William Howe at, ii. 443.
Brush, Crean, ordered by Howe to seize clothing in Boston, ii. 70.
Buchan, earl of, box of the oak that sheltered Wallace recommitted to, by
the will of Washington, iii. 539.
Buffalo river, fort built on, by the French, in 1752, i. 74.
Buford, Colonel, massacre of a body of troops under, by Colonel Tarleton,
ii. 676.
Bull, Governor, letters of the British government to, seized and sent to
Congress, i. 500.
Bunker's hill, occupied by the British the night after the battle of
Lexington, i. 510;
fortification of, intrusted to Colonel Prescott, i. 556;
intrenchments commenced on, by Putnam, i. 559;
battle of, see _Breed's hill_;
cruel treatment by General Gage, of prisoners taken at, i. 630;
General Sir Henry Clinton placed in command of a redoubt on, i. 744.
Burgoyne, General, biographical notice of, i. 620;
interview with General Lee proposed by, i. 630;
intelligence of the movements of, in Canada, sent to Washington by
Schuyler--doubts of Washington as to the force of, ii. 453;
New York invaded by, ii. 459;
composition of the army of--doubts of Schuyler as to the intentions
of--Indians unwillingly employed by, ii. 460;
faithlessness of the Indians employed by, ii. 481, 485;
Crown Point taken possession of by, pompous proclamation issued by,
ii. 461;
proclamation of Washington in reply to, ii. 462;
Mount Hope and Sugar-Loaf hill taken possession of, by, ii. 464;
fate of, foretold by Washington--progress of, toward Fort Edward,
ii. 480, 481;
Indian allies of, troublesome--humanity of, ii. 481;
large bounty offered by, for prisoners--humane instructions of, to his
Indian allies (_note_), ii. 482;
want of provisions in the army of, ii. 485;
defeat of Baume at Bennington a disastrous blow to, ii. 487;
perplexity and alarm of, after the battle of Bennington, ii. 521;
silent march of, down the valley of the Hudson, ii. 522;
retirement of, from Bemis's Heights--cheering news received by, from
Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 526;
anxiety of, to hear from Clinton, ii. 528;
compelled to fight or fly, ii. 529;
deplorable situation of, ii. 583;
buildings of Schuyler at Saratoga burned by, ii. 535;
arms laid down by the army of--army of, marched to Virginia as
prisoners-of-war--reception of, and his officers, in the American
camp, ii. 537:
impression made upon, by the generosity of Schuyler--a guest at the
house of Schuyler at Albany, ii. 538;
importance of the surrender of, to the republican cause, ii. 539;
effect in Congress and in Parliament of the news of the surrender
of--speech of Chatham in relation to the surrender of--effect on the
continent of Europe of the news of the surrender of, ii. 540.
Burke, Edmund, on the conduct of the British naval commanders, i. 322;
eloquence of, in opposition to the stamp-act, i. 334;
extract from a speech of, on American taxation (_note_), i. 342;
conciliatory resolutions presented by, in Parliament, i. 498;
despondent view taken by, of American affairs, ii. 396.
Burke's History of Virginia, terms of the association to exclude British
merchandise printed in, i. 355.
Burr, Aaron, sent with a verbal message to Montgomery by Arnold, i. 694;
with Arnold in his Quebec expedition, i. 697;
forlorn hope placed under the command of, by Montgomery, i. 717;
not with Montgomery when he fell (_note_), i. 719;
troops of Putnam led out of New York by, ii. 296;
a senator in the Congress of 1791--personal hostility of, to
Washington, iii. 192;
systematic opposition of, to Washington, iii. 300.
Butler, Colonel Zebulon, defence of Wyoming attempted by, ii. 641.
Butler, John, massacre at Wyoming by tories and Indians under the command
of, ii. 641.
Butler, Walter, and Brant, Cherry Valley desolated by, ii. 642.
Buttrick, Major, attack made by, upon the British at Concord, i. 507.
Byron, Admiral, arrival of, at New York, as successor to Lord Howe,
ii. 644.
Byron, Lord, lines of, in allusion to Washington's refusal of
compensation, i. 538.
C.
Cabinet of Washington, dissentions in, in 1790, iii. 151.
Cadwalader, General, duel of, with Conway, ii. 590.
Caghnawaga tribe of Indians, efforts of Schuyler to conciliate, i. 665;
mistake of Captain Baker respecting (_note_), i. 666.
Caldwell, Reverend James, murder of the wife of, at Connecticut Farms,
ii. 677.
Callbeck, Mr., and others, made prisoners by Captains Broughton and
Selman--letter of thanks addressed by, to Washington, i. 742.
Cambridge, departure of Washington from Philadelphia to take command of
the army at, i. 541;
confusion at, on the approach of the British to Breed's hill, i. 560;
reflections on the mission of Washington, on his taking command of the
army at, i. 573;
journey of Washington, to, performed on horseback, i. 574;
reception of Washington at--dwelling occupied by Washington at, i. 584;
arrival of Gates and Sullivan in the camp at, i. 587;
letters of Washington to Congress from the camp at, i. 587-595;
declaration of Congress read to the troops in camp at, i. 617;
arrival of southern riflemen at the camp at, i. 618;
army at, arranged by Washington into three grand divisions--the
headquarters of Washington at the siege of Boston--Putnam's division
stationed at, i. 619;
inactivity of the army at, i. 724;
officers of the army at, consulted by Washington, as to an attack upon
the British in Boston, i. 725;
council of war held at, adverse to an attack--letter of Washington to
Congress in relation to the state of the army at, i. 726;
efforts of Washington to reorganize the army at, i. 747;
deficiency of skilful engineers at, i. 749;
artillery and stores conveyed to, from Lake Champlain, by Colonel Knox,
i. 750;
trials of Washington in the camp at, i. 752;
difficulties attending the reorganization of the army at, i. 755;
bad condition of arms and ammunition at, i. 760;
intrenchments thrown up by the army at, i. 762;
improved state of affairs at--letter of General Greene on the
privations of the troops at (_note_), i. 763;
fruit-trees in the neighborhood of, consumed as firewood (_note_),
i. 764;
Mrs. Washington in the camp at, i. 768;
burning of the king's speech at, ii. 2;
weakness of the army at, in January, 1776, ii. 13, 14;
extraordinary difficulties of Washington while in command of the army
at, ii. 44;
councils of war held at, ii. 47, 52.
Camden, set on fire and abandoned by Lord Rawdon, ii. 719.
Campbell, Captain John, death of, in the battle at Moore's-Creek Bridge,
ii. 118.
Campbell, Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald, and seven hundred men, made
prisoners in Boston harbor, ii. 83;
letter of, to Washington, complaining of his treatment as a prisoner,
ii. 407.
Campbell, Lord, royal power abdicated by, in South Carolina, ii. 186;
badly wounded in the attack upon Fort Sullivan, ii. 193.
Canada, conquest of, urged upon the British government by Franklin
(_note_), ii. 144;
surrender of, to the English, in 1760, i. 301;
prediction of the duke de Choiseul in relation to the loss of, i. 302;
people of, indisposed to revolution, i. 522;
address of the second continental Congress to the people of--resolution
of the second continental Congress not to invade, i. 531;
loyalty of the people of, to the British crown, i. 642;
address of Congress to, contrasted with its language to the people of
England, i. 643;
efforts of Sir Guy Carleton to secure the loyalty of the people of,
i. 644;
auspicious moment for the conquest of, i. 645;
proposition to invade, made by Colonel Ethan Allen, i. 650;
cautious proceedings of Congress in relation to the invasion of,
i. 652;
tardy gathering of the troops for--letter of Ethan Allen to Governor
Trumbull in relation to the invasion of, i. 658;
secret agents sent into, by General Schuyler, i. 659;
delays in the invasion of, i. 660;
address of General Schuyler to the inhabitants of, i. 665;
defenceless condition of, i. 667;
address of Arnold to the inhabitants of (_note_), i. 684;
measures of Congress with regard to, ii. 93;
exertions made for the relief of the troops in, ii. 94;
General Lee named by Washington for command in, ii. 95;
chief command of the troops in, given to Lee by Congress--change of
plans of Congress with regard to, ii. 96;
alienation of the people of, ii. 97;
committee of civilians appointed by Congress to visit, ii. 98;
abandonment of, considered necessary by Schuyler, ii. 103;
total disaffection of the people of, toward the cause of the patriots,
ii. 142;
troops sent toward, under General Thompson, ii. 143;
commissioners appointed to form a union with--instructions of the
commissioners sent to, ii. 145;
indisposition of the people of, to a union with the colonies, ii. 146;
committee of Congress confer with Washington, Gates, and Mifflin, on
affairs in, ii. 159;
efforts of Congress to retain possession of, ii. 160;
letter of Washington to Schuyler in relation to affairs in--deplorable
condition of the American army in, ii. 161;
defeat of General Thompson in, ii. 163;
end of the invasion of, ii. 168;
plan of Congress for the invasion of, abandoned by the advice of
Washington, ii. 644;
opposition of Washington to the French plan for the invasion of,
ii. 647.
Canadians, battalion of, authorized by Congress to be raised, ii. 93.
Canes, gold-headed, left by Washington to various persons, iii. 539.
Capital, the federal, location of, determined in 1790, iii. 150;
surveys and plans of buildings of, examined by Washington--location of,
chosen by Washington, iii. 178;
land surrendered for, by Georgetown and Carrollsburg, iii. 179.
Cardillac, incredulity of, as to the profitable navigation of the western
rivers, i. 68.
Carleton, Sir Guy, at the head of Wolfe's grenadiers at Quebec, i. 293;
efforts of, to secure the loyalty of the Canadians, i. 644;
defeat of, by Colonel Seth Warner at Longueuil, i. 679;
Montreal abandoned by, on the approach of Montgomery, i. 699;
escape of, to Quebec, i. 700;
opportune arrival of, at Quebec, i. 714;
determination of, to defend Quebec, i. 715;
his humane treatment of prisoners taken at the siege of Quebec, i. 721;
reliance of, upon reinforcements from England for the defence of
Quebec, ii. 99;
pursuit of the Americans by, on their retreat from before
Quebec--stores and prisoners taken by--great humanity of, toward the
sick and prisoners, ii. 102;
noble proclamation of, with regard to sick fugitives, ii. 103;
not the policy of, to make prisoners (_note_), ii. 167;
efforts of, to create a navy on Lake Champlain, ii. 333;
Crown Point taken possession of by, on its abandonment by Arnold,
ii. 336;
army of reserve, under the command of, in Canada, ii. 459;
successor of Sir Henry Clinton as British commander-in-chief, iii. 7;
personal interview of Washington with, at Tappan, iii. 22.
Carlisle and Roberts, Quakers, hanged as spies, i. 462.
_Carmagnole_ sung in the streets of New York in 1793, iii. 248.
Carmichael, Mr., _chargé d'affaires_ at Madrid in 1790, iii. 157.
Carpenters' Hall, in Philadelphia, first place of meeting of the
continental Congress, i. 420.
Carroll, Charles, in the commission appointed to form a union with
Canada, ii. 144;
son of, a suitor for the hand of Nelly Custis, iii. 486.
Carroll, Reverend John, associated with the commission to form a union
with Canada, ii. 145;
return of, from Canada, in company with Franklin, ii. 146.
Carter, Charles, mention made of, in Washington's will, iii. 538.
Caswell, Colonel, in command of minute-men in the battle at Moore's-Creek
Bridge--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 117.
Catawba Indians, bad conduct of, in the expedition against Fort Duquesne
in 1758 (_note_), i. 273.
Catholics, generally the friends of liberty during the Revolutionary
struggle, i. 464.
Cedars, Colonel Bedell stationed at, with a body of New Hampshire troops,
ii. 148.
Ceremonials, opinions of Adams, Jay, Hamilton, and Madison, sought by
Washington in relation to, iii. 105.
Chamberlayne, Mr., Washington introduced to Martha Custis by, i. 277.
Chamblée, capture of the fort at, by a party under Colonel Bedell--arms
and ammunition taken at, i. 677;
flag of the seventh British regiment found in the fort at--letter of
Montgomery to Robert Livingston, relating to the fort at (_note_),
i. 678;
retreat of Sullivan from, ii. 166.
Character of Washington, iii. 573.
Charleston, arms and ammunition in the magazines of, seized by the
patriots, i. 521;
activity of the patriots in, ii. 185;
Admiral Parker's unsuccessful attack upon, ii. 188;
saved by the dilatory movements of the British, ii. 189;
siege of, by Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 671;
bombardment of--surrender of, to the British--General Lincoln and his
army made prisoners at--ill treatment by the British of the prisoners
taken at, ii. 673;
effect in the South of the fall of, ii. 674;
evacuation of, by the British, iii. 12;
reception of Washington at, on his southern tour in 1791, iii. 181.
Charlestown, set on fire by order of General Gage--description of the
carcass used at (_note_), ii. 565.
Charlotte, General Greene at, ii. 699.
Chase, the, Washington's chief amusement before the Revolution, i. 309.
Chase, Samuel, in the commission appointed to form a union with Canada,
ii. 144.
Chastellux, chevalier de, his description of hospitality as it was at
Mount Vernon, i. 288;
letter of Washington to, respecting his northern tour in 1783, iii. 27.
Chatham, earl of, Revolutionary measures deprecated by (_note_), i. 366;
extract from a speech of, on the free spirit of the colonies, i. 371;
on the infatuation of government in provoking resistance in the
colonies, i. 412;
language of, in commendation of the proceedings of the continental
Congress, i. 448;
his commendation of the state-papers of the first continental Congress,
i. 450;
correspondence of, with Lady Chatham, in relation to American affairs,
i. 487;
letter of, to Lord Stanhope, relative to American affairs--Franklin
introduced into the house of lords by, i. 488;
proposition made by, in the house of lords, that the troops should be
removed from Boston--extraordinary speech of, in support of his
proposition, i. 489;
little influence of the speech of, within the house, i. 491;
profound sensation caused out of doors by the speech of--remark of
Franklin respecting the speech of--friends of, in the house of
lords--plan of, for the settlement of troubles in America--Franklin
consulted by, in the preparation of his plan of settlement
(_note_), i. 492;
hurried rejection of the plan of, in the house of lords--plan of,
approved by Franklin, i. 493;
confined to his house with the gout, ii. 7;
last speech of, in Parliament, ii. 608.
(See _William Pitt_.)
Chatham, Lady, unwillingness of, that Lord Pitt should bear arms against
the colonists (_note_), i. 686.
Chaudière, valley of the, reminiscences of the "good Bostonians" still
preserved in, i. 696.
Cherokees, Colonel Montgomery sent against in 1760--subdued by Colonel
Grant in 1761, i. 302.
Cherry Valley desolated by Butler and Brant, ii. 642.
Chesapeake bay, arrival of the British fleet in--movements of his army
directed toward, by Washington, ii. 495;
landing of Sir William Howe and his army at the head of, ii. 497;
night of peril passed on, by Washington, on his southern tour,
iii. 178.
Chester, retreat of the American army to, from the Brandywine, ii. 507.
Chew, Chief Justice, banishment of, to Fredericksburg, i. 461.
Chew's house, loss of the battle of Germantown owing to the delay at,
ii. 554.
Childhood, frame of Washington precociously large in, i. 57.
Christ church, in Philadelphia, divine service attended at, by the second
continental Congress, i. 609.
Christianity, Washington a sincere believer in, iii. 576.
Church, Doctor Benjamin, placed by Congress at the head of the army
hospital, i. 612;
convicted of treasonable correspondence (_note_), i. 613.
Church of England, Washington a communicant of, i. 336.
Cilley, Colonel, captured cannon turned upon the British by, at Bemis's
Heights, ii. 531.
_Cincinnati, Society of_, instituted--deep interest felt by Washington
in--Washington and Hamilton successive presidents of, iii. 23;
address from the members of the, in Boston, iii. 131.
_Citizen Genet_, a privateer fitted out at Charleston by Genet--the
arrest of American citizens on board, iii. 259;
irritation of Genet at the arrests on, iii. 260.
City Tavern, Philadelphia, meeting at, of delegates to the first
continental Congress, i. 454;
convention to form the constitution adjourn to, iii. 73;
Washington and suite entertained at, in 1789, iii. 86.
Clarke, Major George Rogers, operations of, in the West, ii. 652;
biographical notice of, ii. 653.
Clergy, sides taken by the various denominations of, during the progress
of the Revolution, i. 463.
Clinton, Colonel James, at Fort Constitution, ii. 219;
bayonet-wound received by, ii. 545.
Clinton, General George, energy and activity of, in defence of New York,
ii. 219;
troops assembled by, at Fort Montgomery, ii. 220;
at Fort Montgomery with New York militia, ii. 235;
efforts of, to prevent the passing of the _Rose_ and _Phoenix_,
ii. 236;
three thousand men under the command of, at Kingsbridge, ii. 241;
silver bullet taken by, from a spy--silver bullet still in possession
of the family of (_note_), ii. 547;
letter of Washington to, communicating the news of the signing of the
treaty of peace, iii. 21;
northern tour of Washington in company with, in 1783, iii. 27;
reception of Washington by, in New York, in 1789, iii. 89;
a candidate for the vice-presidency in 1792, iii. 222.
Clinton, General Sir Henry, a volunteer at Breed's hill, i. 567;
biographical notice of, i. 620;
placed in command of a redoubt on Bunker's hill, i. 744;
arrival of, in the harbor of New York--peaceful professions of, and
departure, ii. 42;
Robert Howe and Cornelius Harnett excepted from the proclamation of
pardon by, ii. 185;
proclamation offering pardon laughed at by the people of Charleston,
ii. 190;
night-march of, from Flatlands to the heights overlooking Bedford,
ii. 269;
capture of the fortresses in the Hudson Highlands by, ii. 542, 545;
messenger of, bearing a silver bullet to Burgoyne, hanged as a spy,
ii. 547;
activity of, in New York--scheme of Washington for the abduction of,
ii. 606;
Washington dissuaded by Hamilton from attempting the abduction of,
ii. 607;
reduction of the force under the command of, ii. 617;
evacuation of Philadelphia admirably managed by, ii. 617;
slow march of, through New Jersey, ii. 619;
emissaries of, to the Pennsylvania mutineers, hanged as spies, ii. 709.
Clothes of Washington, before the Revolution, obtained from London,
i. 306.
Coach, fine one kept by Washington in 1789, iii. 113.
Cobble hill, intrenchments cast up on, by troops under Generals Putnam
and Heath, i. 761.
Cochran, Captain, powder-receiver at Charleston (_note_), i. 521.
Cochran, Doctor John, letter of Washington to, on the style of living at
West Point (_note_), ii. 660.
Coffin of Washington, inscriptions on, iii. 558.
Cohoes falls, retreat of Schuyler to, ii. 484.
Collier, Sir George, ravages by the squadron of, on Elizabeth river,
ii. 653;
assistance rendered by, to Sir Henry Clinton on the Hudson--ravages of,
in Connecticut, ii. 654;
destruction of an American flotilla by, in Penobscot bay, ii. 661.
Collins, Captain, powder belonging to the province of Virginia seized by,
in 1775, i. 518.
Colonies, new era in the history of, i. 69;
pay of troops raised in (_note_), i. 102;
growth of democratic ideas in, i. 228;
a viceroyalty suggested for, i. 229;
little indebted to the mother-country, i. 315;
cost of the French and Indian war to (_note_), i. 316;
commercial policy of England toward, i. 321.
Colonists, French and English, characteristics of, i. 67, 68.
Commission as colonel resigned by Washington in 1754, i. 126;
commission as commander-in-chief received by Washington, form of
(_note_), i. 540;
resignation of, by Washington, iii. 35.
"Common Sense," a pamphlet by Thomas Paine, powerful influence of,
ii. 12;
General Lee's opinion of it (_note_), ii. 41.
Concord, troops sent by General Gage to seize the stores at, i. 503;
preparations made at, to resist the troops under Colonel Smith--militia
assembled at, under Colonel Barrett, i. 506;
British attacked by Major Buttrick at--stores at, partially secured,
i. 507.
Confederation, old, discussions that led to the abandonment of, iii. 55;
resolutions of the New York legislature in relation to, iii. 56.
Congregationalists opposed to the rule of Great Britain, i. 463.
Congress, general colonial, proposition for, by the Massachusetts
assembly, i. 327;
copy of the circular letter of Massachusetts, inviting (_note_),
i. 330;
meeting of, in New York--names of the delegates to (_note_), i. 331;
proceedings of, applauded by the provincial assemblies, i. 332;
recommended by Franklin, i. 390, 392.
Congress, continental, proposed by Virginia in 1774, i. 390;
simultaneous proposition for, by Virginia and Massachusetts, i. 393;
the first, importance of, to the best interests of mankind, i. 408;
almost simultaneous declaration of the colonies in favor of, i. 409;
names of the delegates to (_note_), i. 411:
assembling of, at Philadelphia, in 1774, i. 413;
journeys of the delegates to, like ovations--journey of Washington to,
in company with Patrick Henry and Edmund Pendleton, i. 417;
reception of the delegates to, in Philadelphia--honors paid to the
delegates to, from Massachusetts, i. 419;
account of the organization of, i. 420-422;
Peyton Randolph chosen president of--Charles Thomson chosen secretary
of, i. 421;
noble character of the men composing, i. 422;
opening speech of Patrick Henry in, i. 423;
regulations adopted by, i. 425;
Mr. Duché requested to read prayers in, i. 426;
Washington the only delegate who knelt during prayer in, i. 429;
names of the first committee appointed by--difficult points to be
decided at, i. 430;
resolves of the Suffolk county convention laid before, i. 432;
resolution of, limiting its action to infringed rights--duration of the
sessions of (_note_), i. 484;
non-importation resolutions offered in, by R. H. Lee, i. 435;
dangerous plan of union submitted to, by Joseph Galloway, i. 435, 437;
non-exportation proposed and debated in, i. 430;
great diversity of opinion in, among the delegates--loyal address to
the king resolved on by--opposition of the Virginia delegates in, to
non-exportation (_note_), i. 438;
declaration of rights unanimously adopted by, i. 440;
the _American Association_ signed by every delegate present at,
i. 441;
the petition of Congress to the king, the last public act of, i. 446;
profound sensation produced everywhere by the publication of the
proceedings of, i. 447;
sympathy with, expressed by Chatham in a letter to Stephen Sayre,
i. 448;
no record of the part Washington took in, i. 449;
Washington the best informed man in, i. 450;
state-papers of, i. 450, 485.
Congress, second continental, journey of Washington to, in company with
Patrick Henry and Benjamin Harrison--organization of--secrecy of the
proceedings of, i. 528;
resolution of, respecting the spoils taken at Ticonderoga by Ethan
Allen, i. 529;
Washington appointed chairman of the committees of, on military
affairs--"conciliatory resolutions" of Lord North laid
before--vigorous preparations of, for the defence of the
country--resolution of, to petition the king, i. 530;
address of, to the inhabitants of Canada--day of fasting and prayer
appointed by, i. 531;
resolution of, to raise companies of riflemen, i. 532;
John Adams's account of the deliberations of, as to the choice of a
commander-in-chief, i. 533-535;
instructions of, to Washington, as commander-in-chief (_note_),
i. 540;
major generals appointed by, i. 545-547;
brigadier-generals appointed by, i. 548;
measures of, in relation to the issue of paper money, i. 549;
regulations of, for the army, i. 551;
letters of Washington to, i. 578, 587-595, 726;
loyalty to the king declared by, i. 600;
declaration adopted by, setting forth the causes for armed resistance,
i. 600;
the idea of reparation from the mother-country repudiated by,
i. 603, 607;
letter of thanks of, to the lord-mayor and corporation of London,
i. 603;
petition to the king, written by John Dickinson, adopted by, i. 605;
address to the people of Great Britain adopted by, i. 606;
commissioners of Indian affairs appointed by--services at Christ church
attended by, on the fast-day, i. 609;
addresses of, to the assembly of Jamaica, and to the people of
Ireland--"conciliatory resolution" of the house of commons taken into
consideration by, i. 610;
Franklin placed at the head of the post-office department by--army
hospital established by, i. 612;
adjournment of, i. 613;
wise caution of, i. 614;
"declaration" of, read to the troops in camp, i. 617;
jealous of concentrated military power--deference of, to the opinions
of Washington in military matters, i. 621;
refusal of Washington to part with detachments for coast-defence,
sanctioned by, i. 624;
Colonels Allen and Warner introduced upon the floor of, i. 652;
the Green Mountain Boys recommended by, for the invasion of Canada,
i. 653;
members of, in the camp at Cambridge, i. 681, 729;
questions submitted by Washington to the committee of, sitting at
Cambridge, i. 735;
resolutions adopted by, for a reorganization of the army at Cambridge,
i. 738;
attention of, called to the necessity of organizing a naval force,
i. 740;
letters of Washington to i. 744, ii. 363;
resolution of thanks of, to Washington, on the evacuation of Boston,
ii. 78;
medal in gold ordered by, ii. 79;
action of, with regard to loyalists and tories, ii. 92;
the attention of, drawn to affairs in Canada, ii. 93;
committee appointed by, for the purpose of maintaining a European
correspondence, ii. 124;
Washington invited to the floor of--recommendations of Washington
adopted by, ii. 159;
"Board of War and Ordnance" appointed by, ii. 160;
resolution of, in relation to the claims of Generals Schuyler and
Gates, ii. 248;
measures taken by, for a more permanent organization of the army,
ii. 305;
adjourned to Baltimore--almost unlimited powers granted by, to Putnam
in Philadelphia, ii. 362;
create Washington dictator for six months, ii. 364;
of 1777 inferior to that of 1774-'5, ii. 431;
increased powers granted to Washington by, after the battle of the
Brandywine, ii. 509;
letter of Hamilton to George Clinton on the degeneracy of, ii. 592;
degeneracy of, lamented by Washington, ii. 648, 670;
adjournment of, to Princeton, iii. 26;
little confidence of the mass of the people in, iii. 53.
Congress, federal, scene in on the occasion of Washington's opening
address, iii. 95, 590;
executive departments established by, in 1789, iii. 118;
Hamilton's report on finance made to, in writing, iii. 139;
remarks of Washington upon that of 1790, iii. 161;
messages of Washington to, iii. 171, 192, 378, 454;
party spirit manifested in, iii. 199, 230;
charges brought against Hamilton in, iii. 231;
defensive measures urged upon, by Washington, iii. 284;
language of Washington to, respecting Genet, iii. 285;
debate in, as to the propriety of the consideration of any question
with closed doors--the first committee of ways and means appointed
in--act passed by, in 1794, for providing a naval
armament--money-tribute to Algiers advocated in, iii. 294;
debate in, respecting the treaty-making power--debate in, respecting a
resolution offered by Edward Livingston, iii. 391;
message of Washington to, on refusing to furnish papers relating to
Jay's treaty (_note_), iii. 396;
last annual message of Washington to, iii. 454;
language of the two houses of, in reply to Washington's last annual
message, iii. 457;
special session of, convened by President Adams, in 1798--extract from
the address of Adams to, iii 494;
measures of, for national defence, in 1798, iii. 506;
Washington present at the opening of, in 1798, iii. 525;
resolutions of, on the occasion of the death of Washington,
iii. 562, 564.
Congress, provincial, of Massachusetts, John Hancock president
of--Benjamin Lincoln secretary of--address of, to General Gage,
i. 468;
explanations made to, by General Gage--preparations for armed resistance
made by, i. 469;
proceedings of, denounced by General Gage--minute-men enrolled by,
i. 470.
Connecticut, opposed to Franklin's plan for the union of the colonies,
i. 128;
ill feeling toward General Schuyler among the troops from, (_note_),
i. 705;
minute-men summoned to supply the place of troops from, i. 759;
Governor Trumbull and General Greene on the conduct of the troops of
(_note_), i. 760;
arrival in the camp at New York of a troop of light-horse from, ii. 231;
refusal of the troop from, to do duty, ii. 232;
bad conduct of troops from, at Kip's bay, ii. 295.
Connolly, Doctor John, the side of the crown taken by, ii. 20;
imprisoned at Baltimore, ii. 21.
Constitutional Society of England, money sent by, by the hand of Franklin,
for the sufferers at Lexington--John Horne Tooke, the philologist, a
prominent member of (_note_), i. 737.
Constitution, federal, convention to form, iii. 56-73;
names of the signers of (_note_), iii. 72;
anecdote of Franklin in connection with the signing of, iii. 73;
submitted by Congress to the state legislatures, iii. 74;
Henry, Mason, and Lee, adverse to, iii. 77;
when ratified by the several states (_note_), iii. 78;
backwardness of some of the states in ratifying, iii. 98;
subject of the amendment of, before Congress, in 1789, iii. 119;
adopted by Rhode Island in 1790, iii. 162;
considered by Hamilton inadequate to its functions, iii. 187.
Contemplations, Moral and Divine, extracts from, i. 30-34.
Continental army, condition and discipline of--dress and accoutrements of
(_note_), i. 553;
position and numbers of, when adopted by Congress, i. 554;
command of, formally taken by Washington, i. 586;
letters of Washington to Congress respecting the condition and position
of, i. 587-595;
first general order issued by Washington to (_note_), i. 588;
hunting-shirts recommended by Washington for the use of, i. 592;
dissatisfaction produced in, by several appointments of general
officers--returns of, presented by General Gates (_note_), i. 593;
deficiency in the numbers, discipline, and stores of, i. 594;
details respecting its condition, by a chaplain, i. 595;
great deficiency in its supply of ammunition, i. 596, 625;
disposition of, by Washington, at the siege of Boston, i. 619;
want of powder in, i. 625;
trouble caused in, by sectional jealousies--petty conspiracies among the
subordinate officers of, i. 756;
letter of Washington to Colonel Reed, complaining of the mercenary
spirit pervading, i. 757;
early departure of the Connecticut troops from, i. 758;
weakness of, in January, 1776, ii. 13, 14;
letter of Washington to Colonel Reed on the condition of, ii. 15;
names of officers of the new regiments of (_note_), ii. 403;
excellent footing of, in the spring of 1777, ii. 404;
kind of punishments inflicted in (_note_), ii. 501;
personal popularity of Washington in, ii. 604;
committee appointed by Congress to inquire into the condition of,
ii. 667;
great reduction in the force of, ii. 668, 699;
destitution of, ii. 669;
necessities of, supplied by Pennsylvania, ii. 670;
measures adopted by Congress to increase the efficiency of, ii. 699;
winter-quarters of the various divisions of, in 1780-'81, ii. 702;
discontents in, in 1782, iii. 7, 15;
gradual disbandment of, in 1783, iii. 22;
circular letter of Washington to state governors in relation to the
disbandment of, iii. 23;
last general order of Washington to (_note_), iii. 29.
Continental money, great depreciation of--the whole country flooded with
counterfeits of, ii. 666.
Continental Village, destruction of, by Governor Tryon (_note_), ii. 548.
_Continentalist_, a series of papers written by Alexander Hamilton,
iii. 56.
Contrecoeur, French commandant at Fort Le Boeuf, in 1754, i. 97.
Convention, commercial, suggestion of Washington concerning, iii. 55, 56.
Convention, National, of France, pen-picture of (_note_), iii. 387.