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Washington prepares to leave Mount Vernon-He visits Fredericksburg, to

take leave of his Mother-He departs for New York-The Journey-Tri-

umphal Arch at Trenton-Reception at Elizabethtown-Arrival and wel-

come at New York-Installation of Washington as First President of the

United States-He declines Compensation for his Services-Illness and

Recovery-Debate on Titles-Death of the Mother of Washington-Organi-

zation of the Departments-Washington makes a Tour through the Eastern

States-The Seat of Government is removed from New York to Philadel-

phia-Establishment of a National Bank-Washington Visits the Southern

States-Development of Factions-He desires to retire at the close of his

term of Administration-Is induced to serve a second time-Re-inaugurated

President of the United States-The French Revolution-England declares

War against France-Washington issues a Proclamation of strict neutrality—

Opposition and Enmity-M. Genet's Arrival and Assumption-Washington

requests his Recall-Relations with England-Jay's Mission-Opposition to

the Tax on Distilled Spirits-Proclamation to the Insurgents-Calling out

of the Militia-Restoration of Peace-Jay's Treaty-Its Ratification-Resig-

nation of Randolph, Secretary of State-Washington's Private Life-De-

scription of his Appearance on State Occasions-Imprisonment of Lafayette-

Washington's Successful Intercession in his behalf-Washington's Farewell

Address-Election of John Adams-Washington returns to Mount Vernon-

His Life in Retirement-Difficulties with France-Washington appointed

Commander-in-Chief-He returns to Philadelphia to organize the Army-

Interview with Dr. Logan-Napoleon-Terms of Accommodation at Paris-

Washington at Mount Vernon-His Last Illness-His Death-His Character.

LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

CHAPTER I.

Birth and Death of Great Men-Ancestry of George-Loss of his Father-Sent to District School-Early History-Appointed Surveyor-Forest Life-Goes to Barbadoes with a Sick Brother-Appointed Major over the Militia-Sent a Commissioner to the French-Account of his Perilous Journey.

NATURE is not lavish of prodigies, and when she gives us one in the human species, men are always expecting she will indicate it by some outward sign. A lioness must cast her whelps in the streets when a monster is born-some convulsion of the earth, or strange appearance in the heavens, give token when a great soul has arrived on the earth, whose life is to change the current of history. We love to associate mysterious phenomena with strange and mysterious men. When Cromwell's stormy spirit was passing from this troubled sphere, the enraged winds and waves strewed the English coast with stranded vessels. As Napoleon lay struggling in the last throes of mortal life, the sea rose with a thundering sound over its barriers, as if striving to reach the spot where the great sufferer lay.

But no such violent changes of nature heralded the birth or accompanied the death of Washington.

Serenely like the sun, as if in harmony with the universe, he arose on the world-so bright and undimmed he moved over the firmament, and without a cloud to dim his splendor sunk gloriously to rest.

We take a deep interest in the childhood of great men, for. we wish to detect, if possible, indications of their future

greatness, and trace the mental processes by which they reached their elevation. Our curiosity in this respect is rather excited than gratified by the meagre accounts that have come down to us of Washington's early days. There are many traditions, all in harmony with his general character, but not substantiated as matters of history. His manly refusal to tell a lie to escape punishment, his generosity in winning a prize, by his superior strength, for another, and his love of the right exhibited in more instances than one, are so many floating traditions, which may or may not be true. The retired place of his birth, and the stern character of the times and men that surrounded his earlier years, would naturally cause his boyish conduct to pass unnoticed, leaving to the mother alone the pleasing task of hoarding up all his noble traits and generous deeds.

The ancestor of George held the manor of Sulgrave, in Northamptonshire, England, which was granted to him ir 1538. His grandson Lawrence had several children, two of whom* (the second and fourth) emigrated to Virginia in 1657. They bought plantations in Westmoreland, on the Potomac, and became successful farmers. John Washington entered into active service against the Indians, and rose to the rank of colonel. He had two sons and a daughter The elder son, Lawrence, married Mildred Warner, by whom he had three children, John, Augustine, and Mildred. Augustine, the second son, married Jane Butler, by whom he had four children, two of whom dying in infancy, left only Lawrence and Augustine. His wife also dying, he married in 1730 Mary Ball, by whom he had six children; George, who was born in Westmoreland county, February 22d, 1732, and Betty, Samuel, John, Augustine, Charles, and Mildred. The latter, however, died in infancy. While George was yet very young, his father removed to an estate

* John and Lawrence-the eldest, William, married a half-sister of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.

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